In the bustling heart of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, sits the Hyatt Regency. This property provides an great retreat for travelers seeking to experience the vibrant culture, history, and life of the city, while returning back to a clean, modern and quiet hotel. From its prime location to the great resort-style facilities, the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh is a great choice for any traveler looking for a good jumping off point in Phnom Penh. We booked a short, 1-night stay using our free night certificate an had a great experience overall.
Location: 5/5
We visited Phnom Penh over 11 years ago for the first time and so much has changed since that trip. Hyatt Regency is located in a prime spot in the heart of Phnom Penh, just minutes from the Royal Palace and a short walk from the night market and most sites tourists are looking to explore during their trip.
The airport is approximately 30-35 minutes depending on traffic and just a block from the river. Guests can explore by foot or by downloading Grab Taxi, a commonly used uber alternative in the region to explore via Remork (tuktuk) or taxi. The structure of the Hyatt is fascinating, blending the old Cambodian colonial architecture for the lobby and the towering modern building for the rooms and facilities.
Overall, if I were to return to Phnom Penh, I would not hesitate to book this property thanks to the great location and solid points redemption.
Lobby & Check in experience: 4/5
The lobby is located in the old colonial structure that Hyatt has converted to the Lobby. It is absolutely beautiful with colonial style furnishings, beautiful tones of yellow and rich fabrics the region is famous for. This property clearly deals with many events such as conferences and weddings so I would expect the lobby to be particularly busy during evening hours.
When we checked in, the driveway was not accessible so we had to get dropped off outside the hotel on the street, but once we made it inside we were greeted by the front desk and checked in very efficiently. We were surprised with an upgrade from our standard king room to a suite (without Regency Club access) which was a great surprise. We also were provided with a free drink token to use at their somewhat hidden bar. The checkin was somewhat chaotic but it was efficient, friendly and quick.
Rooms: 4.5/5
We booked a standard king room with our expiring free night and were upgraded to a version of the Regency Suite which was a gorgeous 1-bedroom suite overlooking the pool. The suite was about 700 square feet and featured a spacious living room with a one-seater dinette, half-bath, sofa with television and oversized minibar. The bedroom has a king bed, floor to ceiling windows and access to the adjoining bathroom.
The standard king is 322 square feet and features modern furnishings, great lighting and the typical Hyatt comforts that make you feel very much at home. All the rooms have excellent lighting and automated master switches which we absolutely love. In general, the rooms felt extremely clean, modern and relaxing. We loved the small elements that they included that tied back to Cambodian culture and art such as the wood carvings on the headboard and the color pops throughout. There are no real unique features of the rooms and it does feel fairly corporate, but that is the norm for a Regency property.
Overall, I would be very comfortable in the standard king room but was very pleased to experience a Hyatt that upgrades elites (Explorist). It’s fairly rare anywhere in the world to get a suite upgrade from a standard free night award and it was clear they value their loyal customers. The amenities, toiletries and modern comforts make this a great choice.
Service: 4/5
Overall, service was solid across the board. In general, staff we interacted with were pleasant, helpful and efficient, starting with our check in process. The area that needs the most work in service is certainly around the bell staff. There is no assistance with luggage and they were not able to call us a taxi so I am not 100% sure what their role is. We ended up downloading Grab to get a taxi since no one was able to call one for us. This point of friction can mare the experience during two critical points of the stay- check in and departure.
The dining staff were extremely helpful and friendly. We were provided a drink token to their somewhat hidden bar, Metropole Underground, and the service and entertainment were fun to experience.
They do offer once daily housekeeping and their cleaning is extremely thorough as it really felt like no one had ever stayed in our room before, despite the property opening in 2021.
Dining: 4/5
The property offers a few different options for dining.
The main restaurant, The FiveFive Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge, offers a blend of local Khmer cuisine and international dishes. The restaurant also offers a panoramic view of the city, and is a great spot for an evening cocktail after dinner. While we did not make it here on this trip, we heard from several guests that it’s worth the stop even if you are not staying at the hotel.
For a more casual dining experience, guests can visit the Market Café, a buffet-style restaurant that serves a variety of international cuisines. We did dine here for breakfast before departure the food was excellent with a wide variety of options. The service was also quite good and multiple staff members stopped by to make sure everything was ok.
The hotel also has a bar, the Metropole Underground, which was a very strange experience in general. It’s located on one of the parking levels and is very difficult to access. Once you find it, it’s a cool spot that has live music and cocktails. It was unclear whether this was owned by the hotel or not but the layout and decor was very fun. We did stop in here to use our free drink token and it was worth the stop. The band that played was excellent, but we were also the only guests!
Overall, the dining options are plentiful at the property. It’s worth noting that the prices are very high for Cambodia and there are a number of restaurants outside the hotel that are easy to access. On a quick trip, it is great to know that you can get good food and a nightcap at a cool rooftop bar without leaving the hotel.
Facilities: 5/5
The Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh offers a solid selection of facilities for guests within the hotel. They have modern and well-equipped fitness center that is open 24/7 and features a variety of equipment, including treadmills, resistance machines, and free weights. The space is large and has great natural lighting.
In addition to the fitness center, the hotel also houses a beautiful outdoor swimming pool. While somewhat small, there are chaise loungers and umbrellas around the entire pool and it was not crowded during our stay. The pool is perfectly cold which was very refreshing in the heat of Phnom Penh. They don’t have pool service in the morning but there is a water machine located near the entrance to the fitness center.
The hotel also offers a full-service spa. The spa offers a wide range of treatments and therapies, including massages, facials, and body treatments, all designed to rejuvenate and revitalize the body and mind.
Overall, the facilities at Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh are top-tier, providing everything a guest might need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. It’s a great retreat in the heart of Phnom Penh and does offer everything needed for a solid stay at a great price.
Style: 4.5/5
In general, the style is a mix of modern and Cambodian influence. There are elements throughout the hotel that bring in colorful fabrics or wood carvings in the traditional temple style that give it a sense of place that otherwise would not exist. That being said, the style is fairly corporate and sterile in some areas. We did love the incorporation of standard Hyatt amenities like master switches, easy to access charging ports and the clean comfort you can expect from most Hyatt’s around the world. The dining venues and lobby are well designed and give it a real vibe so they did an excellent job across the hotel in making it feel like you actually are in Cambodia.
Overall: 4.4/5
Overall, we had a very pleasant and short stay at the Regency in Phnom Penh. The style, facilities and quiet, comfortable rooms are a great retreat from the crazy city beyond the walls. I would not hesitate to book here again, especially if I have any free night awards or points to burn.
