Are the Raingsey Bungalows the coolest place to hang in Kep? We sure think so.
After making a beeline to Kampot to try “English Chinese Food”, I realized I was just a short hop away from another item on my bucket list, the Raingsey Bungalows. To that end? Off to Kep to check them from said list.
To read about English Chinese food in Kampot click here
What are the Raingsey Bungalows?
Bit of a prelude to that answer. Let’s start with how I heard of them.
Raingsey Bungalows first came to my attention when they started running their “Cine Club” nights. Held open air style, I was drawn to check it out as my inner film buff has been sadly in need of a unique cinematic experience since the sad demise of The Flicks in Phnom Penh. Cine Club’s selection of film genres varies but is well thought out and features an admirable emphasis on Cambodian movies.
On said movie nights, one of which coincides with the time of posting this. To start things off? Colombian chefs are brought in to provide interesting fare as a much appreciated add-on to the open air film experience. And both guests and locals alike have embraced these evenings of cinema and a good nosh heartily with their devotion. Tonight’s film by the way is “Maria Full of Grace”.
And what is it like to stay in Raingsey Bungalows?
Kep is a funny little town, famously sleepy, and in some respects devoid of much of a nightlife. It is though full of hotels and resorts that fit pretty much every budget and level of quality.
Now while I did enter Raingsey with a high degree of favourable bias in place, I was still extremely impressed by the quality of the rooms, the beautiful pool and terrace and the bar. More on that in the next section.
Location-wise, it things could also not be much better. It’s straight up from the Kep Crab Market and perhaps a 15 minutes walk from Kep beach, a stretch of sand with much going for it (when not raining)!
Where can you get craft beer in Kep?
Here’s where the resort gets double bubble kudos from the Khmer Nights team. Not only is nightlife scarce in Kep, but draft beer even more so. You’d lucky to find even a local joint doing Ganzberg on tap.
With the owner of Rainsey Bungalows being a proud Australian beer lover he felt that Covid or not, this was just not acceptable.
He thus made a deal with the fine people at Fuzzy Logic to become the first place in Kep to serve craft beer. Their craft beer debut night drew over 80 people who went through keg after keg. And now? Craft beer is very much a “thing” now in Kep.
As well as the draft, they also have a fine selection of bottles, which includes the somewhat “girly” choice of Fuzzy Logic Hard Lemonade. It’s my favourite and I comfortable enough with my sexuality to double-dare you to call my choice of tipple that to my face! I’m kidding of course. Aren’t we are all grown-ups here and well beyond making leaps of logic (fuzzy or otherwise) based on personal taste preferences? Anyone? Why do I hear crickets? Oh well, hopefully we will be seeing it on draft soon.
The bar and hotel indeed are about so much more than just the craft beer though. The charming French manager Marie Gana makes sure guests have everything they need and indeed that the bar is as pumping as you’d expect for Kep. Technically they close at 10, but if people are up for a drink, the management are more than happy to oblige them with what we would calla “lock in” back in the UK.
Kep is not suddenly going to morph into the party capital of Cambodia and thank heavens for that. Because when a relaxing few days by the sea is what’s on your mind, nothing quite beats the town.
So for us? The Raingsey Bungalows get the Khmer Nights seal of approval. Nice rooms at a great price, plenyty of craft beer and owners and managers that genuinely care about their guests.
If you’re looking for a cool couple of days outside the big smoke we recommend this place as a great getaway from city life. The coolest place to hang in Kep? No doubt in our minds.
 | Kep, Cambodia |
 | https://www.cambodialifestyle.com/kep-province-guide/ |
 | +855 9 678 01791 |
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Author: Gareth Johnson
Gareth Johnson is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours and has visited over 180+ countries. His passion is opening obscure destinations to tourism and sharing his experience of street food.
