Park Hyatt Siem Reap

With a unique and enviable location in the heart of the city, Park Hyatt Siem Reap features award winning architecture having been renovated and redesigned by Bangkok based interior designer extraordinaire, Bill Bensley. Replacing Hôtel de la Paix, which opened more than 60 years previous, this contemporary luxury hotel fuses Khmer inspired art, wooden floors and Italian marble throughout to create a sophisticated, city centre oasis. From the grand facade to the elegant foyer and the impressive octagonal atrium, you can enjoy the monochromatic tones and bold art-deco design features whilst the centrally located Banyan Tree courtyard introduces elements of nature and water to the overall ambiance. It’s beautifully designed, it’s impressive and you may well have to embrace the feeling that you never will never want to leave.

Guests can choose from a selection of luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites, numbering 104 in total, four of which showcase private plunge pools for that ultimate luxe experience. Our spacious ‘Terrace Suite’ didn’t have a private plunge pool, but did offer direct access to one of the hotel’s two swimming pools straight from the terrace, which allowed for our pre breakfast swim to be an effortless affair. Perfect.

The Vegan Food

Upon check in, we met with Executive Chef Pisith and Sous Chef Kimsan who were both more than happy to create vegan food for us during our stay. There is nothing better than meeting the chefs and being left feeling very confident that you will be well looked after! Due to the reduced occupancy during COVID, breakfast is currently served a la carte in The Glasshouse Deli; during normal times guests would enjoy an extensive buffet and a la carte options in The Dining Room. Freshly squeezed juices and tropical fruit, with decaffeinated soya cappucinos was how our breakfast commenced. The menu featured a Cambodian breakfast dish called ‘Kuyteav Teok’ which is a clear noodle soup with rice noodles, bean sprouts, saw leaf and spring onions. This could be prepared vegan upon request, but chef suggested a duo of ‘off menu’ options. One is an absolute favourite of ours called ‘Nom Banh Chok’, a rich and flavoursome gravy with rice noodles, crunchy vegetables and edible flowers. We have seen this all of the time on our Cambodian travels, but traditionally it is not vegan. It was a real treat to have this prepared for us and we truly loved it; full of flavour and absolutely delicious. Followed by a perfectly dressed salad with roasted pumpkin, seeds and avocado we were able to enjoy a healthy and fresh plant based start to our day.

Our vegan dinner was enjoyed in The Living Room and was 3 courses of super tasty vegan food. Our starter was ‘Roasted Eggplant Salad’ which also features on the main menu and is served with local cresson, roasted peanuts, fried shallot and a feroniela dressing. The eggplant simply melted in your mouth and the flavours of the dish were superb. If we could return for one dish it would be this; simple ingredients elevated by thoughtful preparation, creating a perfect plate of food. For our main course we were served ‘Wok Fried Tofu’ with green peppercorn, abalone mushroom, capsicum, tamarind paste, palm sugar and holy basil, served with steamed jasmine rice. As big fans of tofu this made us happy and the fresh, green peppercorns added a spicy and aromatic twist. Dessert was a local Khmer favourite of steamed ‘Akor Cake’ with a coconut milk and sesame sauce. We love these fermented and slightly sour, steamed sponge cakes and the way that they were served with a sweet and creamy coconut milk which we were able to pour over the grated coconut topped cakes. It was definitely a dessert that made us smile. We certainly enjoyed a taste of plant based Khmer cuisine at Park Hyatt Siem Reap and must say a big thank you to the chefs for their efforts…

The Vegan Essentials

Our supremely comfortable bed featured a feather duvet and pillows but upon request, housekeeping were happy to exchange for synthetic options meaning we could enjoy a ‘feather free’ sleep. In the bathroom we found amenities from Cochine, a Vietnamese based company who use ingredients from sustainable sources in their products. The custom made bottles are made with recyclable plastic which was good to learn from their website. We emailed Cochine to ask about animal testing / animal derived ingredients and are happy to report that their reply confirmed that the amenties are vegan friendly! The Spa is located adjacent to the lagoon style pool on the first floor. Our massage treatments were of the highest level and the experience was truly memorable. From the friendly welcome to the plush surroundings and attention to detail by our therapists, every element was perfect. We both enjoyed excellent essential oil massages and would return for sure. The oils used are vegan friendly (our favourite blend was ‘Purity’) and you can also buy Bodia products from the mini retail outlet. We are fans of Bodia as they are locally created and do not test on animals, many of their products are also suitable for vegans. It was interesting to learn about how Park Hyatt Siem Reap have supported LHA Sewing Training School since opening and as we visited during the ‘Covid  Era’, we were each given face masks which are currently being supplied to all guests as part of this ongoing community partnership.

The Vegan Food Quest Verdict

With an executive chef and sous chef who were more than happy to create ‘off menu’ plant based food and adapt existing menu options, Park Hyatt Siem Reap offers an excellent vegan friendly luxury hotel option if you wish to stay in the heart of Temple Town. The location is unparalleled and the combination of the Park Hyatt style and aesthetic with the imagination and creative flair of architect and designer Bill Bensley, delivers a unique and exciting property.

We were guests of Park Hyatt Siem Reap but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Sivutha Boulevard
Siem Reap

Telephone: +855 6321 1234
Email: siemreap.park@hyatt.com
Cost From: £72 / $95 – Nov 2020 (discounted rates during COVID)