Located in the heart of Cambodia’s bustling capital, the Rosewood Phnom Penh is a stunning luxury property that offers a unique blend of modern comfort and traditional Cambodian hospitality. With its 5 star facilities, exceptional service, and stunning views of the city, the Rosewood Phnom Penh provides an unparalleled experience for guests. We were lucky enough to spend 2 nights in this retreat in Phnom Penh thanks to a great friend who runs all the bars on property. Read on to find out what you need to know before you book!

Location: 5/5

The Rosewood Phnom Penh is a spectacular, modern building in the center of the growing metropolis that is Phnom Penh. It’s towering structure offers seemingly endless views from every angle. Just 25 minutes from the airport and a few blocks from the major attractions, Rosewood is the perfect location for guests looking for convenience and luxury. It is also connected to a mall that has restaurants and high-end shops. There are so many facilities and restaurants within the complex that guests may find themselves not even leaving the hotel.

Overall, Rosewood’s central location and easy access to the attractions of the city make it the perfect destination for business and leisure travelers.

Lobby & Check in experience: 4/5

The lobby of Rosewood Phnom Penh is located on the 35th floor so your arrival begins as you pull into the entry of the property. There is a separate hotel, mall and corporate building entrance. As you enter the lower lobby of the hotel, you’re immediately greeted by the dark, modern textures that you’ll find across the entire hotel. The lobby itself is stunning, with floor to ceiling windows and 360 degree views. The 35th floor is the main floor of the hotel that includes the Brasserie Louie, the Living Room, Patisserie, art gallery and shop. You can walk around the entire 35th floor and each spaces seamlessly flows into the next.

The check in experience itself was somewhat disappointing for the caliber of property that Rosewood is. We did not receive a welcome drink, information about the hotel and surrounding area, and we were not shown to the room. The front desk agent who checked us in was polite, but the experience felt very corporate.

The experience could easily be up-leveled to 5 stars with easy changes to their check in process and elevating the arrival. There are ample sitting areas in the lobby and they could easily implement a seated check in with a water or welcome drink, cold towels and more information about the facilities, such as the fantastic complimentary tuktuk.

Rooms: 5/5

The rooms at Rosewood Phnom Penh are absolutely stunning, with floor to ceiling windows that overlook the growing city of Phnom Penh. We checked into a Grand Premiere Room that features over 600 square feet of luxury amenities and comfort. When you first walk into the room, there is a long closet connected to the bedroom & living space as well as access to the bathroom. The bedroom has a well-stocked minibar, a luxurious king bed facing the view and a generous sitting area with a sizeable dining table for two. The bathroom is spacious and features a tub, standalone rain shower, cleverly tucked away toilet room and a his and hers vanity. There is also a separate make up vanity with ample storage space.

While the room layout and architecture is stunning, what makes the room truly exceptional is the attention to every detail. There are beautiful art pieces, books, knick knacks and generally homey elements throughout the room that make it feel incredibly unique. The minibar is stocked with food, drinks and crystal glassware, tea sets and equipment to mix cocktails on the bar. The ice is stocked nightly for a nightcap and everything feels extremely thoughtful.

One of my favorite things about the room is the technology. The blinds, lighting and electrical are all automated and controlled by central switches near the bed and door. There is also a master switch and it’s extremely easy to figure out how to work the different switches as they are labeled well and easily accessible. Another win for this room is how silent it is. We never heard a neighbor or any noise from the outside. It’s almost completely silent in the rooms which is excellent for a light sleeper.

Overall, the rooms are incredibly well designed to maximize comfort, restfulness and luxury. I highly recommend an upgrade to the Grand Premier category for incredible views. If you are looking for suite style accommodations, they come with some added benefits like a complimentary happy hour from 5:30-7pm daily as well as a complimentary tour via tuktuk.

Service: 4/5

Overall, service was both excellent in some areas and just ok in others. The outstanding service by housekeeping really saves the day. Housekeeping comes twice daily to all room types and does a thorough job fully cleaning the room each time but also adding excellent amenities that elevate the service level beyond expectations. Guests can expect to have their charging cords wrapped and tied with a Rosewood branded leather wrap, their glasses nicely positioned with a new Rosewood branded cleaning cloth, bookmarks placed in books and many more elegant surprises. I found myself leaving things around the room to see what housekeeping would do next and it was such a fun experience. Those little touches are what elevates a “fine” housekeeping experience to a true 5 star and beyond.

Since housekeeping was so exceptional, we were disappointed to see that this bespoke and elegant service didn’t extend to the front desk. While the check in experience was just standard, the front desk and bellmen never really engaged beyond a polite welcome here and there. Services like providing water to guests coming back from an exciting day or even just small things like checking in with guests coming up the elevator would do a lot to elevate the service experience to match the areas they do excel in, like housekeeping. It would be very easy for the bellmen to offer a cold towel when guests arrive or provide helpful maps as you leave the property. There was also some inconsistency when it came to service during busy versus quiet times. As restaurants filled up, the service was more and more sparse. These issues are easy adjustments for a hotel to make and we look forward to seeing how they change over time. Overall, you can expect an elevated experience in most areas throughout your stay, especially in housekeeping. One thing you can be absolutely sure of is that the hospitality of the employees is genuine and friendly.

Dining: 4.5/5

For a city property, Rosewood Phnom Penh has an impressive selection of dining outlets. Including bars and restaurants, there are 9 outlets, making it almost impossible to want to leave the hotel. We had the chance to try a selection of their restaurants and here are our impressions:

Brasserie Louis is the “main” restaurant and it’s located next to the lobby & Living Room and it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had breakfast here daily and the selection is excellent with both eastern and western style dishes available. While it did get quite hectic in the morning during brunch, the food is great and the views are fantastic.

Cuts is the steakhouse and was by far our favorite dining outlet. They offer lunch and dinner and we were able to take part in their pre-fixe lunch that includes an appetizer, main, dessert and beverage. The quality of the food is extremely high and some of the vegetables and garnishes are even grown in the greenhouse on property. We didn’t get a tour this time, but for sure hoping to see that on the next trip. The pre-fixe lunch special is $35 and comes in at a great value for the quality of the cuisine. The service was also excellent at this venue and the drinks are great.

Iza is the Japanese restaurants that has a sushi counter as well as table seating. They serve ramen, sushi and traditional Japanese dishes. We stopped in for a bowl of ramen and the restaurant was packed with both guests and locals. The price is great overall for the food, though we were a bit underwhelmed as one of the two dishes was not particularly good. We did tell the staff that one of the dishes was not good and the reaction was more defensive than helpful so we ended up just finishing the dish we had an left.

The Living Room is a bar located next to the lobby and serves tea and cocktails. They do have a great tea hour where you can prepay for a buffet and tea. We spent some time in The Living Room enjoying afternoon cocktails with a stellar sunset.

Last but not least, SORA bar is our favorite place on property and not just because our friend, Bob, runs it. The bar is a stunning cantilevered architectural marvel that towers high above the city below and it’s exquisite. The cocktails are excellent and the service is truly fantastic. It’s clearly the “hottest” bar in Phnom Penh and is frequented by locals, other tourists and hotel guests. The bar has some incredible programs where they frequently bring in world-famous bars from around the world in a one-night takeover. When we were at the hotel, it happened to coincide with a takeover by COA bar, recently name the best bar in Asia. The cocktails were incredible and the ambience and energy in the bar was so fun. The next night, we ended our night at SORA with exceptional cocktails and enjoyed the picturesque views of Phnom Penh. Even if you don’t stay at Rosewood, I 100% recommend a visit to SORA bar.

There are a few other outlets we didn’t get to try out like the Whiskey Library, Patisserie and Zhan Liang (located in the mall) but we have no doubt their quality is excellent and look forward to returning to test them out. It’s truly difficult to leave the hotel to explore other restaurants in the city thanks to the diversity of options and incredible ambience that you get in every outlet. Of the options, Cuts and SORA bar are must-do’s when visiting Rosewood and Phnom Penh.

Facilities: 5/5

Rosewood feels more like a high-rise resort than a standard hotel in the city and has a suite of amenities and facilities that promote relaxation and rest within the property. There is a well-equipped fitness center and beautiful indoor pool as well as a spa. The indoor pool is a 22-meter pool with stellar views over the city while being protected indoors. There are ample loungers to relax.

The hotel also offers a remork, commonly referred to as tuktuk, service that is complimentary for up to 2.3km around the hotel which covers most of what you want to see within the city itself. It’s a beautiful tuktuk and you can request a ride anywhere within that radius by asking the bellmen. You can also choose to do a tour via tuktuk and suites do come with a tour. We loved the tuktuk and used it to get around to various shops throughout our stay. We also had the chance to do an abreviated tour that was really fun.

There is a mall attached to the hotel with luxury boutiques as well as the Zhan Liang restaurant owned by the hotel. Lastly, a little known fact is that the hotel does also have a greenhouse onsite that grows many of the garnishes for cocktails and various greens for salads. It’s a fantastic initiative that we full support and hope to get a tour of next time!

Overall, the facilities are excellent at this property and we highly recommend planning to spend a lot of time exploring the galleries, outlets and mall during your stay.

Style: 5/5

Rosewood Phnom Penh is a stunning, modern marvel in the heart of the capital. The style of the hotel reflect both a modern hotel experience but also an authentic, genuine look into Cambodian culture and history. There is artwork and decor throughout the hotel that gives small glimpses into the culture and art of a beautiful nation with rich history. There is a seemingly perfect blend of modern amenities with the softness that comes with homey decor and amenities. Every space is perfectly designed and executed to be comfortable, elegant and clean. They’ve truly done an exceptional job across every space visible to the eye, including hidden panels and doors that mask what guests shouldn’t see. You find find doors labeled “ice machine” or “housekeeping” here. You will find only beautiful, inviting entryways and see only spaces that guests are welcome. Housekeeping and back of house staff slip seamlessly between hidden panels and doors tucked behind lacquered walls and mirrors around the hotel and it’s almost impossible to catch them. It’s truly well done and adds so much to the style.

Overall: 4.6/5

Overall, I completely understand why Rosewood Phnom Penh has won awards from some of the biggest and best agencies and magazines around the world. Apart from the obvious beauty and luxury it exudes, the amenities and facilities that guests have access to are truly exceptional and with small fixes in their front office service, I have no doubt they would be a true 5 star experience across every category. The cocktails at SORA, the fine dining, the relaxing pool deck and the exquisite rooms make Rosewood a sure win for any guest looking for a luxury resort in the heart of Phnom Penh.