Looking for the 2015 list? Check out the best 2015 Christmas dinners in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia sure loves its Christmases, and every year there seems to be more and more of it. Here’s the Move to Cambodia round-up of the best 2014 Christmas dinners in Phnom Penh with a good mix of budget and upscale options. If you know of others, please leave details in the comment section.

Just another sunny Christmas in Cambodia.

Hagar Restaurant

Hagar is having their yearly buffet on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On the 24th and 25th they are offering a buffet dinner that costs $20 for adults and $10 for kids 10 and under. On the 25th they are also offering lunch buffet at $15 for adults and $7.50 for kids. The Christmas Eve menu features roast turkey and the Christmas Day menu features lamb. Both have lots of sides, accompaniments and starters, including cheese and soup. There will be several desserts that will include Christmas pudding and apple pie. Reservations are required. T: 070 221 501

44 Street 310, BKK1, Phnom Penh
T: 010 333 095
hagarcatering.com

Aussie XL

Aussie XL does a great value Christmas dinner of roast turkey with stuffing, honey-glazed ham and roast pork with roast potatoes and vegetables, pumpkin and a pudding with custard for $15.95 per person starting at 12:00 on Christmas day. Reservations suggested as they will book up fast. T: 023 301 001.

205A Street 51 (Pasteur), Phnom Penh
T: 023 301 001
aussiexl.com

Alley Cat Cafe

Alley Cat always puts on a great holiday feed, and this year promises to be no different. On Christmas Day they are offering a three-course menu for $19.50 per person. The meal with start an egg nog welcome drink, mussels in a fresh tomato and basil broth, then a plate of turkey and ham with mixed roasted vegetables, lamb with mint sausage, cauliflower cheese, red cabbage with apricot and balsamic vinaigrette, and Italian green peas. If you’re not too stuffed, they give you a choice of Christmas pudding or raspberry cheesecake for dessert. They are serving from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas day. Reservations are advised, call 012 306 845.

42, Street 19z, Phnom Penh
T: 012 306 845
facebook.com/AlleyCatCafeCambodia

FCC

The FCC is back with their yearly offering on December 24th and 25th, offering a set menu for $35++ per person that includes a glass of wine. They have not released the menu this year, but last year it featured roast turkey. Since last year, though, the price has gone up and the glass of champagne has disappeared, so already a disappointment. Call for reservations: 010 849 637.

363 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh
T:023 724 014
fcccambodia.com

Paddy Rice

Paddy Rice is offering a two or three-course Christmas lunch and dinner on the 25th of December. Lunch runs from noon til 2:30 p.m. and dinner is at 6:00 til 8:30 p.m. You’ll be greeted with a glass of Buck’s Fizz on arrival, then a classic prawn cocktail and then onto a traditional roast turkey and ham dinner with brussels sprouts, sausage wrapped in bacon, stuffing balls, bread sauce, roast potatoes, carrots, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce. For dessert there’s a fruit trifle. Cost is $19.50 for two courses and $22.50 for three courses, and if you book a table of four in advance, they’ll throw in a free bottle of wine. Bookings are recommended.

213 Sisowath Quay (at the corner of Street 136), Phnom Penh
T: 023 990 321; 017 773 102
paddyrice.net

The Exchange

The Exchange is putting on Christmas dinner to benefit Cambodian Children’s Fund, as well as a cyclo scavenger hunt. The day starts at Black Bambu at 10:30 a.m. where you’ll answer clues in a Christmas quiz and collect random items on route for a chance to win Santa’s sack. Don’t ask me what this means, because I’m just as perplexed as you are, but I can only report the nonsense that I’ve been given. The main event though is the Christmas carvery, featuring roast turkey with chestnut herb stuffing and honey-glazed ham with apples sauteed in brandy, roast vegetables and mashed potatoes, as well as a seafood buffet featuring prawns and oysters and a tasty-sounding selection of canapes. Mince pies, Christmas pudding, cheese and port will all be served, as well as free-flow drinks throughout the day. The price is $65, or $15 for those 16 and under. Kids under 5 eat for free. Reserve in advance by calling 023 992 865 or email info@theexchange-cambodia.com.

28 Street 47 (France Street), Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh
T: 023 992 865
theexchange-cambodia.com

Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh all decked out for Christmas.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal

If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, Raffles always has several very swish options (even if you don’t want to spend this much on a meal, it’s worth going to check out their 12-foot Christmas tree that they’ve had shipped in from the United States).

Every day until the 31st Raffles has a Christmas afternoon tea, which I think is the same as their usual afternoon tea, with the addition of Cambodian children singing Christmas carols. Price is $20++ or $34++ with a glass of (actual) Champagne.

It appears that they’ve reduced the more “affordable” options this year, and are focusing on their Le Royal buffet dinners on the 24th and 25th for $125++ and $100++ respectively. We’re still on the edge of our seats waiting for the menu to be emailed to us, but we’ve been promised “traditional favorites such as roast ham or roast turkey and an extensive buffet selection including yule log cakes, minced pies and more.” Plus all-you-can-drink wine, beer, and…water. Dinners from from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and kids meals are half price (and those 5 and under eat for free). Dress accordingly and reservations required: T: 023 981 888.

UPDATE: We’ve got the Christmas day buffet brunch menu at Raffles Le Royal and it was worth waiting for. They’re having a guy standing at a station pan-searing foie gras. There’s sushi, there’s oyster Rockefeller, sashimi, blini, a lumpfish caviar station, a salad bar, a cold cut and terrine bar, roast turkey and seared salmon, pecan pie and a yule…basically I have a list of a hundred decadent foods in front of me and I just picked ten of them and typed them out. But trust me, it’s big and it’s good. There’s also a Christmas day dinner at Cafe Monivong that is equally over the top, featuring a similar selection to the above, with the addition of a seafood tartar station and serving ham instead of turkey.

They’re also offering “intimate festive celebrations,” ostensibly to keep you away from the riff-raff crowding their $125 buffets. These intimate celebrations are available for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner and feature a five-course set menu with a glass of Champagne. There are promises of foie gras, venison, and Christmas pudding, as well as lots of wine. And a cheese trolly. Yep, a cheese trolly. $160++ on Christmas Eve and $130++ on Christmas Day. Reservations required: T: 023 981 888.

92 Rukhak Vithea Daun Penh (near Wat Phnom), Phnom Penh
T: 023 981 888
raffles.com

InterContinental Hotel

The Phnom Penh InterCon also has several Christmas activities and options, starting with a ‘Dreaming of a White Christmas‘ dinner on December 24th, although the title may refer to the skin color of their target audience rather than the possibility of snow. In the Regency Cafe they’ll be offering a lavish buffet including turkey, foie gras, salmon and tuna tartar and soft shell crab, for $48++. First kid under 12 eats free, additional kids cost 50% of the adult price. There will be children singing carols. Phew.

On the 25th from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the InterContinental has a Christmas brunch in the Regency Cafe, during which Santa will make an appearance and bring gifts for the kids AND adults. Last year there were only gifts for kids and the adults revolted, forcing the InterCon’s hand. The menu will feature a wide selection of what they deem to be Christmas favorites: premium seafood, a raclette station, chicken saltimbocca, and pavlova. (This seems to be a “Christmas in many lands” theme, maybe?) $48++ per person. Reservations: T: 023 424 888 ext. 3562. For more details check out Holidays at the Phnom Penh InterContinental.

296 Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Phnom Penh
T: 023 424 888
ihg.com/phnompenh

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra

The Sofitel has several Christmas options this year. On December 24th they are having a Christmas Eve 4-course dinner at Do Forno with a lot of food that I’m too lazy to type out. $78++ per person, $39++ for children under 12.

Also on December 24th from 6:00 until 10:00 p.m. at La Coupole, there will be a dinner serving up Christmas favorites and Christmas carvery. Best of all, they’ll have free-flow booze. $89++ per person including unlimited beer and wine, $109++ per person including unlimited Champagne, and $45++ for kids under 12 that includes…unlimited soft drinks.

On Christmas Day, the Sofitel has a brunch at La Coupole from noon until 3 p.m. If it’s anything like last year, this one will be well suited for children as they’ll have a dedicated kid’s corner with live entertainment and access to the pool. The menu will feature Christmas classics. $89++ per person including unlimited beer and wine, $109++ per person including unlimited Champagne, and $45++ for kids under 12 that includes…unlimited soft drinks.

On the evening of December 25th they’ll have a dinner at La Coupole that features fresh seafood and a “festive buffet.” $45++ for adults and includes a glass of wine, $23++ for kids and includes a glass of…iced tea. 6:00 til 10:00 p.m. Reserve all of the above in advance: T: 023 999 200

26 Old August Site, Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh
T:023 999 200
sofitel.com

Himawari Hotel

Every year the Himawari does a Christmas eve buffet starting at 6:30 p.m. that includes roast turkey and ham. Their flyer also shows a photo of a fruitcake. Entrance also includes an “attractive goodie bag and party pack” and free-flow soft drinks, beer, and…juice. Dance performances and lucky draws are also on the agenda. Cost is $65++ per person. Reserve for 5 adults, get 1 free. Children 6-12 $32.50++, under 6, free of charge. Reserve in advance by calling 016 871 766 or email fnbsales@himiwari.com.kh.

313 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh
T: 023 214 555
himawarihotel.com

NagaWorld

Frankly, I don’t believe that anyone is still reading this, but if you are, Nagaworld has a five, seven or nine-course menu option for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Le Gourmet, their French restaurant. Lunch is served from noon until 3:00 p.m. and dinner is served from 5:30 p.m til 9:30 p.m. Five courses costs $60++, seven courses is $90++, nine courses is $110++ and each meal includes a chintzy single glass of wine. It’s likely that like last year, Christmas dinner will also get you entrance to Darlin’ Darlin’, the Nagaworld nightclub that features a pretty decent Filipino cover band and a lot of good-looking, financially-minded ladies. For reservations, call 023 228 822.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen Park, Phnom Penh
T: 023 228 822
nagaworld.com

*All of the hotel prices are ++, which means they don’t include various taxes and VAT. Expect to pay an extra 10% above the listed price.