Where to eat in Kampot
8 restaurants in Kampot, ranked on the reviews of the people who ate there — with their photos, their rating and where to find them.
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1
Sabay Beach Restaurant & Cocktail Bar Kampot
Set right on Riverside Road in Kampot, Sabay Beach Restaurant & Cocktail Bar occupies a spot facing the river with mountain views and a front-row seat to the sunset. The menu spans breakfast through dinner, mixing Khmer dishes like lok lak and vegetable curry with international plates and cocktails, and the space is split between a downstairs area right on the water and upstairs seating for meals. A few resident cats, including kittens at times, wander the grounds.
Visitors repeatedly single out the food quality and consistency, with the chocolate fondant and duck spring rolls mentioned by name as standouts, alongside dishes like the Healthy Hippie breakfast bowl and the coconut-based Khmer curry. Cocktails, particularly the honey crush, and a well-regarded wine list come up often, and portions, including a generous fruit dessert, are described as generous. Service is consistently called attentive and friendly. The one dissenting note concerns the scallops, described as underwhelming next to the rest of the menu, and a couple of reviewers flag that prices sit above average for Kampot, though they felt the quality backed it up.
“This restaurant was absolutely amazing! I was in the area for two days and ended up eating here twice—breakfast the first day and lunch the next—because every dish I had was so delicious I wanted to try others. The servi...” Traveller review on Google
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2
Vanna Restaurant & Bar in Kampot
Vanna Restaurant & Bar sits on Street number 735 in Kampot, serving a menu that ranges from Khmer-leaning dishes like squid with green pepper and chicken satay to French-influenced plates such as pan-fried chicken breast in a special sauce. Portions are generously described by regulars, desserts get particular attention, and the setting is described as relaxed rather than formal, the kind of place suited to a proper sit-down evening meal rather than a quick bite.
Guests are consistently enthusiastic here, with the ice cream, palm sugar and grilled pineapple dessert coming up again and again as a highlight, alongside dishes like the beef saraman, fried shrimp and the chicken avocado salad, which is offered in two portion sizes. Several reviewers single out the owner, described as French and attentive, for spending real time talking diners through the extensive menu. The one point of disagreement is seasoning: while most find the food well balanced, at least one visitor found the sauce on the signature Vanna chicken too sour, so those sensitive to acidity might ask before ordering.
“Was pleasantly surprised and delighted by Vanna. I ordered squid green pepper, was well cooked and full of flavour. I then had the vanilla icecream with pineapple, sugar plum and paprika. In my mind a weird combination b...” Traveller review on Google
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3
BaZaar Café & Healing Space
Tucked away in Kampot, this café pairs homemade, health-oriented food with a garden setting at the back, complete with hammocks. The signature order across visits is the Buddha bowl, alongside kefir, mango lassi, tonics, and a chocolate cookie that regulars keep coming back for. Beyond food, the space leans into its "healing" name with offerings like tarot readings, and the overall feel is artistic and calm rather than a quick-stop café.
Guests are consistently enthusiastic about the food quality, describing it as fresh, clearly homemade, and flavourful, with the Buddha bowl mentioned again and again as the reason to visit. The garden seating and hammocks come up repeatedly as a highlight, giving the place a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that some visitors returned to daily. The one practical gripe is the lack of air conditioning, noticeable on hot days since the space is open-air. Prices are described as higher than typical local spots, though reviewers who mention this generally feel the quality justifies it, and cash-only payment has been noted as well.
“Their food is indeed really good. We tried their Buddha bowl and cookies as well as their mango Lassi. It has a nice artistic vibe. The only thing I wish they had was AC because we went there during a hot summer day and...” Traveller review on Google
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4
Ciao
Ciao is a small, homely Italian restaurant in the Kampot countryside, run from the owner's own house rather than a conventional dining room. Diego, the Italian owner and sole cook, makes pasta entirely by hand using an old-school manual machine, with herbs and other ingredients coming from the surrounding farmland. The menu runs to dishes like gnocchi, ravioli, and pasta with pesto, all prepared to order on a patio setting that looks out over the fields.
Visitors are consistent in praising the authenticity of the pasta, several calling it the best they've had outside Italy, and many mention returning a second time during a single stay in Kampot. Diego himself comes up repeatedly as warm and welcoming, and guests appreciate that everything is cooked fresh rather than pre-made. The trade-offs mentioned are a wait for food since one person handles the cooking, portions some found on the smaller side, and a remote location that makes arranging a Grab back into town difficult. Cash only is also noted.
“Great place for authentic homemade pasta. It’s not a traditional restaurant but a small setup in someone’s home, which gives it a unique and personal atmosphere. The pasta is truly homemade (no machine), and you can tas...” Traveller review on Google
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5
The Pig Pen BBQ
Right on the riverside strip in Kampot, this barbecue spot serves American-style smoked and grilled meats among the many restaurants and bars lining the water. The menu runs to pulled pork, ribs, and sandwiches, served with sides such as fries, coleslaw, and mash and gravy, plus a range of sauces to choose from.
Reviewers are largely enthusiastic about the quality of the barbecue itself, with pulled pork and ribs singled out as standouts and portions described as generous. Service is frequently praised, including mentions of the owner, Ryan, and a welcoming waitstaff. That said, the experience is not universally consistent: one visitor who had previously loved the place reported a noticeable drop in food standards on a later visit, describing a disappointing pasta dish and staff dimming the lights while diners were still eating close to closing time. The sauce selection was also called merely average by one guest, and the fries, while liked for being unusual, were noted as somewhat oily.
“Very decent barbecue dishes. Good pulled pork, very good ribs. The fries are lovely because unusual, but rather oily. The selection of sauces is absolutely average. The waitress really made my visit here a better experi...” Traveller review on Google
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6
Simple Things
Simple Things sits in Kampot's Old Market area and serves vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The restaurant is open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM, offering a relaxed dining space with straightforward, plant-based cooking. Visitors describe the aesthetic as simple and thoughtfully decorated, with a considered music playlist that contributes to the atmosphere. Portions are large across the menu.
Guests consistently praise the vegetarian and vegan options, with the vegan burger, crispy tofu wrap, and rice bowls drawing repeated mention. A long-term vegan traveller noted this as a standout meal after months in Southeast Asia. The brinjal starter and various rice-based dishes receive specific endorsement. Service is described as friendly and attentive. One reservation: the tofu wrap disappointed at least one visitor, who found it flavourless and compared it to a salad sandwich—though they returned to try other dishes, suggesting the issue may not be systematic.
“The best place for veggie food!! Huge portions, beautiful decor, really nice vibe! We keep going back” Traveller review on Google
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7
Laundry Cafe Burger Bar
Laundry Cafe Burger Bar is a casual burger restaurant on Street 74 in central Kampot, serving made-to-order burgers alongside steaks and fries. The space has a relaxed atmosphere with friendly staff and a music playlist that suits lingering over a meal. Portions are generous.
Visitors consistently praise the quality of the beef patties, which are juicy and cooked well, paired with fresh buns and thoughtful topping combinations—the swiss cheese and jalapeño cheese fries appear frequently in reviews. Prices are reasonable for the quality; a Friday discount brings most burgers down to $5. The main drawback is popularity: the restaurant draws crowds, and waits of around 40 minutes are common during peak times. One reviewer noted the buns could benefit from more toasting, though this is a minor note among otherwise strong feedback.
“Too many people all the time like a good business and need to wait around 40 minutes to get burger 🍔. Totally, it is great and good taste 👍.” Traveller review on Google
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8
Greenhouse ( restaurant & coffee )
Greenhouse is a small restaurant and café in central Kampot serving traditional Khmer dishes alongside breakfast items and coffee. The space is decorated with colorful walls and art, created and run by the owner. The menu includes curries, noodle dishes, rice plates, and items like granola, pancakes, and toast, with drinks noted as strong and generously poured.
Visitors consistently praise the atmosphere and the owner's friendliness and hospitality. The food quality is described as excellent, with affordable prices and generous portions. Some guests mention the experience of painting their names on a mural wall. However, service can be uneven: food sometimes arrives slowly or at different times within a group, and occasionally items from orders have been missed, though the owner makes quick corrections. One visitor found the 30-minute wait notable.
“I absolutely love this space, the soulful art, the romantic music, the atmosphere. The service and meaningful conversations with the kind lady who created this gem of a place, feels that is from depth of her heart. A pla...” Traveller review on Google
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Frequently asked questions
Where to eat in Kampot ?
Our pick right now is Sabay Beach Restaurant & Cocktail Bar Kampot, Vanna Restaurant & Bar in Kampot, BaZaar Café & Healing Space. The full list below is ordered by rating and review volume — a 5.0 with eleven reviews does not outrank a 4.6 with two thousand.
How were these places chosen?
From Google ratings and review counts, with a photo requirement: a place with no real photo does not appear. Nobody can pay to be listed, and no hotel on Heroes Hotels gets a place moved up.
Where should I stay in Kampot?
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