Kampot — Editorial Overview
Kampot is three hours south of Phnom Penh, on a broad estuary between the Elephant Mountains and the Gulf of Thailand. It has become, almost by accident, one of Southeast Asia's most interesting small-town dining destinations — a few Portuguese and French chefs who decamped from bigger cities, a new wave of Khmer cooks working with Kampot pepper and Kep crab, and a riverside scene that turns the sunset hour into something ceremonial.
Dining Neighbourhoods
The densest cluster of serious kitchens sits along Old Market Street and the riverfront promenade, both walkable from any central guesthouse. Traeuy Kaoh island, accessible by the footbridge, hosts a handful of garden restaurants and the town's newest hotel dining. Ascending into the hills toward Kampot Pepper Country you will find farm-to-table lunch spots tied to specific pepper estates.
Dining Culture & Reservations
Kampot runs on a slow rhythm. Most serious kitchens open only for dinner, six nights a week, and many will close for an extended rainy-season break (July to October). Walk-ins are often possible at the Portuguese and European tables, but the ambitious Khmer fine-dining rooms at the boutique hotels book a week ahead in high season (November to March). Tips of 10 percent are appreciated but not expected.
Tips From the Editors
Eat on the river side. The sunsets over Bokor Mountain are the town's single most valuable dining asset, and the restaurants with upper-deck river views are booked for them. Kampot pepper appears on every serious menu; order at least one dish that features it green, fresh from the vine, rather than the familiar black peppercorn. Hydrate — the humidity is real, and the ABV on local gin is higher than you think.
All Restaurants in Kampot
$ under $50 · $$ $50–$150 · $$$ $150–$300 · $$$$ $300+ per person
Modern Khmer / Fusion
Arvi
"Amber Kampot's riverside fine-dining room — the single most romantic dinner table in southern Cambodia...."
Portuguese
Tertúlia
"A tiny Portuguese tavern on Old Market Street — eight tables, a blackboard menu, and the most quietly confiden..."
French / Continental
Auberge du Soleil
"A French inn on the riverfront that has hosted more Kampot birthday dinners than anywhere else in town...."
Khmer-French Fusion
Twenty Three Bistro
"A long-running bistro with a big back garden and a menu that handles a table of twelve without missing a beat...."
International / Bar
Simon's
"The riverfront bar-restaurant where half the town eats alone at sunset — and nobody thinks twice about it...."
Best for a First Date in Kampot
First Date
Tertúlia
"A tiny Portuguese tavern on Old Market Street — eight tables, a blackboard menu, and the most quietly confident kitchen in town."
Read more →The Kampot Editorial Top 5
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#1
Arvi
Amber Kampot's riverside fine-dining room — the single most romantic dinner table in southern Cambodia.
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#2
Tertúlia
A tiny Portuguese tavern on Old Market Street — eight tables, a blackboard menu, and the most quietly confident kitchen in town.
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#3
Auberge du Soleil
A French inn on the riverfront that has hosted more Kampot birthday dinners than anywhere else in town.
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#4
Twenty Three Bistro
A long-running bistro with a big back garden and a menu that handles a table of twelve without missing a beat.
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#5
Simon's
The riverfront bar-restaurant where half the town eats alone at sunset — and nobody thinks twice about it.
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