Viroth’s Hotel

Viroth's Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel on Street 24 in the Wat Bo area, a leafy part of central Siem Reap beside the river. Its design draws on the 1950s, and its sister properties are described as examples of mid-century modern style, so expect a retro, modernist feel rather than a traditional Khmer look. With 35 guest rooms, made up of 31 Deluxe rooms and four Suites, it is small enough to feel personal while still offering a good range of facilities.

The centrepiece is a 20-metre swimming pool, long enough for proper lengths and a welcome sight after a morning of temple visits. The hotel also has a wellness section with a spa menu, so you can book a treatment to recover from long days of walking and climbing.

Dining is flexible. The kitchen serves local Khmer cuisine and continental dishes, which you can eat in an air-conditioned dining room, in an open-air restaurant or by the pool, and there are bars for a drink in the evening. This makes it easy to have a relaxed meal without leaving the hotel, though some of the town's best restaurants and bars are within walking distance in Wat Bo.

Viroth's suits couples and design-minded travellers who want a calm, central base with character. Its guest review scores across the major booking sites are very high, which reflects the attention to service. Families with older children will appreciate the pool, while anyone who prefers a large resort with extensive facilities may find it too intimate.

The hotel is close to the Old Market and the town centre, and Angkor Wat is about 15 minutes away by tuk-tuk or car, so early starts for sunrise are straightforward. The hotel can be contacted by phone or WhatsApp, or through the booking options on its website. Book ahead for the high season, as the limited number of rooms means it fills quickly. Nearby you will find Pages Cafe, The Sugar Palm and Miss Wong, which make it easy to spend an evening within a few minutes' walk of your room. Ask the team to arrange a driver for the temples.