Siem Reap, The Red Piano Guesthouse & Resto (2011, Mar 14-16)

The Red Piano Guesthouse is right in the center of Siem Reap... Located on a quiet side street of the main center road Sivatha, 50m northwest of the Old Market (Phsar Chas), the red-painted guesthouse is within walking distance to the ever famous Pub Street (Street 8). And hey! Restos, bars, stores and money exchange are just around the corner. There is even a useful 24 hour supermarket at the end of the road. Great location for me!!! Being about 2 blocks from that center intersection meant there was no noise, either from traffic or tourist noise.

At USD 15/day, I got a clean air-conditioned room, a TV set, hot water and complimentary breakfast. My room is at Level 2, Room no. 8... a cozy room with carved wood furniture and bright green ambiance. Altogether they have 15 rooms, 3 rooms at Ground Floor, 6 rooms at Second Floor and 6 rooms at Third Floor. If you're a light sleeper, go for the room in the building at the rear. Log in www.redpianocambodia.com to choose your room and a color theme to your liking!!!

Breakfast is not served in the hotel, but at the Red Piano Restaurant, an excellent restobar which is 250 m away from the guesthouse. For breakfast, you got coffee/tea with a cookie, 2 toasted baguettes with jam and butter and a small fruit plate. Any additional items will be charged. Remember to ask for breakfast voucher at the guesthouse reception. Breakfast is served from 0700 to 1100 hours.

The guesthouse offers free airport pick-up if you arrange to use the driver to visit the Angkor Temples for at least one day. The small tour is charged USD 25/day/aircon sedan with USD 5 additional charge if you want to see the sunrise. Mr. Souchan, the driver cum guide speaks excellent English and I got a generous free flow of bottled water. I was given 3 bottles of chilled mineral water during my trip and I bet Mr. Souchan will kept on passing me the water if I asked for it :) Mr. Souchan +855979048630, +85512458580.

THE RED PIANO GUESTHOUSE
No. 341, 50m Northwest of the Old Market, Svay Dangkom, Mondul 1, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phone: +855 63 963 240 (mobile) +855 12 854 150 Geert Caboor
Email: redpianocambodia@online.com.kh, geertcaboor@online.com.kh
Website: www.redpianocambodia.com

NOTE: BEWARE OF AIRPORT/BOAT DOCK TAXI AND TUK-TUK SCAM.
The guesthouse strongly recommends airport pick-up service, to avoid being driven around to commission based guesthouses. Upon arrival at airport or boat dock, just look for the driver with your name on a paper. If need be, ask the driver to call the guesthouse before you get the ride, to be sure you get the right one.

Room no. 8

My room is furnished with hardwood furniture and local decorations, such as the Cambodian shadow puppets.

Room no. 8

Room no. 8

Carved Wooden Bed

I love "The Red Piano" carving on the wooden headboard.

The Red Piano

The signature carved wooden bed.

Room no. 8

 The room has a window that provides view to Cheathata Angkor Hotel.

Room no. 8

Room no. 8

Room no. 8

Regulation

The Red Piano Regulations:
1. Check-in on the day of arrival. No smoking or cooking in the room.

2. Check-out is 11am. Overstayed can be discussed with the staff. If you do not check-out on time, half of the price of 1 night stay will be charged (with check-out at 6pm) or (if your room has been reserved), your belongings will be removed from the room and kept safe with the staff until you come back. Secured storage of luggage can be arranged with the staff.

3. Possession of weapons or drugs, illegal sexual behavior, theft or damage of Red Piano property is prohibited. Offenses will be prosecuted.

4. The night guard controls the hotel entrance from 11pm till 7am. Take your key with you if you are going out late. Loss of key is charged USD5.

5. Important: Keep noise levels (tv, loud voices, slamming doors etc) to a strict minimum. Guests will be refused for not doing so.

Tips are equally shared among all staff and are taken care of by the cashier only. 

The Red Piano Guesthouse

Geert Caboor, the owner of the Red Piano, is one of the overseas pioneers who came to Siem Reap to start businesses that made Siem Reap, the home to Angkor Archeological Park, an enjoyable tourist destination today. The guesthouse is set back just a little from the busy Pub Street. It is close to Angkor Night Market and Noon Night Market, but not so close that you'll be kept awake by the noise.

Angkor Night Market (www.angkornightmarket.com) and Noon Night Market (www.noonnightmarket.com) open from early afternoon till midnight. I purchased 3 tees, exclusively designed by KEA for total USD7. The young man designed the tees with his sister and he provided me with deep insight into the concepts and philosophy of their product design.

As in any night markets elsewhere, you'll be able to hit the lowest price if you could bargain well. The stuffs here are cheaper than Old Market. Always bear in mind that these guys need to earn a living too. USD2 for a tee is fair enough :)

KEA My Design
Angkor Night Market, Shop NoB06-N89.
Opening Hour: 17.00 to 24.00
Phone: +855 12 700 732
daradaro@yahoo.com
Facebook: sovandara ro, monyrasom@yahoo.com

Rooftop Terrace

Rooftop terrace with a view of Phnom Krom.

Rooftop Terrace

Rooftop Terrace with a view of Cheathata Angkor Hotel (www.ctaangkorhotel.com)

Pub Street

Pub Street, is the hub of Siem Reap's tourism which is packed with bars and restaurants. Here you can ease your craving for western restos at more reasonable price than Jakarta.

Molly Malone's

Here's a peep of Molly Malone's Irish Pub and Guesthouse. (www.mollymalonescambodia.com) from The Red Piano Restobar.

Pub Street

Pub Street, so named for the numerous and varied restaurants and pubs that line Street 8. Located east of the Old Market, it's a small street on which there is one restaurant, boutique, store, cafe, bar, pub or club next to another.

Most of the bars open all day. Quite laid back at daytime, but as the sun goes down, the street comes alive as bars crank up the music and folks returning from the temples swarm numerous eateries to take advantage of the various happy hour deals.

Remorque-moto

Trailer pulled by a bicycle or a motorcycle. Found nowhere else but in Cambodia.

The Red Piano Cafe & Resto

The Red Piano Restobar

Located right at the corner of Pub Street, the chic restobar offers sidewalk, indoor and balcony seating with a view of the Pub Street scene.

Waldorf and Statler

Waldorf and Statler @ The Red Piano.
Serving customers from all major hotels since 2000.
Belgian Specialties and Beers.
Now open late. Food till 11.30pm and your favourite 80's and 90's music.
Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider Cocktail.

The Red Piano Restobar

The restobar is housed in a french colonial building. Former celebrity guest, Angelina Jolie, has a cocktail named in her honor, the Tomb Raider Cocktail. The restaurant was Tomb Raider's crews' hangout when filming part of the movie in Siem Reap in 2000.

The Red Piano

The Red Piano Restobar

The Red Piano Restobar

The Red Piano Restobar

The outside tables, shaded from the road by pots of palms, and with the old fan circling over the head.

Coffee/Tea with a Cookie

Start your day with a breakfast which is served from 0700 to 1100 hours.

Breakfast

Breakfast includes coffee/tea with a cookie, 2 toasted fresh baguettes which come with jam and butter and a bowl of fruits (sliced up bananas, dragon fruits, oranges, apples).

The Red Piano Restobar