I went to the Shanghai Bar in Phnom Penh yesterday with ERS correspondents the Expat Player and Nick Gatsby. I haven’t actually been to Cambodia in about 5 years so I was interested in seeing how the bars and clubs have changed since then.
The Shanghai Bar opened in 2000 and has been a pretty popular hangout with locals and tourists alike. Not a big bar but it has a few booths in the back and a square shaped bar in the middle, also note the AC is on full blast. The menu has a mix of western and bar chow with some Mediterranean specials. The bar is well stocked with reasonable prices for drinks (they also have western beer, something you can’t get in Jakarta).
But the real reason people go isn’t for the food or drinks – its because they employ a full staff of cute Cambodian girls in sexy uniforms.
The Shanghai sort of reminds me of a cheap version of a hostess bar in Japan or Bangkok, the girls hang out and flirt with you wile you drink or eat. All of the girls are pretty, speak good English, are way sexy and are generally fun to hang out with. They don’t drink (at least I didn’t see any drinking) so they don’t push “ladies drinks” or any other overpriced crap on you.
Basically they just hang out, chat and keep you company. Now the girls here are not P4P bargirls (meaning they are not pro “temporary girlfriend” types). but if they like you sometimes you can take them out to hit other bars (I think you have to pay something to the bar cuz they loose staff when you do that), but not all of them will go out with you. But if you act cool and don’t manhandle them they you stand a good chance of hooking up later with the ones who are open to that.
Some guys have told me they have gone there regularly and ended up dating or just hanging out at other bars and clubs with some of the Shanghai girls. So if you become a regular and the girls like you then you have a better chance of hooking up.
Wile we were there Nick and the expat player and I hung out for a couple of hours with a few of the Shanghai girls (they were wearing very cute little black cocktail dresses). We had a few drinks and shot some pool, and the whole time the Shanghai girls were flirty and fun to hang out with (and very touchy feeley).
Overall it was an interesting and enjoyable time, the girls were nice and the beer was cold. I will definitely add the Shanghai Bar to my routine every time I am in Phnom Penh.
*note: this was my first time at the Shanghai Bar so if I got anything wrong or you would like to share your experience then please feel free to make a comment below.
Shanghai Bar Phnom Penh
Cnr of Streets 51 & 172
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
+855 12 804836
Open 4pm til late
www.shanghaibarcambodia.com
Read All Bar and Club Reviews and All Cambodia Expat Articles
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
cambodia is a great place to party hard my first time was in 2000 loved Martinis made it there every night also sharkys but
maybe try this place next years trip
Your right about the Shanghai bar for the new comers don’t wastes any time in that bar if you are seeking for 4P4 activities; try, Martinis Pub,Walkabout or Mikado bar.
I remember this place. Not that great… I have a cheekyPhnom Penh if anyone wants to check it out…
Last news the Mikado bar is now closed since march 2010, one more victim of the police crackdown. Now Sophies’s club and White Pearl Club soon Phnom Penh will be a destinations for Red Cross volunters.