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Capitol Guesthouse and Restaurant

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SeenThat
SeenThat
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5 out of 5
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Capitol Guesthouse and Restaurant

  • May 20, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by SeenThat from Tel Aviv, Israel
Capitol Guesthouse and Restaurant

Before writing this entry, I couldn’t decide how to classify it. The Capitol is the epitome of the South East Asian one-in-all establishment; it features a travel-agency, several guesthouses under one ownership and a restaurant; as such it is the biggest establishment in Cambodia. Finally I decided to follow my heart and memories; I still have good memories of its homey food and thus defined it as a restaurant.

Location

The Capitol is on the corner of streets 107 and 182, one block away from the central Monivong Boulevard. That means Psar Thmei, the promenade, the Royal Palace and most of the main attractions in town are accessible by foot. The corner is a typical one in Phnom Penh, displaying an attractively crumbling colonial French architecture and the overwhelming Cambodian crowds.

Tours

The Capitol Agency offers buses to the following destinations:

Sihanoukville 10$
Koh Kong (return) 4$
Sihanoukville and Koh Kong 12$
Siem Reap to Bangkok (ac) 13$
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap boat 22$
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (ac) 4$
Phnom Penh - Chau Doc (Vietnam) 6$
Phnom Penh - Saigon 6$
Phnom Penh - Battambang 4$
Phnom Penh - Poipet 12$

It is important to know that the cheap boat trips to Chau Doc do not depart from the Phnom Penh’s pier, but from one located southeast of the city. As well, prices tend to change; the ones mentioned above should be seen only as general guidelines.

Guesthouses

All the guesthouses surrounding the corner and over the travel agency/restaurant belong to the Capitol; the one called Hello Guesthouse on Street 107 is on the quietest spot.

The rooms are of various sizes, including anything from one to three beds; some of them include private bathrooms and others not. Despite the differences the pricing does not follow a clear logic. On the guesthouse atop the restaurant the prices vary between three and six dollars, while in Hello Guesthouse there is a flat $4 fee per room regardless the facilities included. In any case checking out the room before paying for it is imperative.

Food

The food served at the Capitol Restaurant is the almost typical international hybrid cuisine served in most backpackers’ establishments in South East Asia; however, being in a former French colony it features a tasty twist in the shape of fresh baguettes and the taste of French-style filtered coffee, similar to the one served in Laos and Vietnam.

Before long trips on the collapsing Cambodian roads, a big breakfast is recommended; the next meal may be several delays ahead. The Capitol offers the perfect solution; a small steak, an egg, French fries and a basic tomato salad are offered for an affordable price on clean, but rather basic, tables. Another worthy option is the fruits shakes; located near the Mekong Delta, Cambodia enjoys an awesome variety of tropical fruits. Few places offer freshest or richest options.

The service is remarkably good, especially since the place is constantly crowded with impatient, travelers. Some of the last are a reliable and updated source of the last travel information.

From journal Phnom Penh: Pebbles and Pearls

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