Things to Do in Old Market (Phsar Chas), Siem Reap
Explore Old Market (Phsar Chas) - Early morning feels like a working fish market; after 5 p.m. it turns into a casual street-eating yard where the smoke of grilled pork meets the sweetness of palm-sugar desserts.
Explore ActivitiesDiscover Old Market (Phsar Chas)
Old Market (Phsar Chas) wakes before the sun. At 5:30 a.m. the fluorescent tubes flicker on and the concrete floor is already slick with fish water; you’ll hear fresh tilapia slapping onto metal tables and catch the sweet-sharp scent of lemongrass bundles stacked knee-high. Morning light knifes through gaps in the corrugated iron, flashing across silver scales and crimson chili mountains that vendors weigh by the scoopful. This is where Siem Reap still shops: grandmothers in krama scarves haggle in Khmer over live crabs while aproned chefs from Pub Street restaurants pick lotus stems for the night’s amok. By afternoon the mood flips. The raw-meat aisles quiet down, yet the outer ring of stalls fires up pork skewers over coconut-shell charcoal—smoke drifts through dusty sunbeams while fat hisses against hot metal. Teenagers wander in, iced coffee in plastic bags, comparing phone screens to piles of knock-off sunglasses. At sunset the market’s eastern edge turns into an open-air food court: fluorescent plastic stools, soup pots bubbling with turmeric-heavy kuyteav, and Khmer pop murmuring from tinny speakers. It’s chaos that works, a corner where temple-weary travelers and tuk-tuk drivers share the same metal tables.
Why Visit Old Market (Phsar Chas)?
Atmosphere
Early morning feels like a working fish market; after 5 p.m. it turns into a casual street-eating yard where the smoke of grilled pork meets the sweetness of palm-sugar desserts.
Price Level
$
Safety
good
Perfect For
Old Market (Phsar Chas) is ideal for these types of travelers
Top Attractions in Old Market (Phsar Chas)
Don't miss these Old Market (Phsar Chas) highlights
Central Fish Hall
Rows of silver-bright fish on crushed ice, slippery concrete underfoot, and the rising smell of the Mekong mingling with crushed lime leaves. The light bounces off stainless-steel tables like a disco ball.
Tip: Bring small bills and arrive before 6:30 a.m. when the wholesalers start packing up.
Herb & Spice Lane
Burlap sacks overflow with star anise, dried shrimp the size of thumbnails, and neon-orange turmeric that stains fingertips yellow. The air carries a peppery tickle that makes you sneeze and smile at once.
Tip: Ask for 100 g portions; vendors happily weigh out spices into tiny plastic bags.
Clothing & Souvenir Stalls
Tin-roofed maze where you’ll brush past racks of elephant-print pants and smell the glue from fake-leather handbags. Light filters through holes in the ceiling, striping rainbow fabrics across your arms.
Tip: Start prices at half the first offer; expect to land around 60 percent.
Siem Reap Art Center Night Market
Just across the river, the wooden walkways glow with fairy lights, and buskers strum acoustic guitars. Craft booths sell lacquer bowls that feel cool and smooth to the touch.
Tip: Go after 8 p.m. when day-tour buses have left and the breeze cuts the humidity.
Street-Food Court After Dark
Rows of charcoal grills send up plumes of smoke scented with lemongrass and fish sauce; plastic tables fill with locals slurping num banh chok under bare bulbs.
Tip: Grab the stall with the longest line of tuk-tuk drivers - best indication of flavor and hygiene.
Where to Eat in Old Market (Phsar Chas)
Taste the best of Old Market (Phsar Chas)'s culinary scene
Amok Garden Street Cart
Street food
Specialty: Fish amok steamed in banana leaf, coconut-creamy and fragrant with kaffir lime - expect to pay under two dollars.
Grand Phsar Chas Soup Stall
Khmer noodles
Specialty: Morning kuyteav with hand-pulled pork and crunchy bean sprouts, ladled from a giant aluminum pot for about a dollar.
Num Pang Corner Cart
Cambodian sandwich
Specialty: Crispy baguette stuffed with pâté, pickled carrot, and char-grilled pork, finished with a swipe of chili mayo.
Ice-Coffee Lady by the East Gate
Drinks
Specialty: Condensed-milk iced coffee served in a plastic bag tied with a rubber band - sweet, strong, and keeps your hands cool.
Old Market (Phsar Chas) After Dark
Experience the nightlife scene
The Lane Pub Row
A narrow pedestrian lane lined with shophouse bars, backpackers nursing 75-cent beers, and the bass from mismatched playlists.
Cheap beer, backpacker chatter
Laundry Bar
Dimly lit cocktail den where bartenders muddle kaffir lime into gin; expats and NGO workers swap stories over candle stubs.
Cocktails, NGO crowd
Temple Club Rooftop
Above Pub Street chaos, the open terrace offers ceiling fans, draft Anchor beer, and a view of neon lights reflecting off the Siem Reap River.
Rooftop breeze, late-night DJs
Getting Around Old Market (Phsar Chas)
The market sits between Pub Street and the river - walkable from most guesthouses in the center. A tuk-tuk from the Angkor ticket booth costs a couple of dollars and takes five minutes along Sivatha Road; moto-taxis are slightly cheaper but less comfortable in the midday heat. If you’re coming from the airport, a pre-paid taxi runs around ten dollars and drops you at the south entrance. Inside the market, expect narrow aisles and uneven concrete - sandals with grip help when fish water puddles form.
Where to Stay in Old Market (Phsar Chas)
Recommended accommodations in the area
Onederz Hostel
Budget
$8-15
Golden Temple Villa
Mid-range
$30-50
Hotel Maison Polanka
Boutique
$90-150
Jaya House River Park
Luxury
$180-300
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From Central Fish Hall to hidden gems, Old Market (Phsar Chas) offers something for everyone. Book your activities now and experience the best of this district.
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