|
Joma Bakery Café
The Joma Bakery Café chain, founded in Laos’s capital Vientiane before spreading to Vietnam and then Cambodia, only opened its first outlet in Phnom Penh in February but has since sprouted two more in Tuol Kork and Tuol Tom Pong. They do a full range of baked goodies, from cinnamon buns, to muffins, croissants and cookies, but our pick is their substantial mini-loaves of sweet, dense banana bread ($2.10) which go well with a heart-starter coffee.
Corner of Norodom and Street 294; corner of street 337 and Street 528; and near the corner of Street 456 and Street 155. Open 7am until 9pm. Order delivery from YourPhnomPenh.com.
|
|
Java Café
Much-loved expat haunt Java Café is a bakery fiend’s dream, offering everything from fresh-out-the-oven loaves to tooth-achingly sweet cupcakes. The squidgy cookies ($1.50 each) are alone reason enough to stop by. Especially recommended: the walnut variation, which come with giant, gooey chunks of white chocolate. If you need more motivation to indulge, there’s a half-price discount on all things baked after 5pm. And watch out for seasonal specialties – when the Western world’s autumn comes around, pecan pies and other wintery treats can be made to order.
#56 Sihanouk Boulevard. 7am until 10pm. Call 023 987 420 for delivery.
|
|
Eric Kayser
While the opening recently of Aeon Mall brought an onslaught of new baked goods to the city, Eric Kayser stands out in particular for its quality sweets. Founded by the world-renowned French baker of the same name in Paris, his prestigious brand operates outlets from Singapore to Beirut. Definitely try the Adagio ($3); it is a sweet, richly packed chocolate pastry with just a tad of raspberry filling. Other menu options include the raspberry clafoutis ($3) and the apricot pistachio tart ($3).
AEON Mall, ground floor (open 9am until 10pm) and White Mansion Hotel, #26, Street 240 (open 6am to 11pm).
|
|
Blue Pumpkin Cafe
Just like the almonds generously sprinkled atop their almond croissants ($1.40), Blue Pumpkin Cafes are everywhere, serving a wide range of bread, pastries, sandwiches and cakes. Strip away the restaurant, ice creamery and everything else that Blue Pumpkin has become in its 14-year existence and you are left with a French-style bakery that sells fresh bread without any extra sugar, croissants that melt in your mouth and pre-made sandwiches, like the ham and cheese ($3), that hit the spot.
Check tbpumpkin.com for locations. Open 6am until at least 8.30pm. Call 023 998 154 for delivery.
|
|
The Shop
The chocolate cakes ($1.25 for a slice) at this stalwart Phnom Penh bakery and cafe are legendary, and for good reason. While there is nothing particularly fancy about them, their sweet, fudgy simplicity proves you don’t have to overload a cake with extras to make it mouthwatering. Cake not your thing? A variety of tarts, including lemon, chocolate raspberry, apple and chocolate mint are on offer for $1 a pop. Pro tip: the Tuol Kork outlet is much more spacious than the Street 240 one, and offers a leafy garden seating area.
#39 Street 240. Open 7am until 7pm. Call 023 986 964 for delivery. The Shop Too: #38 Street 337, Tuol Kork.
|
|
Tous Les Jour
A French-style bakery by way of South Korea, Tous Les Jour prides itself on using high-quality ingredients and baking fresh each day (the name means “every day”). You can get moist yummy croissants, in various guises from plain (3,000 riel) to chocolate ($1.10) and ham ($1.10), various different kinds of bread loafs, cakes, drinks and more. There’s also been some interesting cultural transmogrification as the traditional recipes have come through Asia, resulting in such products as the, er, sausage donut ($1.10) – a hot dog stuffed inside a jam-drizzled pastry.
Monivong Boulevard, Sihanouk Boulevard, Aeon Mall and Sovanna Mall. 093 37 2222.
|
