The Kabiki

The Kabiki

kabiki-logoThe Kabiki 

22, street 264 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia – 

tel +855 (0) 23 22 22 90  

reservation@thekabiki.comwww.thekabiki.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kabiki/412015348868126

https://twitter.com/TheKabiki 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293940-d794810-Reviews-The_Kabiki-Phnom_Penh.html 

While looking at hotels in Phnom Pen on the internet, I stumbled upon one that had a curious name: The Kabiki. Their website is clean and captivating and their motto is “A peaceful oasis in the middle of Phnom Penh”, and that was enough to get me to book it. And I am happy I have done so!

The Kabiki revealed to be much more than the quiet oasis described: is is such a great place in terms of location and style and staff that I would surely be staying there again when I return to the town.

the main reception building

the main reception building

Opened by two French families in 2007, The Kabiki is a family friendly hotel ideally located in the heart of Phnom Penh, between the Royal Palace and the Independence Monument. With major sightseeing spots such as the National Museum, Wat Botum, the riverside and street 240 within walking distance, I could easily explore the city’s main attractions and enjoy an array of Khmer and Western style restaurants, galleries and boutiques.

the kabiki tree

the kabiki tree

The Kabiki is set in a beautiful and lush 3500 m2 well-manicured garden setting, surrounded by 500 trees they have planted themselves to add a natural and exotic feel to the premises. And here comes the name: the Kabiki is a huge tree native of India that stands 15m high right in the middle on the park, an uncontested feature of the resort.

It is worth mentioning at this point that The Kabiki is strongly committed to ecological values: together with sister properties The Pavilion and The Plantation, they now occupy over a hectare in the very center of Phnom Penh, and the low density construction allows them to dedicate a very high share of this land to greenery, with lots of trees and over 45 different species of plants. Last but not least, their preference wood for the  indoor furniture is sugar-palm since as it is a planted tree, using its wood does not contribute to deforestation.

The Kabiki swimming pool is generous in size and lined with small green tiles that give it a natural touch, and comfortable day beds and lounge chairs spread around the garden.

my lovely room at The Kabiki

my lovely room at The Kabiki

They also have a shallow baby-pool by the side, for families peace of mind. When I sat there for breakfast every morning at the pool side restaurant, served by well-trained waiters in a wide and airy area and observing the gardeners removing fallen leaves from the pathways with wicker brooms, I breathed in the scents of nature and of humidity after a rainy spell; the birds are comfortable in the height of leafy branches and homaged me with their musical concert while I drank good coffee and started another great day in Phnom Penh.

Their 18 tastefully decorated rooms, eight with a private terrace, are complete with air-conditioning, ceiling fan, mosquito nets, safety box, a mini-bar, 32-inches flat screen TV, a kettle with tea and coffee and a hair dryer. All rooms have bathroom with shower and/or bathtub and have access to high-speed wi-fi connection, and so is the reception and the state-of-the-art restaurant area, where kind, helpful and professional staff serve you with perfect English skills.

The Kabiki suited my afternoons of sunbathing and refreshment after a day of sightseeing, great sleeps and a welcoming escape from the bustling streets of Phnom Penh.

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About the author

Thomas has a university background in the UK and in Latin America, with studies in Languages and Humanities, Culture, Literature and Economics. He started his Asian experience as a publisher in Krabi in 2005. Thomas has been editing local newspapers and magazines in England, Spain and Thailand for more than fifteen years. He is currently working on several projects in Thailand and abroad. Apart from Thailand, Thomas has lived in Italy, England, Venezuela, Cuba, Spain and Bali. He spends most of his time in Asia. During the years Thomas has developed a great understanding of several Asian cultures and people. He is also working freelance, writing short travel stories and articles for travel magazines. Follow Thomas on www.asianitinerary.com

View all articles by Thomas Gennaro