RESTAURANTS
AND SHOPS

"You can also look for a shop and restaurant Coconut Water, established by an NGO of the same name that support the local community living in the countryside. In the shop you can buy some charming hand made souvenirs and clothes and upstairs there is a nice restaurant with a rooftop bar with some hammocks to relax. Maybe you will be lucky to meet one very musical waiter who sings his own version of Scott McKenzie If you’re going to Battambang…"

Battambang lies in the northwest of Cambodia, a four hour drive from Poipet (Thai Border, be aware a real rough road ;) 4 or 5 hours by boat from TonleSap Lake (Siem Reap). It is a large regional city with strong ties to Thailand. Much of the trade between the two countries passes through Battambang.
Battambang is a popular tourist destination. Apart from the popular tourist sites in the town, you will also like the captivating natural landscape. There is no dearth of exotic spots for sightseeing in Battambang. Other than sightseeing, shopping, eating out and drinking are also popular.

To satisfy the eating and drinking needs of travellers there are plenty of restaurants and bars in the city of Battambang. The local restaurants in the town are ideal places to relish traditional as well as international dishes. Listed below are some of the popular restaurants in the city of Battambang:

• Heng Lim Restaurant

• Smoking Pot

• Mercy House

• Victory mini restaurant

• Phkay Preuk

• White Rose restaurant

• La Villa Western and Asian food

• Riverside Balcony

• Sunrise Coffeehouse Western

Shopping is also a popular part of things to do in Battambang. Mentioned below are some shops and markets in the city:

• Chan Thounny Wedding Dress Shop

• KL Clothing Shop

• Lina Lyneth Clothing Shop

• Lao Chhay Try Modern Dress & Shoes Shop

• Hour Pheng Up to Date Clothing Shop

• Morng Heng Dress Shop

• Lay Lay Shop

• Leang Heng Beauty Salon & Clothing Shop

• Beauty Salons Clothing – Shopping

Local goods Marble sculpture from Pursat province, woodcarvings from Battambang and sapphires from Pailin dominate the souvenir market in Battambang. Many of the hotels as well as the small souvenir/art/curios shops on Road #1 on the river in the center of town offer a selection of wood and marble products. The art shops have a better selection than the hotels and a couple have very interesting collections of curios, old trinkets, coins, antiques and oddities - well worth a look.

Cambodian sapphires and rubies mined in Pailin near the Thai border are brought to Battambang to be graded, cut and polished. There are some good deals on stones in Battambang but be very careful when buying. Fake and low quality jewel scams are common so you need to know gemology or know your gem dealer very well. Gem and gold dealers are located in the center of Psah Nath, in little shops surrounding the psah, and in a few shops on Road #1.

If you do visit Battambang, try to arrive by one of the many boats that are continually coming and going. The sight of 20 or so touts (locals trying to get you to stay in their particular hotel or hostel) swimming out to be the first to hand you a business card is definitely a sight for travel weary eyes.