Chez Rina

t in the old colonial quarter of Phnom Penh between the Post Office Square and the river, the lounge is a subtle blend of Art Deco and modern looks. The century old Chinese tiles and original plaster arches are offset by exposed iron work and industrial grills in one of the most beautiful spaces in the city/ There are quiet nooks where one can relax with close friends and a big friendly patio setting where you can get to know the varied professionals who choose to work and live in one of the nicest cities in South East Asia. All of this stirred along by its vivacious and beautiful owner Chanrina and her unobtrusively competent staff. The lounge is open Monday to Saturday from 5.00 till midnight. Light snacks are available, and meals can be ordered in from SevenBright Restaurant next door which features fine Cambodian food. Built on the riverfront in Phnom Penh in the 1890s, the Grand Hotel was the first hotel in Phnom Penh, built at the request of the senior French colonial official in Cambodia. For many years it was the grandest hotel in the colony and has seen in its share of important guests including writers Andre Malraux and Somerset Maughan. After the Khmer Rouge it was, like most of central Phnom Penh, cut up into a warren of small and shoddy apartments but now gradually pieces of the building are being reborn in the spirit of the original grand concept.