Not surprisingly for a capital city, Phnom Penh has plenty of nightlife if you go looking for it. If you have an early start in the morning on your Cambodia holiday, you may not want to be too late but there are places that will be open if you want that last drink. You should not have any problems out at night in Phnom Penh, but as in any strange city you need to use your common sense. If you just want a nice meal, there are plenty of restaurants as well as the alternative of your hotel if a travel agent has booked accommodation for you as part of a Vietnam and Cambodia tour package.

Pontoon and Heart of Darkness are the two popular discos after midnight and they are located in Golden Sorya Mall in Street 521. If you want some ideas of the popular bars in the city then here are some ideas with many of the best places close to the river, yet remember that many of them as you walk down the street are hostess bars:

•    Blue Cat in Street 110 is a quality bar close to the river. There is a pool table, an upstairs nightclub and the cocktails are cheap.

•    Caress Bar is located at the point where the Mekong and the Tonle Sap Rivers converge.

•    Elephant Bar is in the Raffles Le Royal Hotel but you don’t need to be a guest to have a drink there. There will be a piano playing and the surroundings are impressive. It is not cheap but then you probably won’t expect it to be.

•    Equinox near Street 51 has built up a reputation for the best live music in Phnom Penh. There are two storeys and as well as regular art exhibitions in the building, there is pool, good food and a happy hour that lasts three hours.

•    Liquid is next door. It is well-furnished in greys and browns and has some of the most imaginative cocktails in the city.

•    Sharky's Bar & Restaurant in Street 130 opened in 1995 is a great place for music lovers. There is a large central bar and first floor balcony. The taxi drivers all know "Shockeee Bah".

•    Show Box close to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum is a two-storey bar where you can listen to Khmer contemporary alternative music, local punk bands, spoken word artists and international musicians.