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About Lotus Silk

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne
Lotus Silk, Phnom Penh

Lotus Silk was founded by Vannary San in 2003, with the purpose of promoting local silk sourced from weaver communities in the provinces in Cambodia. The social enterprise has a beautiful showroom/workshop, The Silk House, in Phnom Penh, where visitors can shop the handmade products.

Lotus Silk’s designs are inspired by trends from Japan and Korea with an emphasis on classic designs and cute details. In addition to handwoven, hand-dyed silk, Lotus Silk also sources different kinds of high quality upcycled fabric at the local markets in Phnom Penh, as well as luxury vintage fabrics which is donated to Lotus Silk from friends in Japan.

At The Silk House, Vannary hosts a variety of workshops. The sessions are by appointment only, and you can try traditional weaving and tie-dyeing, and learn about traditional textiles and patterns in Cambodia.

You can read more about Lotus Silk on the website, and if you are in Phnom Penh, you can get in touch with Vannary and arrange a visit to the shop.

Lotus Silk, #57, St.240, Sangkat Chey Chum Nas, Khann Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Lotus Silk, Phnom Penh
Lotus Silk, Phnom Penh
Lotus Silk, Phnom Penh
Lotus Silk, Phnom Penh
Lotus Silk, Phnom Penh
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About Schwanen Garten

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne
About Schwanen Garten, Clean beauty from Korea

Schwanen Garten was started by two Korean scientists, Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan, who met while they were both exchange students in St. Petersburg over 25 years ago. The couple married, but shortly after the wedding, Suan’s mother tragically passed away from cancer, spurring the couple to years of intensive research in alternative and preventive medicine. The research particularly focused on the body’s immune system and the relation to antioxidation, which is the termination of chemical processes, which can otherwise lead to the formation of free radicals and damage to the cell. During their research, Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan discovered the critical role that antioxidants play in bolstering the immune system.

Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan’s research made the greatests progress after the couple returned to Seoul. The two scientists continued working on the thesis that a strong immune system and lots of antioxidants are the key to health and well-being. Furthermore, the couple realized the importance of antioxidants in skin care and after several years and countless scientific experiments in their own laboratory, Sung Hyun and Dr. Suan decided to launch their own line of skin care products, Schwanen Garten, developed in Seoul, and based on antioxidants derived from natural ingredients.

Korean Skincare - Clean Beauty from Korea
Schwanen Garten

Schwanen Garten is a Korean skincare brand rooted in decades of scientific research on antioxidants and skin immunity. Founded by scientists Sung Hyun and Suan, the brand was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Ugly Duckling, symbolizing transformation and self-acceptance.

Their signature SG Antioxidant Source™ formula blends naturally derived ingredients like green tea, Centella Asiatica, lavender, and birch bark to protect against free radicals, reduce inflammation, and promote collagen production. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and formulated without parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrances, or GMOs.

Schwanen Garten
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About Sonas

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne
About Sonas

After having witnessed many failed development initiatives, and their negative impact on Cambodia, Sonas founders, inspired by Nobel Prize laureate Prof. Yunus, decided to develop a new, innovative model with the potential to generate large-scale, perpetuating impact.

The model rest on the overall belief that social entrepreneurship can empower people. Through interest-free seed capital, mentorship and training Sonas aims to build an ecosystem of sustainable micro-businesses, creating lasting change, one village at a time.

Through locally owned, participatory processes, the first village Prey Theat in Takeo, Cambodia, is becoming a role model of this self-sustainable community, regenerating social and natural environments, and Sonas’ long-term goal is to have this model adopted by 10 more villages in Cambodia.

In addition to Prey Theat and the two Sonas businesses, Taeko and Weavers Project, Sonas also supports a wide range of businesses and projects, enabling changemakers to make change, throughout Cambodia and abroad.

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Phnom Penh: Bassac Lane – Where to eat?

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne
Bassac Lane, where to eat? Phnom Penh Guide

Bassac Lane is the famous bar street in Phnom Penh. This is where you’ll find some of the city’s best bars, but Bassac Lane also has a very good selection of restaurants with food from all corners of the world.

Paul Gill, co-founder of the social enterprise Sonas, Weavers Project and Ta Eko, has been based in Cambodia for over 10 years, and in this post, he shares some of his favorite places to eat at Bassac Lane:

Thai Kitchen

Thai Kitchen is really good place for Thai food and the chef and owner Sophon is full of energy and makes sure that all the guests in the restaurant are having a good time. The menu features dishes from many different regions in Thailand, so you will find both spicy and less spicy food at Thai Kitchen.

What to order? The Pad Thai and the Pad Krapow are particularly good.

Namaste India

Namaste India is, in my opinion, one of the best Indian restaurants in Phnom Penh. The dishes on the menu are primarily from northern India, and the food is delicious and authentic.My family is originally from India, so I am very picky, when it comes to Indian food, and I can immediately taste if, say, the oil used is not fresh, but at Namaste India they always use good, high quality ingredients. Furthermore, the service is always top notch and the staff are friendly, so it is always a pleasure to visit the restaurant.


What to order: Masala Chicken with plenty of naan bread

Chili & Chill

A really good place for traditional Khmer food. The restaurant is run by a Cambodian family and both the husband and wife are incredibly nice. Cheap and delicious.

Mama Wong

Mama Wong is now a bit of a classic on Bassac Lane. The Asian fusion restaurant is particularly known for homemade noodles and dumplings, but their small plates, Asian Tapas, are also very nice, and go well with a beer or a cocktail.

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About Kravan House in Phnom Penh

by Mitzie Mee - Sanne
About Kravan House in Phnom Penh, Hok Thanan, Founder

Kravan House is a social enterprise based in Phnom Penh. Approximately 60% of the Kravan House artisans suffer from physical disabilities, mainly caused by land mines or polio. The founder of Kravan House, Mrs. Hok Thanan, was born with a physical disability herself, and the stigma she has experienced, lead her to start the business.

In Khmer, Kravan means blossom, and the name of the brand symbolizes the desire to empower physically disabled, but highly skilled, artisans in Cambodia, providing them with a platform to showcase their products. The artisans receive a fair payment, which enables them to thrive and actively contribute to the community, while protecting a traditional craft from extinction.

Kravan House is mainly known for beautiful, handwoven, tie-dyed, silk products, and the artisans can choose to work from home, in small, community-based groups, or in the Kravan House workshop. Before the pandemic, Hok Thanan and Kravan House were employing as much as 50-70 artisans, skilled in weaving, dyeing and sewing, but during the pandemic, this number was drastically reduced and the workshop was forced to close for a long period. Hok Thanan is still in the process of rebuilding her business, which has the potential to become one of the most impactful businesses in Cambodia, supporting a vulnerable, and often neglected, group of people.

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Where to find good vegetarian food in Phnom Penh?

by Chic Critiques
Vibe, only vegan restaurant in Phnom Penh

Alan & Pheap, (h)A.N.D., Phnom Penh: Where to go for vegan or vegetarian food in Phnom Penh? Considering the abundant access to farm fresh produce, the selection of entirely plant-based restaurants in Phnom Penh is surprisingly small. Most of the restaurants catering to the expat/tourist crowd will have a couple of vegan or vegetarian items on the menu, but healthy, organic, plant-based food is still considered a luxury, so don’t expect your kale salad or your açaí bowl to come cheap. Here is a selection of our favorite places to go for vegan and vegetarian food in Phnom Penh. Please note that except for Sacred Lotus and Bong Bonlai none of them are 100% plant-based:

Farm to Table, Phnom Penh vegetarian food
The Green Bowl at Farm to Table

Farm to Table

$$$

Farm to Table is a really cozy restaurant/urban farm, in BKK 1 with outdoor seating among jackfruit trees and clucking chickens (for obvious reasons, dogs aren’t welcome). The ingredients are locally sourced, and what is in season dictates what is on the menu. Farm to Table is not entirely plant based, but the good selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes along with the restaurant’s focus on local produce and the beautiful garden secured Farm to Table a spot on this list.

What to order? The Greener Bowl is delicious.

Best for: All meals of the day, but the outdoor seating area really comes to life after dark, and makes Farm to Table a beautiful place for dinner.

Read the blog post about Farm to Table >>

Farm to Table, 16 Street #360, BKK1, Phnom Penh

Backyard Cafe Phnom Penh

Backyard Cafe

$$$

Backyard Cafe is a nice place to go for tasty, good-for-you food. The restaurant is not entirely plant-based, but the majority of the menu items are meatless, and made with local, organic, ingredients. There are currently three Backyard branches, and the one on Street 246 tends to be the busiest.

What to order? One of the bowls and a cold pressed juice. The raw brownie is also delicious.

Best for: All meals of the day.

Backyard Cafe, 11B Street 246, Phnom Penh

Surn Yi, vegetarian restaurant in Phnom Penh

Surn Yi – Vegetarian Restaurant

$

Surn Yi is a well established vegetarian restaurant located opposite the Plantation Hotel on Street 184. The inexpensive vegetarian food is prepared without garlic and onions, but some of the dishes contains egg. The menu is extensive, featuring more than 400 items, with soups starting at $1.25 and mains at $2.50. The food is served with complimentary green tea. Very popular among the younger local crowd and very busy around lunch time. Surn Yi is located next to Vegetarian Restaurant featured below.

What to order? The fried mushrooms with soup and rice is delicious.

Best for: Lunch

Surn Yi Vegetarian Restaurant, #15, Street 184 (opposite Plantation Hotel), Tel: +855 16 664 666

Vegetarian Restaurant in Phnom Penh
Mushroom noodles at Vegetarian Restaurant

Vegetarian Restaurant

$

Nice, casual restaurant that uses mushrooms as a meat substitute. The noodle soup with fried mushrooms is a favorite, but the noodles without soup are also delicious. The restaurant is popular among the local youth and around lunchtime, you might have to wait for a table. Vegetarian Restaurant is located next to Surn Yi featured above.

What to order? Any of the noodle dishes with mushroom

Best for: Lunch

Read the blog post about Vegetarian Restaurant >>

Vegetarian Restaurant across the street from The Plantation Urban resort & Spa, Phnom Penh

Eleven One, vegetarian food in phnom Penh
Tofu and mushroom amok at Eleven One

Eleven One

$$$

Eleven One is not 100% vegetarian, but has a concept, similar to Farm to Table mentioned earlier in this guide, with a focus on local, fresh produce and a good selection of plant-based dishes. There are two Eleven One restaurants in Phnom Penh: One is at the Russian Market and one is in BKK 1, and both restaurants are very nice and so similar in layout and vibe that we have difficulties telling them apart. Eleven One has a no plastic policy so the straws are made from bamboo and the packaging (for home delivery) is biodegradable. A lot of people go there for the pizza (at the Russian Market branch), but we think the local dishes, such as the tasty vegetarian version of the traditional Khmer dish amok, are a better option. The Eleven One at Russian Market is right next to Crumbs (a cute little bakeshop) so you can order Crumbs freshly baked cookies from the Eleven One menu.

Russian Market: Eleven One, #37 Street 123 (corner of 460), Tuol Tom Poung, Phnom Penh

BKK 1: Eleven One, #20, Street 334 (between st.51 & st.57), Phnom Penh

Bong Bonlai Vegan Restaurant Phnom Penh

Bong Bonlai Vegan Restaurant

$$

Bong Bonlai Vegan Restaurant is a casual vegan restaurant set in a cozy courtyard. The food is good and slightly cheaper than its rivals on the budding Phnom Penh vegan restaurant scene. The dessert selection is rather limited, but you could always grab one of the delicious smoothies ($2.50 and up) if you are craving something sweet. Main courses are around $5. Bong Bonlai is attached to the YK Art House hotel, a boutique hotel with an independent art gallery and a library.

Bong Bonlai Vegan Restaurant, 13a, Street 830, Phnom Penh, Tel: +855 70 740 051, open Tue-Sun 7:30am – 5pm

Sacred Lotus Vegan restaurant, Phnom Penh

Sacred Lotus

$$

Sacred Lotus recently popped up on our radar, and after checking it out, we decided that the hostel/vegan restaurant definitely deserved a spot in this guide. The strictly vegan menu features plant-based versions of classic Khmer dishes as well as international food, and the portions are generous.

Sacred Lotus, 127C EO, St 440, Phnom Penh

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