Shinta Mani Angkor is a boutique hotel with a conscience, and one of the most thoughtful places to stay in Siem Reap. It was designed by Bill Bensley, one of Asia’s best-known hotel designers, and was his first hotel with a purpose: a hotel to teach hospitality. It began life in 2012 as a renovation of an 18-room guesthouse and now has 39 rooms in the middle of the city, together with the nearby Bensley Collection Pool Villas for guests who want more space and privacy. A sleek lap pool, a fitness centre and the Khmer Tonic Spa provide the relaxation, and there is a restaurant on site. What sets the hotel apart is its mission. It runs a free hospitality school where underprivileged young Cambodians learn the hotel trade, and around thirty young adults train each year, and it supports the Shinta Mani Foundation, which has worked on housing, wells, water filters, loans, healthcare and a seed bank in nearby villages. All Shinta Mani hotels contribute a share of their revenue to the foundation, so a stay here has a positive impact beyond your own comfort. The staff are often trainees or graduates of the programme, and the service is warm and eager. It is a very good fit for travellers who care about where their money goes.
Location and getting around
The hotel is in the centre of Siem Reap, within easy reach of the Old Market, Pub Street and the restaurants and cafes of the town, so you can walk to dinner. The Angkor temples are a short tuk-tuk or car ride north, and the hotel can arrange drivers, guides and sunrise transfers. The new airport is about an hour away, so ask about transfers when you book.
Rooms
Rooms in the main hotel are modern and comfortable, with design touches that reflect Bensley’s playful approach, and the Bensley Collection Pool Villas offer larger, more private accommodation with their own pools, which suits honeymooners and families. Room categories and layouts vary, so check the details when you choose.
Who it suits
Couples, design lovers and socially minded travellers who want a stylish hotel in a convenient location, and anyone who enjoys the idea of staying somewhere that gives back. It is also a good choice for people who want service that feels personal and unhurried.
Good to know
The foundation’s work and the hospitality school are central to the hotel’s identity, and the staff are happy to explain them. Book early for November to February, and consider adding a spa treatment after a long temple day. Ask at reception whether foundation visits or community experiences can be arranged during your stay, and compare villa and standard room rates, since the difference can be smaller than you might expect in the quieter months.
Why stay here
- ✓Lap swimming pool
- ✓Khmer Tonic Spa
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓Restaurant
- ✓Bensley Collection Pool Villas
- ✓Hospitality school and foundation
- ✓Central location
- ✓Temple tours arranged
Good questions
What is special about Shinta Mani Angkor?+
It was designed by Bill Bensley as a hotel with a purpose, running a free hospitality school for young Cambodians and supporting the Shinta Mani Foundation. A share of revenue goes to the foundation.
Does Shinta Mani Angkor have a pool?+
Yes, it has a lap pool, along with a fitness centre and the Khmer Tonic Spa. The Bensley Collection Pool Villas have their own pools.
Is Shinta Mani Angkor close to Pub Street?+
Yes, it is in the centre of Siem Reap, within easy reach of the Old Market and Pub Street. Tuk-tuks are easy to find for temple days.
