The Brooklyn
of Phnom Penh is
Toul Tom Poung.

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The case for Toul Tom Poung

Toul Tom Poung is the coolest neighborhood in Phnom Penh for Russian Market silk stalls, Street 440 iced coffee, and speakeasy bars that keep expats for years.

Toul Tom Poung grew up around the Russian Market and never really left. Expats opened coffee shops, Khmer vendors kept selling silk and bootleg books, and somehow it all works. Street 440 runs through the middle of it all. By day it's iced coffee and secondhand clothes. By night the bars fill with people who came for a week and stayed three years.

The Russian Market packs vendors into a humid warren of narrow alleys, open every day from 7am, selling everything from silk scarves and garment overruns to Honda Dream parts.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Phnom Penh.

Tonle Bassac

Tonle Bassac is where the money landed. Glass towers next to old shophouses, rooftop bars with Mekong views, and restaurants that actually take reservations.

BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)

BKK1 is the expat safety blanket. Good brunch, reliable wifi, Western groceries. Comfortable but a little too comfortable. Street 278 is the main drag.

Daun Penh

Daun Penh is the old city, full stop. The Royal Palace, the riverfront, tuk-tuk chaos on every corner. Tourist-heavy but still the real heartbeat of Phnom Penh.

See the full shortlist, ranked →
Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Toul Tom Poung.

01
Stay in Toul Tom Poung

Nobody comes to Toul Tom Poung for a lobby with marble floors.
02
Eat & Drink in Toul Tom Poung

Mornings start with num pang from the east side of Russian Market and iced coffee strong enough to reset your internal clock.
03
Do & Shop in Toul Tom Poung

Russian Market is the anchor.
All 22 spots mapped out

Toul Tom Poung, corner to corner.

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Our 22 top picks

The Toul Tom Poung guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyUSD
LanguageKhmer
Cost level $Inexpensive
Best monthsLate November to early February
Local time UTC+7
Plug type US & EU plugs · 230V/50Hz
Emergency117 police, 119 ambulance
Local tip
The best num pang sandwiches at Russian Market are from the stalls on the east side, not the ones facing Street 163.
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Common questions

Things to know about Toul Tom Poung.

What is the Brooklyn of Phnom Penh?
The Brooklyn of Phnom Penh is Toul Tom Poung. Toul Tom Poung grew up around the Russian Market and never really left. The Russian Market packs vendors into a humid warren of narrow alleys, open every day from 7am, selling everything from silk scarves and garment overruns to Honda Dream parts.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Phnom Penh?
Toul Tom Poung is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Phnom Penh. Toul Tom Poung grew up around the Russian Market and never really left. Expats opened coffee shops, Khmer vendors kept selling silk and bootleg books, and somehow it all works. Street 440 runs through the middle of it all. By day it's iced coffee and secondhand clothes. By night the bars fill with people who came for a week and stayed three years.
Where should I stay in Toul Tom Poung, Phnom Penh?
The best boutique hotels in Toul Tom Poung include Sundays Café & Hotel, Pavilion Hotel, and La. Chronique. Sundays Café & Hotel is the one to book first. Fully vegan café and four-room eco-hotel in a converted Cambodian terrace house, solar-powered and built with reclaimed materials throughout. The oat flat whites are London-caliber, the plant-based Khmer dishes are genuinely good, and the original yellow terrazzo staircase is a quiet stunner.
Is Toul Tom Poung in Phnom Penh safe at night?
Toul Tom Poung is one of the calmer central neighborhoods, with residential streets and a steady expat presence. Petty theft - phone snatching from tuk-tuks, bag grabs by passing motos - is the main risk citywide. Keep your phone away from the street side, use Grab or PassApp after dark, and stick to lit main roads when walking back late.
Is Phnom Penh expensive?
Phnom Penh is cheap by international standards, and Toul Tom Poung fits that. The airport is 10 km west, with a PassApp or Grab car running 6-9 USD to your door. Street stalls stay cash-only, and small tips of 1-2 USD for housekeeping matter more here than back home.
When is the best time to visit Phnom Penh?
Come to Phnom Penh between late November and early February, when it stays dry, highs hover around 30C, and the humidity eases enough for walking the markets and riverside. February and March heat up quickly, and April routinely reaches 38C. The southwest monsoon runs May through October with heavy afternoon storms, though mornings usually stay usable if you plan around them.

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