Koulen Central Mall and Hotel — Hotel in Siem Reap

We spent 3 nights at the Koulen Central and left with mixed feelings. Would we stay here again? Probably not.

Pros: Check-in was easy, as expected. Location is great if you want to stay close to the bustling streets and central Market area, restaurants, services, the river, and shopping, but not in it. Rooms were nicely appointed for the price and exceptionally clean. In fact, the entire hotel is kept spotless. Drinks at the rooftop bar were really good and well priced. Plus the view from the rooftop is pleasant day and night. Breakfast bar is a terrific value. Food stations and the dining room are kept clean and well stocked, and the food variety and quality (fruit, fresh made egg dishes, steamer trays, breads, etc.) are both very high.

Cons: Our 4th floor interior, narrow 'courtyard' facing room was dark, because sunlight is blocked all day. As others have noted, sound travels between air vents in the rooms, so I was kept awake each night by the loud couple in an adjoining room. When I say loud, I mean it was like the man who made a lengthy phone call each night (from 2200 -2300), sounded like he was sitting on the edge of my bed. The pool was exceptionally crowded and noisy each afternoon and into the early evening, so we never got to use it or find an open chair to sit on. They couldn't cash a US $50 bill for me (which local ATMs dispense, along with nearly unbreakable $100s) in the a.m. because? Oh yea, no cash. In a tourist city where few vendors and mom & pop restaurants can make change for a $50 or $100 bill, that's pretty inconvenient. There appears to be no Mall at the mall Hotel. That wasn't a problem, since the hotel is so close to dozens of nice shops, restaurants, and services. But it was a bit puzzling :-)

If a bit of in-room noise from neighbors and 24 hour twilight doesn't bother you, the Kulen Central is a very good choice. It's just not what we were...

Everything, this hotel is horrible. Rooms - no soundproofing, you can hear prople talking, unzipping bags, pouring water in other rooms. On top of that there are construction works in the hotel - the whole afternoons loud drilling snd hammers. The rooms are big but empty what makes them additionally acoustic and unpleasant. Complimentary water provided comes in non sealed bottles, it is just tap water put in small bottle. Gave me stomach problems. The shower is completely clogged - the water floods the whole bathroom when showering. The staff at the reception desk was not interested in fixing this. Safery box not working - again in 5 days no reaction from the reception despite numerous complaints. The room is facing another building’s window (2 meters away) so it is useless. Breakfast - cheap and not tasty at all, again stomach issues the whole stay. Pool area and bar - pool very cold, not enough sun beds especially in the afternoon, sun umbrellas are not properly secured and are falling down on guests with every wind blow - very dangerous. The restaurant offers tasteless food. Reception desk - the worst ever. The staff is ignoring any requests etc, treats customers with indifference and disrespect. After reporting some repairs needs numerous times - zero response. At checkout we were asked to wait for the room to be checked, after few good minutes still wasn’t checked. I asked what are they exactly checking- turned out the mini bar. The joke is that the minibar was empty so what’s to check? It was an attempted scam. Very bed impression, this is a hotel that should be avoided by any means...

Staying at Koulen Central Hotel from May 16–18, 2025, was more than just a vacation—it was the fulfillment of my mother’s lifelong dream to see Angkor Wat, and the hotel played a beautiful part in making it so special.

We booked the Family Suite for our family of four, and from the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel truly cared for. Airport transfers were smooth, and the sunrise Angkor Wat tour was well arranged—thank you Mr. Lee for organizing and Mr. Sophon for driving us safely. Even though we had to leave early, the hotel kindly prepared takeaway breakfasts, which showed how thoughtful the team is.

But what truly touched our hearts was how the hotel helped us celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday. Ms. Pheara surprised her with a beautifully decorated room and a cake—she was overwhelmed with joy. Seeing her so happy after years of dreaming about this trip brought tears to all of us. It’s a memory we’ll always cherish.

The room was spotless and spacious, and the staff were always cheerful and attentive—whether we needed extra water, coffee, or cleaning. While we didn’t use the room service, we loved the hotel’s location—convenient to both Angkor Wat and the city center, and just about an hour from SAI airport.

This hotel didn’t just give us a place to stay—it gave us a moment we’ll treasure forever. We’re incredibly grateful and can’t...