Sora bar at Rosewood Phnom Penh is worth a visit to the Cambodian capital solely for its great mixology, bringing national ingredients together
Two hours and 40 minutes.
That’s all the time it takes to fly from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh, the same time you can spend at the cinema watching Ne Zha 2 and way less time than sitting at home binging something on Netflix. So why not try and experience in real life – as in literally see, smell, taste, and feel – a completely different world at the heart of Cambodia?
Phnom Penh is perfect for a quick weekend getaway if you want to escape from Hong Kong’s city life for 48 hours and immerse yourself in a country begging for discovery. Cambodia’s hustle-bustle capital is a sanctuary in the nation housing everything great in the city: local culture, natural elements, and exceptional hospitality. It’s all there at Rosewood Phnom Penh.
The seven-year-old Rosewood Phnom Penh puts you right at home in the capital’s diverse multicultural dining scene with an award-winning steakhouse, Chinese restaurant, Japanese izakaya, French brasserie, and one of the city’s best bars, Sora.
Crowning the hotel with regal, panoramic views from the 37th floor, Sora fuses the worlds of anime and alcohol for a creative pairing. The bar’s new menu, Alchemy of Anime, brings Japanese manga to life through its signature cocktails, crafted by Hong Konger and bar manager KT Lam.
Here, your favourite anime characters – think Shin Gumiho, Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan, and One Piece – come to life, blended with both Japanese and Cambodian ingredients and flavours.
A key highlight of the menu is Mind Reading (USD12, ~HKD93), inspired by the peanut-loving Anya Forger from Spy x Family, which sees a blend of Michter’s bourbon, Bushmills 12-year-old Irish whiskey, and Mancino rosso vermouth whipped up with a peanut butter garnish and salted caramel foam.
Another standout drink is 86 (USD12, ~HKD93), a tribute to Takumi Fujiwara and his iconic Toyota AE86. The cocktail mixes NIKKA Coffey gin and ADRIATICO amaretto with vanilla, lemon, and sesame to transport you to the world of Japan’s countryside, along with with a touch of excitement.
On the menu, KT has designed 10 cocktails expressing the essence of Japanese anime and magna, all priced at a reasonable USD12, or ~HKD93. Cheaper than a cocktail at most hotel bars in Hong Kong, you can feel like a king or queen looking over the city of Phnom Penh whilst sipping a Japanese-inspired tipple.
In 2023, Sora was inducted into the World’s 50 Best Discovery list, whilst Rosewood Phnom Penh currently features in the Michelin Guide, lauded for its quality restaurant and bar programme.
A lot of thought has been put into the Alchemy of Anime menu to ensure that it caters to the local Cambodian palate whilst also educating diners on the craft of cocktails. “The cocktails are designed to be easy-drinking,” KT Lam tells Foodie.
“The Cambodian market is new to cocktails. If the cocktails were too spirit-forward, the local community might feel overwhelmed. One of the goals of our menu is to introduce the locals to the world of mixology in a way that feels approachable and familiar to them.”
If you’re looking to travel somewhere unique and revitalise from the grind of daily life in Hong Kong, there really is so much to discover at Rosewood Phnom Penh. And here’s a tip: if you hop on a plane right now, you will find yourself immersed in the rushed yet organised chaos of the city – and the sweet flavours of Cambodia.
You’ll get there in just about two hours and 40 minutes. What are you waiting for?
