Chroy Changvar Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Opened
2017
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
Lifestyle RetreatsMinimalist sandstone compound
Low-slung white pavilions cluster along the riverbank, where open stone corridors and walled courtyards keep daily life unhurried.
What it’s good at
Notable
Pink Palimanan sandstone walkways float across reflecting pools toward a shaded Bodhi tree.
Notable
Personal butlers attend every suite and arrange private dinners beneath the riverbank palms.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Wallpaper*.
the design achieves the Zen simplicity it’s aiming for, and the physical comforts of the place ensure that you’re never shaken out of the blissful state
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Bak Khaeng sits fifteen kilometres upstream from central Phnom Penh, where village lanes meet the wide Mekong River.
The rooms
Courtyard Suites center on private walled gardens with daybeds. Riverfront Suites open onto timber decks with private plunge pools.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Sun loungers and white parasols line the pool's stone deck, set against the riverbank lawn and tall palms.
Gym and spa
The air-conditioned gym faces full-height mirrors, and a dedicated treatment room offers traditional Khmer herbal compresses.
Restaurant
Theato
Pivoting windows open to river breezes, and the kitchen serves Khmer classics like amok grouper and Kep crab.
Cosseted by spider lilies, a sacred Bodhi tree, thick jungle foliage and a traditional Khmer village, the 18 all-suite Balé is a striking modernist compound on the edge of the fabled Mekong River.
At the table
The bar counter sits before a softly lit Buddha alcove, and breakfast is served on the riverfront terrace.
How it began
This is the first venture outside Indonesia for Lifestyle Retreats, modeled after its minimalist flagship in Bali.
Good to know
Stay here
The Balé Phnom Penh
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
Phnom Penh
More like this
Shangri-La Phnom Penh
“Skyline riverfront tower”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.