La Maison d’Ambre

La Maison d'Ambre's curved white building and its geometric facade that wraps around the corner of an intersection is reminiscent of 1960s Khmer architecture. Inside, the hotel's eclectic lobby is vibrantly decorated with a tufted couch, ottomans, and table tops all in hot pink, a glittering silver mobile, avant-garde sculptures, a cubist-style mirror, and a single column fronted by Plexiglas candle pedestals. It's an atmosphere far removed from the motorcycles and tuk-tuks whizzing past the hotel's intersection all day. The rooftop restaurant is an equally glam hangout, with purple-cushioned couches, orange plastic ottomans, hanging swing chairs, and daybeds, where guests can relax and take in the scene.

La Maison d'Ambre is conveniently located in the center of Phnom Penh, about a 10-minute walk to the river and a 15-minute walk to the Royal Palace. It's surrounded by shops, restaurants, and bars, and it's about a 10-minute walk to the central market and main bus depot. Plenty of tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis stand in wait outside the hotel. It's about a 30-minute drive to Phnom Penh International Airport.

There are 10 rooms at La Maison d'Ambre, including One Bedroom, One Bedroom Plus, and Two Bedrooms. One Bedrooms are about 60 square meters (about 646 square feet), while the One Bedroom Plus is almost double that size. Each room is designed around a specific geographic location. The Casablanca Room has cobalt-blue touches throughout; low, wraparound seating; a Moroccan-patterned carpet; and a giant hot tub, but the TV is placed at an awkward angle for viewing. The Japanese Hababi Room is punctuated with red details, lanterns, geisha pictures, Doremon dolls, sliding screen doors, and a futon bed. The Midnight in Paris Room is a surprisingly modern, some might say sterile, Paris apartment with a silver-and-lilac color scheme but nothing to suggest the city's Belle Epoque. When we visited, some of the room lamps weren't working, and some bathrobes were missing. All rooms include separate living areas, plus fully equipped kitchens that come with range-top stoves, microwaves, toasters, cutlery, pots and pans, full refrigerators stocked with wine and beer, and kettles. And rooms also come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, large safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are in tune with the room theme -- each individually styled -- but all are modern, although not all have bathtubs.

La Maison d'Ambre, like many small hotels, has neither a fitness center, spa, or swimming pool. It does have a fine rooftop restaurant, The Fifth Element, which serves upscale Khmer and French cuisine --  including duck, seafood, oysters, and prawns, and tapas, and lighter fare such as goat cheese salads. It's pricier than most restaurants in the neighborhood, but it offers fine views of the streets below, nice river breezes, and is a fun place to hang out. The restaurant's bar is appropriately lounge-y with swing chairs and daybeds. Guests can borrow from the extensive DVD collection in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.