There’s a certain magic about New Year’s Eve. All the hope, wishes and anticipation for the year ahead is magnified into one night. We’ve come up with a selection of the best NYE

experiences in Siem Reap, from the lavish to the loud, just to make sure your 2012 starts off with a bang (the good kind).

The Soiree:

Alila Sothea‘s New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner White Night.

The Setback:

$150 per person

The Specifics:

Ring in the New Year at a party Elton John would feel at home in. Alila Sothea is going A-list with an all-white dress code. Just be careful not to spill any of the lavish culinary creations or free-flowing tipples.

As for entertainment, Siem Reap’s hottest property Cambojam will be ringing in the year. Expect dancing, and lots of it.

The Soiree:

Nest’s city soiree in Siem Reap

The Setback:

$45 per person

The Specifics:  

For those who prefer to spend New Year’s in more cosmopolitan terrains, Nest Angkor may be exactly what you’re looking for. The special NYE menu includes an oyster duo, tuna tataki, parmesan consommé with black truffle, along with intricate duck or sea bass dishes for the main course. There’s a chocolate and berry sushi for dessert, sorbet for in between and the countdown will be rung in with a glass of sparkling wine, and a DJ spinning choons. Best of all, every guest will go home with a gift.

The Soiree:

FCC New Year’s Eve BBQ Dinner

The Setback:

$77

The Specifics:

The FCC Angkor always manages to hit fun and casual, yet classy and elegant, on the head and this year’s NYE is set to keep that tradition rolling. A tasty barbecue banquet will be dished up while guests are treated to a Khmer cultural show that will include more than just the usual dance performers. This will be followed by a unique and rather special solo guitar performance. Come the stroke of midnight, revellers will see in the new year overlooking the Siem Reap River.

The Soiree:  

Villa Anjuna’s New Year’s Trance Party

The Setback:

$20 (Free drink included)

The Specifics:

We can’t talk about New Year’s Eve antics without including Temple Town’s newest party spot, Villa Anjuna. The inaugural NYE trance party will have special guest DJs banging out tunes long past midnight. With the black lit décor and garden for a dance floor you’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into an old school rave, while the on-site tepee will be the perfect spot to chill out until dawn. Essential dress code: neon body paint and glow sticks.

The Soiree:

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Gala Dinner

The Setback:

$270 per person ($135 for children 5 -11).

The Specifics:

A lavish six course meal, set against a backdrop of thousands of flickering floating candles topped with freely flowing wine. New Year’s Eve at Raffles d’Angkor is a truly extravagant affair. Proceedings start with a pre-dinner party in the Royal Gardens, musicians and dancers will perform throughout dinner, and midnight will be toasted in style with a champagne countdown and spectacular fireworks. Then an international band will play into the wee hours of 2012.

The Soiree:

Hotel de la Paix’s family friendly celebrations.

The Setback:

Dinner, $125 per person

The Specifics:

New Year’s Eve at Hotel de La Paix is a two-fold affair. In the early evening, the Arts Lounge will welcome guests to see two free sessions of Bokator performances by the kids from Green Gecko. Then after dark, the Meric will present a special five course champagne dinner with a menu created just for New Year’s Eve. This sumptuous supper is perfect for those looking for an elegant yet low-key start to 2012.

The Soiree:  

Old Market Pub Crawl

The Setback:

Depends on your tastes and your stamina

The Specifics:

In a town that has a whole street dedicated to bars, there’s no excuse not to party come December 31. A pub crawl is a great way to take part in festivities on the cheap, without committing to any one plan or location. You’ll meet more people than staying put, and no expectations means no dreaded midnight anti-climax. Bars like The Warehouse, Laundry Bar, Banana Leaf, Miss Wong and Molly Malone are all set to have goings on, so down a drink in each, and see where the night takes you.