The Brooklyn
of Phnom Penh is
Toul Tom Poung.
The case for Toul Tom Poung
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 is the spine. 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 hundreds of vendors into a single block bounded by four streets, open every day from 7am, selling everything from $2.50 t-shirts 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.
Three sides of the neighborhood
Where to go in Toul Tom Poung.
All 22 spots mapped out
Toul Tom Poung, corner to corner.
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.
| Currency | USD |
|---|---|
| Language | Khmer |
| Cost level | $Inexpensive |
| Best months | Late November to early February |
| Local time | UTC+7 |
| Plug type | US & EU plugs · 230V/50Hz |
| Emergency | 119 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.
Asia · Cambodia
If you like Phnom Penh, try one of these.
Head to head
How does Phnom Penh stack up?
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 hundreds of vendors into a single block bounded by four streets, open every day from 7am, selling everything from $2.50 t-shirts 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 is the spine. 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.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Phnom Penh?
Toul Tom Poung is the hippest neighborhood in Phnom Penh. Street 440 lives on iced coffee by day and bar stools by night, lined with expats who booked a week and renewed their visas three years running.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Phnom Penh?
Toul Tom Poung is Phnom Penh's trendiest neighborhood right now. The Russian Market anchors a block where Khmer vendors hawk silk and bootleg paperbacks next to roasters pulling espresso for people who design apps from laptops.
Where do creatives live in Phnom Penh?
Toul Tom Poung is where Phnom Penh's creatives settle in. The neighborhood grew up around the Russian Market, where expats opened coffee shops and Khmer vendors kept selling silk and bootleg books. Concept stores along the surrounding streets sell Cambodian craft and design worth keeping. People come for a week and stay three years.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Phnom Penh?
Toul Tom Poung is the most bohemian neighborhood in Phnom Penh. Street 440 is the spine. By day it runs on iced coffee and secondhand clothes. By night the bars fill up. The Russian Market anchors everything - hundreds of vendors in one block, silk and rattan and $2.50 t-shirts, open daily from 7am.
Where should I stay in Toul Tom Poung, Phnom Penh?
The best boutique hotels in Toul Tom Poung include Pavilion Hotel, LA. CHRONIQUE, and Sundays Café & Hotel. Adults-only heritage hotel set across four period buildings, including a 1920s villa built as Queen Consort Sisowath Kossamak's private residence.
Is Toul Tom Poung in Phnom Penh safe at night?
Toul Tom Poung is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Phnom Penh expensive?
Phnom Penh rates $ on a global travel scale. Very affordable for travelers.
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.
Last updated