Soma Cake and Coffee - Royal Palace

Soma Cake and Coffee - Royal Palace sits in Tonle Bassac, Phnom Penh and draws a steady crowd of locals, expats and visitors. It is not chasing trends, and that is part of the appeal: you get a proper meal, a fair bill and staff who know the menu.

On the menu

Espresso drinks, tea and light plates make up most of the menu. Prices are reasonable for the area. Portions and prices are aimed at regulars rather than one-off tourists, and the menu changes little from week to week, which regulars seem to like.

The verdict so far

With 45 reviews and a 4.8 score, the feedback is steady and mostly about the food and the welcome. The reviews that stand out tend to mention the same two or three dishes and the service, which is a better signal than the number alone.

Around here

Tonle Bassac has its own character within Phnom Penh, and Soma Cake and Coffee - Royal Palace is part of what keeps people coming back to the area. Phnom Penh is compact enough that you can pair this with a museum, a market or the riverfront in the same afternoon.

How to get there

Getting here is straightforward by tuk-tuk or a ride-hailing app; give the driver the name and the area rather than a street number, which is how most people navigate in Cambodia. Fares for a ride like this are low by most standards, and agreeing the price or using the app rate up front avoids the usual haggle at tourist-heavy spots.

Before you go

Hours are not always fixed, so a quick check before heading over saves a wasted journey. Lunchtime and early evening are the safe windows; later in the night some places wind the kitchen down before the listed closing time. It is an easy stop if you are already around Tonle Bassac.