Restaurant
Cuisine Wat Damnak
Chef Joannes Riviere's dinner-only restaurant in a traditional wooden house, serving regularly changing eight-course tasting menus of seasonal Cambodian produce.
HAVEN
A social-enterprise training restaurant in a garden and traditional Khmer house, serving Asian and international dishes while preparing young Cambodians for work.
At a glance
- Type
- Training restaurant, Asian and international
- Area
- Sala Kamreuk, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday) · 10:00–22:00
- Official site
- havencambodia.com
Good to know
- Garden seating
- Vegetarian and vegan options
- Social enterprise
- Closed Mondays
Why we recommend it
HAVEN is a restaurant with a purpose. It is a training restaurant and social enterprise that takes in new students each year, mainly young adults who are moving out of shelters and young people from rural areas, and teaches them the vocational and life skills they need to find work and live independently. The project is backed by the Swiss association Dragonfly, and the money you spend on your meal helps to fund the training programme.
The food is a mix of Asian and international dishes, with many vegetarian and vegan options, which makes it a good choice for groups with different tastes or for a break from a week of Khmer cooking. The menu runs from lunch through to dinner, so you can drop in for a midday meal after a morning at the temples or come for a relaxed evening. Service is provided by the students as part of their training, so a little patience on busy evenings is appreciated.
The setting is one of the most attractive in Siem Reap for a casual meal: a tropical garden and a traditional Khmer house, away from the noise of the town centre. It suits families, couples and solo travellers. Ask the staff about the programme if you would like to know more about the students and how the training works.
HAVEN is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 10pm, with the kitchen closing at 9:30pm, and it is closed on Mondays. It is popular, so it is wise to reserve a table through the reservations page of the website or by phone or email, particularly in the evening and in the high season. The restaurant closes for some Cambodian festivals, so check its social media pages around public holidays. Lunch is often the most relaxed time to visit, and the garden is particularly pleasant in the early evening once the heat of the day has passed.
The restaurant is on Chocolate Road in Sangkat Sala Kamreuk, a short tuk-tuk ride from the Old Market. It combines well with an evening at Phare, The Cambodian Circus, itself a social business, or with visits to the other training restaurants in town that support young Cambodians.
HAVEN FAQs
What is HAVEN?
A training restaurant and social enterprise that teaches vocational and life skills to young Cambodians leaving shelters and from rural areas.
When is HAVEN open?
Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 10pm, with the kitchen closing at 9:30pm. It is closed on Mondays.
What kind of food does it serve?
Asian and international dishes, with many vegetarian and vegan options.
Do I need to book?
Booking is recommended, especially in the evening and in the high season, through the website, by phone or by email.
Where is HAVEN?
On Chocolate Road in Sangkat Sala Kamreuk, a short tuk-tuk ride from the Old Market.
Who supports HAVEN?
The Swiss association Dragonfly is behind the project, and meals help to fund the training.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes, the garden setting and varied menu suit families.
Does it close for holidays?
It closes for some Cambodian festivals, such as Pchum Ben, so check its social media around public holidays.