The artfully designed TeaHouse strikes a balance between cost and aesthetics.
In Phnom Penh there are generally two options for accommodation: cheap and charmless, or expensive. But the TeaHouse Hotel on Street 242 strikes a good balance between price and aesthetics. The 52-room hotel is artfully designed but also reasonably priced, and thus the perfect place to stay for the “no longer a backpacker, not yet a business traveler” type.
The lounging lobby of Phnom Penh’s TeaHouse Hotel.
The TeaHouse is a sister hotel and more affordable alternative to the high-end Plantation Hotel nearby. There are similar stylistic elements, like colorful silk cushions and bright, bold accent pieces; it’s clear that the same artistic minds are behind both hotels. But the TeaHouse has managed to offer a competitive product that is half the price of the Plantation, while sacrificing very little in terms of quality.
Hot in the city? Hit the TeaHouse pool.
There are areas in which the Plantation excels, of course. The pool is bigger, the buffet breakfast is more vast, and while the bathrooms in the Plantation have been luxuriously renovated, the ones at the TeaHouse are nothing to write home about. That said, for the price TeaHouse offers more than most of its competitors, just because it has a bit of personality and hasn’t skimped on the small touches that make a hotel feel special. For example, the one-bedroom suite has a large lounge room with bright red chairs, colorful Asian cushions, orange ottomans, and a daybed for relaxing. Silk is used judiciously, for cushions and lamps, but not overdone (unlike the many Cambodian hotels whose silk-mania has left this frequent traveler with a visceral hatred for the fabric).
Rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, electronic safe, and minibar. All bookings include a buffet breakfast that includes a variety of breakfast options and lots of fresh tropical fruit.
The one-bedroom suite at the TeaHouse has more than enough room to spread out.
TeaHouse excels at attention to detail. Guests are greeted with a cool towel and fresh juice, and electric outlet adaptors are available as a matter of course. The hotel uses tea as a motif, from the Chinese tea canisters decorating the reception area to the more than 30 types of tea served in the cafe. The cafe also offers a mix of Asian dishes, from nasi gorang to sushi. There’s also a spa on site with reasonably priced massages.
Rise and shine! Breakfast at the TeaHouse Hotel.
There are several room types at TeaHouse Hotel: standard, superior, and deluxe double, deluxe twin, and one and two-bedroom suites. Rack rates are between $62 to $118 per night, but prices are significantly cheaper on Booking.com and Agoda. During the low season, prices go as low as $35, with all taxes included.
→ Check prices and book a room at on Booking.com or Agoda now.
The TeaHouse
32 Street 242, Royal Palace area, Phnom Penh
T: 023 212 789
theteahouse.asia
Looking for more? View the full Phnom Penh city guide for tips on where to stay, what to eat, and things to see and do.
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We were given a free stay at the TeaHouse, although it was not in exchange for a review. We do not give phony reviews in return for freebies. Seriously. For more information about our policies, please see the disclosures section of our About Us page. We may (or may not) earn commission on sales made through some links on this page.