Best Lady Bar in Phnom Penh (2026 Guide) | What Makes The Factory 104 Stand Out

Let’s be honest, finding a decent lady bar in Phnom Penh without getting burned by a dodgy review takes some work. Half the blogs out there haven’t been updated since 2022. The other half is suspiciously vague. And by the time you’ve read through five of them, you still don’t actually know where to go.

So here’s a straightforward breakdown. What the scene actually looks like in 2026, why Street 104 keeps getting recommended by people who actually live here, and specifically what makes The Factory 104 worth your first night.

What Actually Is a Lady Bar?

If you’re new to Cambodia’s nightlife, the term gets thrown around a lot. A lady bar, sometimes called a hostess bar or girly bar, is a venue where female staff drink with customers, keep the conversation going, and generally make sure you’re not just staring at your beer alone in the corner. Think of it as a social bar, not a nightclub.

There’s no cover charge, no required table minimum at most places, and no pressure. You sit down, you order, and you see how the night goes. It’s a format that’s been popular across Southeast Asia for decades — and Phnom Penh does it well.

Why Regulars Prefer Street 104 Over Street 136

Street 136 gets all the attention. It’s bigger, louder, and it’s where most first-time tourists end up. But ask anyone who’s been coming to Phnom Penh for a few years and they’ll usually tell you the same thing: 136 has gotten expensive, crowded, and a lot of the bars now cater almost exclusively to Chinese tour groups.

Street 104 is different. It’s quieter without being dead. It’s a short walk from the Riverside, reasonably central, and the crowd skews heavily Western. The bars here tend to be smaller which means more personal service, less noise, and you’re not fighting ten other guys for the bartender’s attention.

It’s the kind of street where regulars actually become regulars. That’s a good sign.

The Factory 104 | What You Actually Get

There are a few bars on Street 104. The Factory 104 stands out for a handful of reasons that go beyond just having a nice sign out front.

The Space Itself

Warm lighting, wood-panelled walls, a mix of bar stools and proper lounge seating. It doesn’t feel generic. A lot of bars in this part of Phnom Penh follow the same template — plastic chairs, fluorescent lighting, a TV on the wall. The Factory 104 has clearly put thought into how the room feels, and it shows.

Stage performances run through the night, including pole dancing shows. They add energy without making the place feel like a nightclub. You can watch or not — nobody’s making it the main event unless you want it to be.

The VIP Room with Hot Tub

This one genuinely surprised me when I first heard about it. Most bars in Phnom Penh offer a VIP section that’s essentially just a slightly better couch with a velvet rope. The Factory 104 has a private VIP room with its own hot tub.

If you’re celebrating something — a birthday, a deal closed, a night you want to actually remember — that’s worth knowing about. Book it in advance, especially on weekends.

Drinks, Food, and What It’ll Cost You

The drinks menu covers the usual suspects — local beers, imported spirits, wines, and cocktails. Pricing is fair for the area; you won’t be paying Street 136 rates. There’s also food on the menu, proper pub-style dishes rather than just bar snacks, which means you don’t have to eat somewhere else first and rush back.

The bar accepts ABA transfer, cash, and credit cards. That’s actually more flexible than a lot of competitors, where it’s cash or nothing.

Pool Table

Small detail, but worth mentioning. Having a pool table changes the dynamic of a night. It gives you something to do, breaks the ice fast, and works especially well if you’re with a group. It’s one of the more searched-for features in Phnom Penh bars right now and The Factory 104 has it.

The Basics You Need Before You Go

Opening hours: 7:30 PM to 4:00 AM, every night. No cover charge to get in.

Location: 21Eo Seng Thuon, Street 104, Phnom Penh, easy walking distance from most Riverside hotels.

New customers get a free first drink just scan the QR code when you arrive. Worth doing.

To reserve a table or the VIP room, contact them on Facebook or call +855 965 875 391 ahead of time.

A Few Things Worth Knowing If It’s Your First Time

Not everyone who walks into a lady bar in Phnom Penh knows what to expect. Here’s the short version:

• Nobody’s going to pressure you into anything. Sit down, have a drink, settle in.
• Lady drinks are how the hostesses earn their income. Buying one if you want company is standard. Not buying one is also fine.
• Keep tabs on your tab. Ask for a running total if you’re losing count — any honest bar will show you.
• Be decent to the staff. Genuinely. The bars that attract loyal regulars are the ones where the staff actually want to be there.

Bottom Line

If you’re trying to find the best lady bar in Phnom Penh without wasting a night on the wrong place, Street 104 is where to start and The Factory 104 is the bar to start at.

Good space, genuine atmosphere, a VIP option that actually means something, and a location that puts you close to everything without drowning you in tourist noise. It’s the kind of bar that people come back to the next night. That, more than anything, tells you what you need to know.