Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor

What it is

The hotel opened in 1932, and the hotel itself describes it as the first luxurious grand hotel of its kind in Siem Reap, built for the travellers who came to see Angkor Wat. The building is in the French Art Deco style of its decade, with Cambodian influences and some contemporary additions.

That history is the draw: it was built for the period when the temples were first drawing foreign visitors. Whether the experience matches the story depends on the room and the season, and the rates below show how wide the range is.

Eating and drinking

Five venues are named. Café d'Angkor is the all-day brasserie, serving pan-Asian and international dishes. The restaurant called 1932 focuses on Cambodia's royal and culinary heritage. The Conservatory serves afternoon tea and, in the evening, cocktails with piano. The Elephant Bar is described by the hotel as Siem Reap's most celebrated bar, and the Poolside Terrace serves lighter dishes by day.

A good test of the hotel is how it uses these. For a short stay centred on the temples, a late afternoon tea and a cocktail at the Elephant Bar are the usual way to spend the hour after a hot day at Angkor.

The Angkor offer

The hotel lists its own temple experiences: a scooter tour of the complex, a bespoke dinner at the temples, a photography session and a journey through Angkor and Phnom Penh with your butler. These are the hotel's programmes, and their prices and availability are for the hotel to confirm. In our Cambodia itinerary, the temple days are done with a private guide and a tuk-tuk, which is a separate and less expensive arrangement.

Where it sits

The hotel is in the centre of Siem Reap, on Vithei Charles de Gaulle, a short drive from the temples. That means the town's restaurants and the old market are close, and the sunrise start for Angkor Wat is a short transfer rather than a long one.

Who it suits

It suits travellers who want a grand, old-fashioned hotel as the setting for a few days at Angkor, and who will spend the hot hours by the pool or in the spa. It works well for couples and for a first visit.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a small, quiet retreat outside the town. For that, the Aman property outside the centre is a different kind of stay at a far higher price.