Tourism in Cambodia is a double-edged sword — it brings vital income, but not always to the people who need it most. That’s where the social enterprise restaurants in Siem Reap come in. From cafes funding free training programmes for young women to restaurants directing every penny of profit into humanitarian projects, these are places built on the belief that food can be a force for good. Transparent Traveller has rounded up the best of them, so you can make every meal count. So if you’re looking for more than just a good meal in Siem Reap, you’re in the right place.
Common Grounds Cafe
CUISINE
Western and Khmer
PRICE
៛៛
MUST TRY
Khmer curry served in a coconut
Tucked into the charming Kandal Village, Common Grounds Cafe is one of Siem Reap’s most rewarding dining stops. Founded in 2008, Common Grounds Cafe has provided training and employment to over 120 young Cambodians. 100% of its profits fund humanitarian and community development projects through People for Care and Learning in Cambodia. The cafe also ensures its staff receive fair wages, medical assistance and paid time off. The food more than holds its own too: a thoughtfully sourced menu blends traditional Khmer dishes, Western comfort food, healthy salads, and indulgent cakes. Don’t leave without trying the Khmer curry served in a coconut.
Bayon Pastry School Coffee Shop
CUISINE
French
PRICE
៛៛
MUST TRY
Freshly baked pastries
If the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries doesn’t draw you in, the story behind Bayon Pastry School Coffee Shop will. More than just a place to grab breakfast, Bayon Pastry School Coffee Shop is the beating heart of a year-long training programme. Since 2014, the school has offered a completely free course to young Cambodian women from difficult backgrounds. The programme gives them the professional skills and hotel internship experience needed to build a career. Fresh bread, flaky pastries and handcrafted cakes are baked daily right in front of you by the women the school exists to support. Each purchase helps fund the programme and the quality of the pastries is comparable to what you find in France.
Peace Cafe
CUISINE
Vegan and Vegeterian
PRICE
៛៛
MUST TRY
Vegetable Juices
A tranquil, garden-set vegetarian restaurant with vegan options that go far beyond the plate. The cafe works alongside local NGOs to provide essential supplies — from first aid kits and mosquito nets to bicycles, rice, and school materials to some of Cambodia’s poorest families. Peace Cafe also employs local disadvantaged people trained by Marum and This Life Cambodia. Over a fresh, plant-based meal, guests can also browse the Fair Trade shop, join a cooking class, practise yoga, learn Khmer, or even sit down for a monk chat. Few places in Siem Reap nourish body, mind and community quite so completely.
New Leaf Eatery
CUISINE
Khmer and International
PRICE
៛៛
MUST TRY
Fish Amok
Just minutes from Pub Street but feeling worlds away, New Leaf Eatery is a bookshelf-lined haven with serious social enterprise credentials. Since 2013, it has donated over $65,000 to local educational projects, currently splitting 20% of its profits between PEPY Empowering Youth and SeeBeyondBorders, while sharing a further 15% among its Cambodian staff. Fair employment practices, including a living wage, health insurance, and profit sharing, are the standard here. The food holds its own too. Order the fish amok, beef lok lak or one of their many vegetarian dishes. But don’t leave without trying one of their Cambodian-ingredient cocktails or mocktails, particularly the Mondulkiri Espresso Martini made with coffee from Phnom Penh’s Three Corner Coffee Roaster.