Jaya House River Park
Jaya House River Park is one of those special kind of places; a home from home that will inspire you and give you a sense of hope for the future. Even a short stay here will leave you feeling relaxed and after a dose of their wonderful Cambodian hospitality, it’s hard not to check out feeling like you’ve been genuinely cared for by some old friends. This hotel has embraced sustainability at every level, without compromising their luxury offering.
Oh yes, Jaya House River Park is truly unique…
The design is the definition of chic, effortlessly combining strong angular shapes and a bold black and white colour scheme with pieces of traditional and modern Cambodian art. The striking entrance takes you straight into a light and breezy indoor-outdoor lobby area complete with sculptures which pay homage to both Cambodian culture and nature. The whole feel is fresh and modern but brings in vintage elements, especially with the beautiful art which celebrates the musicians of Cambodia’s ‘Golden Era’, created by the local Small Art School social enterprise. The ever helpful and professional staff look as good as the hotel in their Eric Raisina designed uniforms. All in all, Jaya House River Park is no ordinary luxury hotel, with something to discover at every turn.
There are only 36 rooms in this small luxury hotel and each one manages to combine all the comforts of home with all the comforts of a luxury hotel. Cushions are perfectly plumped, tea and coffee making facilities go that little bit extra with a selection of loose herbal teas alongside high quality tea and coffee making equipment. The bed is otherworldly comfortable. Solid stone baths, oversized rain showers, balconies surrounded by tropical greenery; these are hotel rooms that invoke feelings of restfulness as soon as the door is opened.
A home away from home and pools to write home about…
Jaya House River Park has two pools, both are perfect spots to recharge and relax but the garden located silver tiled pool really has a special kind of something for us. The sharp angles reflect the hotel building that overlooks it and the silver tiles shine perfectly in the Cambodian sun. There aren’t many better places to float in total peace in Siem Reap and attentive staff are on hand to top up your iced water or whatever else you fancy as you laze beneath the sun shades in the expansive tropical gardens.
The Vegan Food
Because the service is so fabulous at Jaya House River Park and because they are committed to sustainability at every level, being a vegan at this hotel is a breeze. There are already well thought out and clearly labelled vegan options on the breakfast menu and the waiting staff really paid attention to small details like not automatically bringing dairy milk to the table or giving us butter, these things are actually very reassuring to vegan guests.
Lavish vegan breakfasts to start the day…
We were seriously impressed with the number of vegan options as well the quality of the dishes on the menu at breakfast time. We started with either a fresh seasonal fruit bowl or one of the two smoothie bowls on the menu, accompanied by fresh juice, a basket of just out of the oven vegan bread and homemade jam. Freshly made coffee with almond milk or vegan soya milk, or a choice of tea, flows before the a la carte dishes arrived. Traditional options such as fried noodles with vegetables and tofu or noodle soup, have been veganised in a thoughtful way to retain the traditional features of the dishes whilst ensuring the flavours and nutritional balance isn’t lost. Non-Khmer cuisine options include an outstanding tofu scramble, served with grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, wilted spinach and crispy hash browns as well as an avocado toast with steamed soft tofu and fragrant dukkah sprinkled atop. Oh and there are vegan pancakes with caramelised bananas too.
We are proud to have worked with Jaya House River Park to help them create menus that offers all guests the chance to enjoy the benefits of a vegan diet through their delicious and well-crafted dishes. Currently, during the COVID recovery period, only breakfast is being served but watch this space for a vegan friendly dinner menu coming soon!
The Vegan Essentials
There were already vegan friendly non-feather pillows on the bed, top marks here. The bathroom amenities were not only in planet friendly refillable containers in line with the hotel’s mission to become plastic free, but were also from the vegan Jaya Organics range. These high quality products smell divine, are made from local Cambodian botanicals and are made in small batches to ensure they are fresh and retain the goodness of the natural ingredients. We also loved the bamboo toothbrush, razor and comb which took the eco-bathroom amenities to the next level!
Plastic free hotel…
One of the outstanding features of Jaya House River Park is the commitment to sustainable tourism that runs through the hotel. Each guest receives a ‘Refill not Landfill’ water bottle that can be refilled with water at a growing number of outlets around Siem Reap and the rest of Cambodia. It’s a noble attempt to lead the way in reducing the number of plastic bottles used by tourists who visit and to subtly educate about the destructive effects that plastic waste has in Cambodia (and other developing countries).
And of course, bamboo straws, lots of them.
The Vegan Food Quest Verdict
Check in to Jaya House River Park for a luxury boutique hotel stay that will leave you with many happy memories to take away with you. This is a first class hotel where excellent service and a customer focused attitude means vegans are catered for with ease. Make time to enjoy drinks at sunset, complete with glorious river views, and devour the creative vegan breakfast options for the perfect start to your day.
Jaya House River Park
Siem Reap
Cambodia
Telephone: +855 639 62 555
Email: info@jayahouseriverpark.com
Cost From: £95 / $125 per night (January 2022)