Colonial-Era Luxury Hotels in Siem Reap to Book

A hotel earns the label when its own account ties the building to the French period. FCC Angkor by Avani states that it occupies a former French governor's residence in Siem Reap's Old French Quarter, and a second source calls it an old French colonial governor's mansion given a contemporary update. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, in the same Old French Quarter, opened in 1932 and describes its style as 1930s French Art Deco, built with local influences.

Other hotels borrow the mood in one space. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra lists Explorer's Tales as a bar with a colonial-era atmosphere, and Zannier Phum Baitang has a colonial-inspired Sunset Lounge. Those are good places for a drink and belong to stays with a different building story. Our guide to spotting heritage hotels explains the difference.

FCC Angkor by Avani: the riverside mansion

FCC stands for Foreign Correspondents Club, where journalists once gathered, and the hotel is branded FCC Angkor by Avani within Minor Hotels. It has 80 rooms and suites across eight room types, starting with Heritage Deluxe and Heritage Courtyard, with Colonial Premier and Colonial Pool Access rooms overlooking the pool. Larger suites have separate living rooms, and suites feature balconies and terraces, some with bathtubs on them. The River View Suite is described as able to take a family of five.

The hotel overlooks the Siem Reap river, three blocks from the main strip, and states a 15-minute distance to Angkor Wat and a 55-minute drive from Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. On site you find The Mansion restaurant (Khmer, Asian and international dishes), Scribe bar with a central island and cocktails, craft beer, natural wine and sake, Visaya Spa, a gym, two swimming pools and an AvaniKids club. Its FAQ states that all rooms come with breakfast included, and check-in is 14:00 with check-out at 12:00, as listed in October 2026.

Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor: the landmark

Raffles has 119 rooms, suites and villas, with categories such as State Rooms, Landmark Room, Colonial Suite, Personality Suite and Raffles Suite. The ROYAL Villa is situated separately from the main building, and every stay includes a personal butler. Dining runs from Cafe d'Angkor (alfresco dishes and a champagne breakfast) to Restaurant 1932, which celebrates Cambodian culinary heritage, plus Elephant Bar, which the hotel describes as Siem Reap's most celebrated bar.

The outdoor pool is 35 metres long, the spa has 6 treatment rooms with saunas, steam rooms and Jacuzzi, and two tennis courts offer coaching. The hotel says the temples of Angkor are an 8 km ride away and lists a temple exploration by Vespa, photography workshops and a Bespoke Temple Dinner.

Raffles gives the clearest timeline. According to the hotel, an extensive renovation began in March 1996, the hotel officially reopened on 30 December 1997 with 119 rooms, and a six-month renovation programme was completed in 2019. Read the building through those dates: the original 1932 structure, the reopening at the end of 1997 and the 2019 refresh.

FCC's governor's residence has been given a contemporary update, according to a second source. Which details are original and which were recreated is not spelled out in the sources we hold, so ask the hotel on its page before you travel.

According to the hotel's dining page, The Conservatory at Raffles serves afternoon tea or aperitifs. Opening hours, whether visitors who are not staying can reserve, the menu and any dress code are best confirmed on the hotel's page, then reserve ahead. For a different mood, FCC pairs The Mansion restaurant with Scribe bar, a good choice for an evening drink.

Both hotels sit in the Old French Quarter, so a stroll before or after tea is easy.

If you prefer modern minimalism, see contemporary design hotels. To compare against other heritage styles, return to the heritage taste guide or read about Khmer wooden house hotels.

Enter the same dates on Agoda and Booking.com, compare the total, and read the cancellation terms before you click. Confirm room types, breakfast terms and policies on the hotel's page before you travel.

Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor opened in 1932 and describes its main building as French Art Deco with local influences. According to the hotel, an extensive renovation began in March 1996, the hotel officially reopened on 30 December 1997 with 119 rooms, and a six-month renovation programme was completed in 2019. FCC Angkor by Avani occupies a former French governor's residence in the Old French Quarter, and a second source describes it as an old colonial mansion given a contemporary update. Which details are original and which were recreated is not spelled out in the sources we hold, so ask the hotel on its page before you travel and treat the reopening dates as your guide to the building's layers.

According to the hotel's dining page, The Conservatory at Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor serves afternoon tea or aperitifs. Opening hours, whether visitors who are not staying can book a table, the menu and any dress code are not listed in the sources we hold, so confirm each of them on the hotel's page before you plan around it. Raffles sits in the Old French Quarter, and the hotel also lists Elephant Bar, which it describes as Siem Reap's most celebrated bar, and the Poolside Terrace for light daytime meals. FCC Angkor by Avani lists The Mansion restaurant and Scribe bar for a quieter drink. Reserve ahead and ask about visitor access when you write.