The Sweet Spot: Best Mid-Range Hotels for a Comfortable Stay in Siem Reap
Siem Reap is primarily known as the gateway to the incredible Angkor Wat temples, but it’s also a vibrant town in its own right, offering everything a traveler needs. When you’re spending your days exploring vast temple complexes and enduring the Cambodian heat, you want a comfortable, relaxing base to return to. The local hospitality is legendary, and the mid-range hotel segment here truly excels, often delivering a level of service and amenities that feel more luxurious than their price tag suggests.
Most of the town’s life revolves around the Old Market (Phsar Chas) and Pub Street area—this is the lively center for dining, nightlife, and shopping. Hotels closer here offer maximum convenience but can be noisier. Move a little further out, and you find tranquil, resort-style properties, often just a short, cheap tuk-tuk ride from the action. These outer areas offer more space, larger pools, and a true escape from the bustle. This list focuses on recommendations for travelers looking for that perfect balance: genuine comfort and convenience at great value.
Central Charm: Steps from the Action
These hotels provide the perfect mix of excellent service and walkable access to the town center’s most popular attractions, markets, and restaurants.
Set amidst beautiful gardens, the Golden Temple Hotel blends traditional Khmer décor with modern comforts, offering a boutique feel. Guests consistently praise the highly attentive and friendly staff, and the hotel’s location is ideal for walking to the Old Market and Pub Street while remaining quiet enough for a restful night. It features a lovely outdoor pool, a spa, and regularly receives top marks for its cleanliness and value for money.
- Pros: Exceptional staff service (often cited as the best), fantastic central but quiet location, beautiful pool, excellent value.
- Cons: Rooms are spacious but the property itself has fewer rooms compared to larger resorts, which some might see as a limitation for facilities.
The Royal Crown boasts a prime, incredibly convenient location right in the thick of the action, near the Central Market and dining options. It offers two outdoor pools and a rooftop sky bar with sunset views. The rooms are large, clean, and well-equipped, making it an excellent base for those who prioritize immediate access to Siem Reap’s nightlife and dining.
- Pros: Superb location (walkable to Pub Street), excellent breakfast buffet, two pools, including a rooftop option.
- Cons: Its central location can mean some noise bleed from the nearby streets, and the two pools can sometimes feel crowded.
True to its name, Koulen Central Hotel is perfectly situated near the Central Market, providing modern, luxurious-feeling accommodation. The highlight is the rooftop swimming pool, which offers a great perspective of the city. The service is highly professional and the property is well-maintained, offering amenities like a spa, sauna, and fitness center.
- Pros: Excellent central location, multiple swimming pools (including a rooftop), modern and clean design, very helpful staff.
- Cons: Can sometimes feel less “Khmer traditional” and more contemporary hotel, the immediate area can be busy.
This hotel is located on Angkor Night Market Street, offering a modern, clean, and spacious stay. The rooftop pool and bar are a favorite among guests, perfect for a sunset cocktail after a long day. The rooms are large, and the overall feel is one of approachable luxury, all within easy walking distance of the main tourist hubs.
- Pros: Great location near the Night Market, large and comfortable rooms, excellent rooftop pool and attentive staff.
- Cons: While close to the action, the surrounding street can be a bit busy at night, the breakfast is highly praised but can be expensive if not included in the rate.
Tranquil Retreats: Resort-Style Comfort
For travelers who prefer a quieter, more resort-like experience away from the main streets, these hotels offer spacious grounds, large pools, and high-quality wellness facilities, typically requiring a quick tuk-tuk ride (usually $2-$3) to get to Pub Street.
Located in a quieter area a short distance from the center, Metta Residence & Spa is an oasis celebrated for its lush greenery and tranquil atmosphere. The staff is frequently praised for service that goes “above and beyond,” making it a perfect sanctuary for relaxation. The rooms are spacious, and the property includes a lovely pool and excellent spa facilities.
- Pros: Exceptional personalized service, peaceful and quiet environment, spacious rooms and lovely pool area, complimentary cocktails during happy hour.
- Cons: Not easily walkable to the main town center—requires a short tuk-tuk ride.
Hillocks Hotel & Spa, Siem Reap
Hillocks provides a luxurious yet serene experience, designed with a tropical, quiet ambiance away from the crowds. The resort features private villas and large suites with beautiful marble tubs, set around a stunning infinity pool that truly feels like an escape. It focuses heavily on wellness and tranquility.
- Pros: Beautiful, peaceful grounds with lush greenery, large, high-quality rooms and unique marble bathtubs, highly attentive staff.
- Cons: Located a bit further out, so a tuk-tuk is always needed for the city center. Some older reviews mention minor maintenance issues (e.g., hot water) or occasional insects due to the tropical garden setting.
TUI BLUE Angkor Grace Wellness Resort
One of the newer options on the scene, this resort focuses on wellness and modern facilities. It’s spacious and quiet, located near the Angkor National Museum but still a reasonable distance from the core town area. The modern architecture and excellent pool area make it a refreshing choice.
- Pros: Very modern and new facilities, excellent cleanliness, strong focus on wellness (spa and pools), family-friendly policies.
- Cons: Further from the main tourist area than some other options, limited local dining options right outside the gate.
Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort
Offering the reliable standard of an international brand, the Courtyard is known for its high-quality, contemporary rooms and excellent breakfast spread. It provides a quiet, polished stay with a sizable pool and good fitness center. The hotel is situated a little north of the main center, well-positioned for trips to the temples.
- Pros: High standard of cleanliness and comfort, excellent, varied breakfast buffet, professional and friendly staff, reliable brand quality.
- Cons: Not walkable to the town center or Pub Street, requiring a paid tuk-tuk ride for dinner/nightlife.
Excellent Value and Aesthetics: Style on a Budget
These hotels offer exceptional comfort, style, and great service, consistently punching above their weight in terms of value for the dollar.
This unique property offers beautifully designed rooms with an artistic flair, creating an intimate, almost gallery-like atmosphere. It’s located far enough away to be quiet but close enough for an easy trip to the center. The resort features a fantastic pool and a very strong emphasis on art and cultural aesthetics.
- Pros: Unique and beautiful design, quiet location but close to the city, fantastic pool and highly-rated breakfast.
- Cons: The location requires a short ride to the main tourist area, and its focus on art may not appeal to all.
Featuring a striking Moroccan-inspired design, Sarai and Wander Resort offers a luxurious-looking stay at a mid-range price. The resort has two pools (including a gorgeous rooftop infinity pool) and is well-located near the Old Market area. Guests love the spacious rooms and the attentive, personalized service.
- Pros: Stunning Moroccan-meets-Khmer design, two incredible pools, excellent breakfast, very clean and spacious rooms.
- Cons: Prices for on-site food and drinks (outside of breakfast) can be higher than local restaurants.
This hotel offers a great mix of comfortable accommodations with a charming Indochine-inspired design. Located slightly outside the absolute center but within easy access, it’s known for its helpful staff and great value. The pool area is a welcoming oasis after a day of sightseeing.
- Pros: Great value for money, very clean and comfortable rooms, exceptionally friendly and helpful staff, quiet environment.
- Cons: May feel slightly removed from the nightlife for those who like to walk home, décor is more simple/traditional compared to the palace-style resorts.
A beautiful, small-scale hotel that feels intimate and authentic, with lush gardens and traditional Khmer style. Guests consistently praise the genuine warmth of the staff and the peaceful, cosy atmosphere. It’s located on the road to the temples, making it a good staging point for an early start to Angkor Wat.
- Pros: Highly authentic, peaceful setting with lush gardens, very friendly and accommodating staff, great value.
- Cons: Located on the temple road, which is between the town center and Angkor, making it a bit “in the middle of nowhere” for walking purposes. Can sometimes have noise transfer between rooms (from footsteps upstairs).
A solid 4-star option that offers a large, stylish, and comfortable experience. It’s a bit of a classic, providing reliable, high-quality accommodation with excellent facilities, including a sizable outdoor pool and a full-service spa. It’s located close to the Angkor National Museum, making it a strategic spot for culture-focused trips.
- Pros: High-quality, stylish rooms and facilities, strong value, good location for museum and temple access.
- Cons: Its size and age mean it can sometimes lack the ‘boutique’ intimacy of smaller properties, and the location is not optimal for walking to Pub Street.
Offering contemporary rooms and an attractive pool area, this hotel is repeatedly singled out for its fantastic value and superb staff service. It’s situated near the center, offering easy access to attractions while still being a peaceful retreat. The overall atmosphere is one of great comfort and quiet sophistication.
- Pros: Excellent value for the price, very spacious and clean rooms, exceptional staff service, good facilities including a nice pool.
- Cons: Some of the interior design may feel slightly dated compared to the newest properties.
This resort is known for its excellent amenities, including a nice pool, well-equipped gym, and a variety of facilities that make it a great all-rounder. It provides a peaceful retreat two kilometers from the city center. Guests appreciate the helpful, smiling staff and the overall cleanliness.
- Pros: Good range of facilities (pool, gym, spa), great value, friendly staff, quiet setting.
- Cons: The location, a little out of town, means a tuk-tuk is necessary for most excursions into the center.