Discovering a New Cambodia, Kampot

Discovering a New Cambodia - Kampot — A Journey to Find a New Cambodia – Kampot

Kampot is a small city of 50,000 people, about 150 kilometers south of Phnom Penh. Opened as Cambodia’s first international port in the mid-19th century, it grew into a major trade hub and administrative center in southern Cambodia. Food lovers know it as the home of some of the world’s finest pepper, and along the downtown streets lined with old French-style buildings, a free-spirited, artistic mood drifts through the air.

Words Hur Taewoo
Photos Park Shinwoo
In collaboration with ASEAN-Korea Centre

Spice

La Plantation
The main exports that passed through Kampot were rice, rubber, and pepper. Of these, pepper remains the spice that symbolizes Kampot and a cornerstone of its food culture. To experience the fame of Kampot pepper firsthand, visit La Plantation, a farm about 30 minutes outside town. Growing roughly 38,000 pepper plants on more than 20 hectares, the farm exports high-quality pepper to more than 40 countries around the world. Grown organically and harvested entirely by hand, La Plantation’s Kampot pepper is known for its rich aroma and intense pungency. Depending on how it is harvested and processed, it comes in a variety of forms, including white, black, and red, each with its own flavor and each able to be paired with food much as you would pair wine. Not only La Plantation but also many restaurants in Kampot cook with high-quality pepper sourced from farms, and keep two or three kinds of pepper on every table for guests. At times it is even transformed into bold drinks such as pepper beer or pepper coffee. By joining the cooking class and tasting program offered by La Plantation, you may discover the secret of how Kampot pepper rose to the top.

Website:    laplantation.com

Rest

Old Town & Starbucks Fish Market
Another charm of Kampot is its free-spirited, artistic atmosphere. Streets lined with old French-style villas have an exotic feel, and Italian cafés, French restaurants, Irish pubs, galleries, and shops dot the town. Bustling with travelers from around the world, Kampot more than holds its own against any well-known small-town destination in Southeast Asia.
Starbucks Fish Market, opened in 2023 in a renovated Kampot fish market building, is a good starting point for first-time visitors. It is not far from the town center, and places to eat, drink, and have fun cluster around it. Sit for a while on the terrace of the Fish Market and take in the unhurried scene along the Praek Tuek River, which runs through Kampot. The interior preserves the atmosphere of the old fish market, and one wall carries a colorful mural by a local artist depicting icons of Kampot.

Address: Street 735, Krong Kampot 070801

Food

Artisan by Atelier Kampot
Artisan by Atelier Kampot is the most talked-about fine dining restaurant in Kampot. The exotic mood begins with its exterior, a converted two-story French-style villa. The interior, which preserves the old villa’s layout, is finished with elegant décor, and a small courtyard where the staircase leads up to the second floor adds a sense of calm. The cooking is casual. Using Kampot’s fresh seafood, including crab, shrimp, scallops, and sea bass, the kitchen serves a range of dishes from traditional to modern. Unusual items such as a lok lak burger add flavor and fun. You can also pair each dish with three kinds of pepper from the restaurant’s own pepper farm, much like choosing a wine pairing.

Website:    www.atelierkampot.com

Where to Stay

Amber Kampot
Amber Kampot is a luxury boutique resort on the Kampot River. Guests can enjoy refined relaxation in sleek, minimalist pool villas that incorporate traditional Cambodian architectural elements, along with a private beach, a pool, and a wellness spa. The resort runs yoga and meditation programs for guests, and with a private dining service, you can experience fine dining at a romantically set riverside table at dusk. A water shuttle boat to downtown Kampot is also available.

Website:    www.amber-kampot.com