Situ’d south of Siem Reap’s historic French Quarter, the formerly sleepy street-turned up-comer neighbourhood Kandal Village (also known as Hap Guan Street) is reinventing itself as the town’s must-visit shopping hub, one hip addition at a time. Here we skim the cream of the crop, you’ll find more neighbourhood guides and insider tips in the LUXE Cambodia guide.
Though it packs in several galleries, boutiques, spas and cafes, the bright, colonially-styled block is a compact one, so best drop down into local speed and take your sweet time. Start at the western end of Hap Guan St and first up on your left espy Louise Loubatieres’ pretty abode trove racking lacquer homeware, ceramic vases and silky shibori textiles at #632.
Keep tracking on the left side to pick up quirky nest and body-feathering accoutrements at the local outpost of Phnom Penh’s trailblazing concept shop #642 Trunkh, and get into the zen at #664 Niko’s Studio with a panoply of Buddha statues in psychedelic hues.
Timeless, artisan-crafted his n’ her’s linen weekend-wear abounds at Shop676, appropriately placed at #676, then across the street you’ve certainly earned a pamper stop at #24 Frangipani Spa, where weary bods can get rubbed, kneaded, cleansed, waxed and polished back into tip-top shape.
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Feeling rejuvenated, swish back out onto Hap Guan St and keep pushing on to sniff out Saarti’s heavenly eco-chic candles (made from beeswax ethically sourced by the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, no less), all-natural beauty products and locally-forged nameplate jewellery at #603. Follow it up with bright and breezy island chill-wear, accessories and decor across the road at Maison Sirivan.
Phew! By now you must be more famished than a fasting monk, so skip back to java master #593 Little Red Fox for a caffeine kick. For something a little more substantial, scoot on to green scene queen at #715 Vibe. If a full-blown carb fest is in order, Mamma Shop at #636 has Bologna-born Simone’s indulgent pastas and pies for the win. High kick, you retail ninja!
This article was updated Nov 2018.
Hero image: Saarti
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