Gay Phnom Penh Travel Guide: Phnom Penh is one of the key gay travel spots within Cambodia. It is a gay friendly city with a long standing gay scene and some incredibly friendly people that will warmly welcome you. The city also has a great deal of history and culture for you to learn about and explore.
Most gay travellers coming to Cambodia will visit Phnom Penh, followed by Siem Reap. Phnom Penh being the larger, built up city, and Siem Reap being a smaller city surrounded by nature (and iconic spots like Angkor Wat).
I visited Phnom Penh during October 2026 so the information included in this post is the most up to date available. I also had the chance to meet with local gay Cambodians and interview one to understand their perspective on the gay scene in Phnom Penh (read the interview here).
In this gay travel guide to Phnom Penh, I will share the best gay bars in Phnom Penh, gay hotels, spa options and everything you need to know to plan your trip to Phnom Penh.
For more gay travel in South East Asia, check out my list of the best Gay Travel Destinations in South East Asia.
Is Phnom Penh Gay Friendly?
Yes, Phnom Penh is a very gay friendly city in Cambodia.
During my time in Cambodia, I felt welcome and safe no matter where I travelled and as with many countries, it was the larger cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (see my Gay Siem Reap Travel Guide) that felt especially welcoming and gay friendly.
Phnom Penh has a very visible LGBTQ+ community, with long running gay bars, a gay hotel and LGBTQ+ events.
I interviewed a local gay man and gay bar owner, Sopheap, who shared his experience moving from rural Cambodia into the city and how this gave him greater freedom – read my interview with Sopheap here.
LGBTQ+ Rights in Cambodia
The key distinction for gay travellers coming to Cambodia is to understand that the day to day experiences and social attitudes and the laws in place are at different stages.
Socially, Cambodia is generally a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people, however, LGBTQ+ people in Cambodia do not currently have full legal equality. There are groups campaigning for equal marriage and it has been reported that equal marriage is supported by the King.
Based on my research, progress towards equal marriage appears to face constitutional hurdles, howeever there is public support from prominent figures including the King.
As a summary:
- LGBTQ+ relations are legal.
- Equal marriage is not legally recognised, but the concept is supported by the King and ongoing discussions are happening.
- There are no comprehensive LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections, although general equality is mentioned in the law.
- Legal gender recognition for trans people remains limited.
Is There a Gay Scene in Phnom Penh?
Yes! There is a gay scene in Phnom Penh. As Phnom Penh is a large city, the LGBTQ+ venues here are a little more spread out than Siem Reap (but all still easily accessible).
In terms of the gay scene in Phnom Penh, you will find a handful of gay bars, one gay men only hotel, a few local LGBTQ+ organisations and they have some spas catering to gay men.
It is worth noting that the scene changes every now and again so it is always worth checking the activity of the venues online.
Where is the Gay Area in Phnom Penh?
There is no official gay area in Phnom Penh. The gay venues in the city are a little more spread out. Some of the nightlife, including Space Hair Salon and Bar and Blue Chilli Bar are in central Phnom Penh, nearby the river and some other venues are a little south of here.
That being said, Grab (the equivalent of Uber) is very affordable so getting between places in the city is quick, easy and cheap.
If you need a ‘gay base’ then the gay hotel (more on this below) Arthur and Paul would be a good place to stay.
Take a look at the Gay Map of Phnom Penh I have a little further in this blog to get a sense of where all the gay venues in Phnom Penh can be found.
Best Gay Bars in Phnom Penh
Looking for the best gay bars in Phnom Penh? I visited these Phnom Penh gay bars in October 2026 and spoke to my local friend to confirm which bars are open, so let me share the most up to date information with you (as some online listings are inconsistent).
Space Hair Salon & Bar
This would be my number one choice for a gay bar in Phnom Penh. The bar has been running since 2013 and is a key part of the gay scene in Phnom Penh.
The bar is a hair salon by day and gay bar by night with a mixed crowd of locals and tourists. There is a cosy outdoor terrace as well as indoors or space to have a dance of course if they have a DJ playing! Check out their Instagram page to see if they have any themed nights coming up.
The bar feels very cute, authentic and has an eclectic decor inside. Me and my friends enjoyed some cocktails and some sausage dogs – yes you read that right! When we went there were 5 super cute sausage dogs running around and we each sat with one on our lap whilst we chatted and drank.
The owner of Space is called Sopheap, I interviewed Sopheap to learn about the local gay experience in Phnom Penh and more widely, Cambodia. You can read the interview here.
Pride of Cambodia – POC Lounge
Another long standing gay bar in Phnom Penh, POC bar has been running since 2015. Expect DJs, drag and performers to keep you entertained all night.
POC Lounge is a stylish lounge bar serving cocktails, wines, and light bites. The bar is just a short walk from Space so you can include it as part of a little gay bar crawl. See what they have coming up on Instagram.
Part of the wider POC group, you will also find Paradise Massage (all male) above POC Lounge.
Address: 129 Preah Ang Yukanthor Street (19) Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Blue Chilli
I briefly popped in to Blue Chilli on my recent visit, I loved the queer artwork on display before you ascend the stairs, and once inside was happy to see that the bar was a really decent size!
Blue Chilli is the longest running gay bar in Phnom Penh, since 2006, and is known for having one of the best drag shows in Cambodia.
Perhaps start at Space Bar and then head to here as the night goes on. Shows typically start around 11pm, they are active on Facebook for you to see the latest updates.
Address: 126 Street 130, Phnom Penh 12205, Cambodia
Toolbox Bar
I did not manage to visit this bar during my visit, and whilst they are not active on social media to verify that they are open, there are recent reviews available on Google (in 2026) indicating that this bar is indeed open and if you want to explore all the gay bars in Phnom Penh, you can still add this to your list.
Noted to be a casual, pub style gay bar with entertainment, a pool table and mix of locals and tourists.
Address: 12E Oknha Ket St. (174), Phnom Penh 122010, Cambodia
AsianCam
AsianCam is a gay cocktail bar in Phnom Penh, close to the Royal Palace.
The bar is one of the newer gay bars in Phnom Penh, opening mid 2026. Keep up to date on their Instagram page.
Address: House 24, Street 222, Phnom Penh.
CockPit Bar
Another brand new gay bar in Phnom Penh which opened on October 2026, as such there is not too much information available, but it looks like a cute set up. Like with all these new gay bars, double check they stay open by visiting their social pages here.
Address: Street 148 #21A, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Heart of Darkness
Not a gay bar per se, but worth mentioning as I am told it is popular with the local gay crowd.
Lesbian Bars in Phnom Penh
Leelas Queer Space
Phnom Penh now has its first Lesbian Bar, Leelas Queer Space opened in September 2026 with the aim to bring queer friends together for drinks and art in a cozy space.
Gay Hotels in Phnom Penh
There is one gay hotel in Phnom Penh and a couple of my friends stayed here recently and loved it!
Arthur & Paul – Gay Hotel
This would be my top recommendation for where to stay in Phnom Penh for gay travellers.
Arthur & Paul is a dedicated gay men only boutique hotel in Phnom Penh. They have a restaurant, bar, spa, pool, hammam, jacuzzi and sauna on site. There are ten themed rooms available, and the rooms, as well as the rest of the hotel, is stylishly designed and very aesthetic – look out for some of the cheeky artwork on display.
The hotel is also clothing optional in certain areas including poolside and parts of the spa.
Address: 27 St 71, Phnom Penh 120302, Cambodia
Gay-Friendly Hotels in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is also home to plenty of gay friendly hotels, in particular check out the following gay friendly hotels in Phnom Penh:
Sonitori Resort – Formerly Rambutan Resort Phnom Penh
A new update for 2026, Sonitori Resort has taken over, refreshed and replaced Rambutan Resort. This can be confusing as Rambutan still appears on Google maps even though it no longer exists.
Rambutan Resort was listed as a popular LGBTQ+ friendly hotel and Sonitori Resort remains the same, clearly identifying itself as a boutique LGBTQ+ resort in Phnom Penh.
The rooms are beautifully designed, and the resort has lush tropical gardens and a saltwater pool. Location wise, this is very central so it is easy to get to all the key attractions in Phnom Penh as well as the gay bars.
Rosewood Hotel
This simply has the wow factor and is one of the most luxurious hotels I have stayed in for a while. The Rosewood Hotel is an ultra luxury 5* hotel in the heart of Phnom Penh.
The service is second to none, the rooms are spectacular with floor to ceiling windows looking over the city and the on site facilities including the gym, pool and spa are also top class.
What really stood out here, including the rooms, was the breakfast – this is easily one of the best breakfasts I have had at any hotel I have ever visited.
Treat yourself! Especially if you have had a long journey to get to Phnom Penh.
Gay Saunas in Phnom Penh
There are two options for gay saunas in Phnom Penh:
Arthur & Paul Spa
First up, we have Arthur and Paul Sauna which is open to outside visitors as well as hotel guests staying at Arthur and Paul Hotel.
Facilities include a swimming pool, steam bath, dry sauna, jacuzzi, etc and you can also book massages on site.
Entry is $5 for locals and $10 for international visitors (free for hotel guests), this includes a towel, flip flops and locker.
The spa is open until midnight each day.
Address: 27 St 71, Phnom Penh 120302, Cambodia
Love Spa for Man
Second, we have Love Spa which is one of the longest-running gay saunas in Phnom Penh.
Again, it has the usual facilities of a dry sauna, steam room and pool etc for you to explore and meet others.
The spa is open from midday until 10pm.
Address: 103 Oknha Nou Kan Street (St. 105), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Gay Massage in Phnom Penh
For gay massages in Phnom Penh, again there are a couple of options:
Arthur & Paul
Head to the spa at the only gay hotel in Phnom Penh, Arthur and Paul Hotel. They offer lots of different treatments as well as massages (and then you can access the spa also).
Address: 27 St 71, Phnom Penh 120302, Cambodia
Paradise Massage
Paradise Massage is part of POC Group and is located above POC Lounge (gay bar mentioned earlier in this blog)
Paradise Massage is a male therapist-only massage spa – check out their Instagram page to see their offerings.
Open 1pm – 2am every day
Address: 129 Preah Ang Yukanthor Street (19) Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Gay Pride in Phnom Penh
Pride in Phnom Penh is looked after by Pride Cambodia and they organise a number of events during Pride Month including film fests, Pride dinners, comedy nights and of course there is plenty going on at the bars in terms of drag shows and performances. In 2026 they also held a Rainbow Run which looked fun.
Phnom Penh Pride still remains a local affair which is great to see, Pride Cambodia is also involved in campaigning to move LGBTQ+ rights in Cambodia forward.
The best place to find out what is coming up for Pride in Phnom Penh would be the Pride Cambodia Instagram page.
Gay Map of Phnom Penh
Take a look at my gay map of Phnom Penh to see where all the places mentioned in this post are located (gay places on the map with the pride flag, tourist attractions with a pin). This is particularly helpful since there is not one dedicated gay area in Phnom Penh:
Things to Do in Phnom Penh for Gay Travellers
Of course, there is so much more to see and do in Phnom Penh than the gay scene. Make sure you visit the following places during your visit to Phnom Penh.
Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
This is one of the most popular things to see in Phnom Penh, the royal residence of the King combined with the Silver Pagoda where the entire floor is built of solid silver blocks!
Please note that knees and shoulders need to be covered, you can book this individually, or for efficiency combine it into a half day tour with other key locations in Phnom Penh.
Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21)
A very difficult part of history to learn about, but somewhere essential to visit whilst you are in Cambodia as it is a crucial piece of their fairly recent history (1975 time period).
S21 was a former school turned into a Khmer Rouge prison, the Khmer Rouge being the regime that forcibly took over in 1975 and resulted in the loss of life for almost a quarter of the entire population.
Take your time to come here, be respectful and take a moment to reflect.
You can book here.
Choeung Ek K*lling Fields
Often combined with S21, prisoners that were kept and integrated in S21 and other prisons would ultimately be taken to the K*lling fields.
Again, very heavy and emotional but very important to learn about when you come to Cambodia.
You can book a tour of both here.
Silk Island
Something quite unique that I enjoyed on my visit to Phnom Penh, was a half day trip to Silk Island. It was incredibly interesting to see how people live on the island, and how they produce incredibly intricate and handmade silk items. A unique and top quality souvenir also!
Book a tour here.
Central Market & Phnom Penh Night Market
And of course, there are plenty of daytime and night time markets for you to visit in Phnom Penh. Most notably Central Market and Phnom Penh Night Market.
Be prepared to politely haggle.
Where to Eat in Phnom Penh
There are so many great options for eating out in Phnom Penh, let me share a couple:
Teddy Bear Restaurant
If you would like to support a gay owned business, then head to Teddy Bear Restaurant for Khmer, Thai and Western specialties. You will find Teddy Bear Restaurant in Toul Tom Pung.
The place also doubles up as a bar if you want a casual drink somewhere known to be gay friendly before heading somewhere busier.
Rosewood Hotel (multiple)
If fine dining is more your style, Rosewood Hotel has multiple restaurant offerings and a stunning rooftop cocktail bar called Sora.
Getting Around Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is very easy to get around.
- Walking – Walking is ok around specific neighbourhoods, but the distance between key attractions is too far to walk.
- Tuk Tuks – you can hail a Tuk Tuk from the street and agree a price to the destination in advance. That being said, see Grab below.
- Grab – the Uber for Cambodia, on Grab you can order Tuk Tuks, taxis and food. You can pay by cash (the agreed price on the app) or pay on the app with your card. a 15 minute journey in a Tuk Tuk on Grab is about $1-2, a journey to the airport (1 hour) is about $25 in a taxi or less in a Tuk Tuk.
How Many Days Do You Need in Phnom Penh?
I only spent 2 nights in Phnom Penh, this was enough for the key attractions but 3 or 4 nights would have been handy to have more time to explore the gay scene and slow down a little.
2 days would allow for the Royal Palace, Central Phnom Penh, S21/K*lling Fields and a couple of bars. 3 nights would give time to add on some spa/wellness, a deeper dive into the gay scene and additional attractions like the night markets.