Hotel Old Cinema

Best hotel we stayed at in two weeks in Cambodia. The interior is extremely well designed, and while the cheapest rooms are a bit small, that was no problem for us. Our English-speaking host was very welcoming and helpful. They pointed us away from the “usual suspect” pepperfarm La Plantation and toward the Sindora, a must-visit site in Kampot. Book their lunch at the farm too. We really loved our stay.

On Friday 27 February 2026 I brought two friends to the Old Hotel Cinema to show them why I liked it so much. Neither had been there before, and one had never been to Kampot. It was gin night, with a 20 percent discount, so we settled at the bar. We had eight gins between us: five Aviation, two Vietnamese and another whose brand and origin I can't remember. The menu and specials board, including Isaan beef, looked good enough that we planned to come back for dinner. Then the bill came to nearly $40. The drink list was itemized in ink so faded we couldn't read it, although we could see the total. We asked the bar staff if the discount was included and they assured us it was. The menu's gins average about $5, so eight would be around $40, but with 20 percent off it should have been closer to $30. We paid, and even left a tip, because we didn't want to spoil the evening by arguing. At another restaurant later, we talked it over and none of us felt good about it. It wasn't really about the money, but the principle. If you offer a discount to bring customers in, you should honor it. None of us will return for dinner. I'd also promised myself a stay at the Old Hotel, even though it's outside my usual budget, but I won't do that now either. The whole thing soured our impression of the place. I've visited the Old Hotel Cinema several times before. I've had drinks there, admired the renovation work the owners did, which I wish there were more of in Kampot, and photographed inside and out. I once had a nice conversation with the manager at the Magic Sponge, another fine renovated Kampot establishment, about Khmer architects, notably Vann Molyvann. That makes this all the more disappointing. The old saying is that dissatisfied customers tell 10 people, who each tell 10 more. I hope the few dollars you got from us were worth it. With the billing of our stiff gins, you've stiffed yourself.

We spent three nights at The Old Cinema Hotel and had a brilliant stay. It's very well located in the old town area, and the 1930s Art Deco building has a quirky style. The staff are lovely and service was great. The bed was extremely comfortable, though its large, low, wide wooden frame made it awkward to get in and out, and it was easy to bang a shin on it. That's just an observation, and I wouldn't hesitate to stay again. Breakfast and the snacks we had were fantastic. We didn't have dinner there, but would have tried it if we'd stayed another night. There's a large selection of gins, and the gin club runs from 5pm to 7pm each night, with 20% off the usual price. Loved our stay.

The breakfast was outstanding, especially the perfectly scrambled eggs included in our stay, and it was a lovely touch to have local teas to choose from. We also enjoyed a cocktail at the bar, and the staff were very friendly. The hotel is centrally located in Kampot, in an old cinema with unique, interesting decor. Our room was small but very clean and had everything we needed. Highly recommend it if you're looking to stay in central Kampot.