Tonle Bassac Location Profile

Although there are fewer cultural or historical landmarks in Tonle Bassac, other new iconic buildings dot the skyline. Destinations popular to visitors are the Sofitel Hotel, AEON Mall, Diamond Island, and NagaWorld and an increasing number of high-rise mixed developments.

The Peak is also home to the Shangri-La Hotel and Koh Pich has several nods to global architectural landmarks.

There are a large number of international embassies and Cambodian government head offices in Tonle Bassac, perhaps the biggest concentration in Phnom Penh.

Tonle Bassac is blessed with choices when it comes to dining out. The wide selection of cuisine available, from the local markets and street food to high-regarded local and international restaurants and dining outlets, is massive.

Along Bassac Lane, are a well-known pizzeria (Luigis), burger places such as Supreme Burgers as well as Indian, Khmer, Chinese, and other international and Asian cuisines.

Close to the park and Sihanouk Blvd are a further assortment of eateries. These include the popular Java Cafe, Botanico Garden, Feel Good Cafe, Sovanna BBQ restaurants and more. Sancha (a Japanese bakery) and Irina (Russian restaurant) also offer some international options.

Cambodia’s first shopping mall opened its doors in the capital in June 2014 in the form of Aeon Mall in Tonle Bassac. There is an abundance of international, regional and local brand franchises in the mall and the ground floor has a large shopping market and a food court with affordable food from around the globe. 

Sothearos and Norodom have a cluster of rooftop dining options which include VEHAA, Celeste Sky Bar or Eclipse Sky Bar.

NagaWorld, has more than a dozen dining options across the two sites of NagaWorld and Naga2, with western and Asian cuisine. There are affordable buffets, intimate dining, executive suites, Korean style BBQ and much more. You can even take in a show as the state of the art NABA theatre.

Nearby Street 21 has some hidden gems with affordable local steak houses like Bar 21 or Japanese cuisine. Sofitel, as well as being one of the finest hotels in the city, offers spectacular dining.

You can also lounge around the large open-air swimming pool at DIB club (located on Diamond Island) and order food and drinks, or sample a wide variety of local food at the north end of the reclaimed island (more popular at nighttime).

One of the most iconic nightspots in Tonle Bassac, if not Phnom Penh, for international travellers, expats and Cambodians is Bassac Lane on St 308. 

The street, with its alleyway offshoots, has undergone rapid changes and now houses an eclectic mix of bars, pubs, restaurants and even small clubs and live music venues. As a result of the popularity and mix of nightlife available in Tonle Bassac, it attracts foreigners (residents and travellers) and locals of all ages.

Some of the more frequently visited places on Bassac Lane are Red Bar (one of the first bars here and remains affordable despite the area’s general upmarket prices), Le Boutier specialises in cocktails with a homage to Cambodian musical stars from the past, Cloud, 21 Bar, and Backstreet Bar. 

The actual Bassac Lane alleyway offers a tightly jammed collection of about a dozen themed small bars, pricier than general in Phnom Penh, but they also serve excellent cocktails, craft beers and food. There are occasional night time music gigs on weekends too and a growing selection of options on the surrounding streets. 

On nearby St 29 is Botanico Wine & Beer Garden, which serves Cambodian made craft beers and they also have quiz nights and regular live music. 

Samai Distillery is famous for its Cambodian-distilled rum and is open to tours and behind the scenes visits, and they also host monthly DJ and late-night sessions.

Luckily, there is a wide range of public transportation options for you within the capital. Cambodia’s tuk-tuk or the remork-moto is a carriage attached to a motorcycle and popular in the major cities, while newer smaller tuk-tuks have also entered the market in recent years.

You can also travel via the traditional cyclo (pedicab) or on a moto (motodops or motorbike taxis). 

Ride-hailing apps are much more commonly used now in Phnom Penh, so it's best to download one or more of these (PassApp, Grab etc), as they tend to be more affordable and easier to navigate with, than explaining destinations to the local drivers.

Within the city itself, a number of bus services are available with set routes, while water taxis have also started operating as the city expands and it deals with a growing traffic issue.

Private Buses and taxis are also alternatives for commuters and can be arranged via the many hotels and guesthouses in the area or booked online.

The airport is about 40 minutes away from Tonle Bassac.

Tonle Bassac has had a reputation for being home to high-earning expats and Cambodians and the area is also notable for having many secure gated communities. Many residents are professionals and teachers, embassy and government employees. The gated communities include Bassac Garden City, Les Jardins Du Bassac, and Borey Chamkarmorn.

Villas are another hallmark of Tonle Bassac, although these are under increased threat from large scale development and rising land prices.

A selection of current serviced apartments includes Skyline, Green Mansion II, Bassac Tower, and Syphon, V-View, Trillium, and Sanctuary.

The Sangkat also attracts expats as shopping options, restaurants, schools and embassies are all in close proximity.

Some of the more reputable international schools located in Tonle Bassac are iCAN International, Canadian International School of Phnom Penh (on Koh Pich) and Invictus International School on Norodom Blvd which opened in 2020.