Peace Cafe

Peace Cafe is much more than a place to eat. It describes itself as a vegetarian café, community centre and fair trade shop, and it sits about five minutes from Siem Reap's Old Market. Alongside its menu of fresh, healthy vegetarian food and its bakery, it runs a programme of community activities and supports local people in a range of practical ways.

The food is entirely vegetarian, which makes Peace Cafe a reliable option for vegetarians and vegans and a refreshing change for anyone who has eaten a lot of meat-heavy dishes. The bakery adds snacks and treats to take away for a long day at the temples. The café is a member of HappyCow and the International Vegetarian Union, and it also offers a vegetarian cooking class held in a traditional Khmer hut, where you can learn to make Cambodian dishes without meat or fish.

The community side is what sets it apart. Peace Cafe hosts meditation, yoga and monk chat sessions, and it runs free Khmer classes as well as English classes for local Cambodians. Its shop provides space for products made by disadvantaged people and small artisans, and it works with NGOs on supplies, hygiene programmes and employment for disadvantaged local people.

The café suits travellers looking for a calm atmosphere, those interested in Buddhism and Cambodian culture, and anyone who wants their spending to support local communities. Families will find it relaxed, and solo travellers can easily meet others at the classes and events. Schedules for yoga, meditation, monk chats and cooking classes are not listed on the home page, so check with the café for current times and whether you need to book.

Peace Cafe is a short walk or tuk-tuk ride from the Old Market, so it is easy to combine with sightseeing and shopping in the town centre. Allow extra time if you plan to join a class or a monk chat, and dress modestly for sessions with monks. It is also a good place to pick up fair trade gifts before you leave Siem Reap, knowing that the money reaches small makers.