Mad Monkey Phnom Penh - Hostel

We ate every meal here because the food was 10/10. The cocktails were lovely and affordable, and we got one free when we arrived. The staff were lovely too, and gave us each an extra pillow since I like having two, plus a free towel. We went on the S21 and Killing field tour through the hostel and were impressed with the service again. As a couple who are on the quieter side, we weren’t sure about booking a Mad Monkey. We’d had a terrible hostel experience in Da Lat and thought we’d stick with a chain, but I wouldn’t look back now. The beds were huge, a double bed each, and the lockers and rooms were massive. If you want to socialize, there are big common areas, events, and a lovely pool. This is in my top three hostels in SE Asia so far after two months of traveling, and maybe the best.

We were there for the Kings Day celebrations, and it was some of the most fun I’ve had during five months of travel. My first Mad Monkey stay left me really impressed. The staff were wonderful, friendly, and engaging. Our room was very clean, with big beds and underfloor storage, and stayed quiet despite the events. I’ll definitely stay at a Mad Monkey again!

You can hear the nightclub next door, even though the hostel is in a quiet area, so this isn’t a good pick if you want somewhere quiet. I was quite disappointed. The bed was very hard, my pillow and mattress were stained, and the curtain doesn’t give you full privacy. There’s almost no storage except the space under the bed, which is especially impractical if you’re in the top bunk.

Sola, our lovely Mad Monkey guide for the S21 and Killing Field tour, was great to have along. She was chatty and handled a small issue professionally, then resolved it well. Kudos to her.