Villa for rent

This gorgeous two-storey villa has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, air conditioning and plenty of off-street parking. It is located on Sisowath Quay and rents for $2,500 per month. Contact 011 950 864 or call John at Bonna Realty on 012 949 577 for more information.

What's going for it?

Chaktomuk spans a wide area from Sisowath Quay to Monivong Boulevard on the north side of Sihanouk Boulevard. Its northern boundary follows Street 240 to the east of Norodom and Street 222 to the west of the boulevard.  Between these streets lies a diverse community ranging from boutique shops selling designer silk originals to street-side shops selling plush Hello Kitty car ornaments. It is the most attractive area to foreigners outside of BKK I as it is both centrally located and  has shops and restaurants that cater to their needs and wants. The buildings in Chaktomuk are also diverse, including colonial villas, modern high-rises and apartment buildings, and a wide variety of flats.

What's the catch?

It's hard really to come up with any reason why you wouldn't want to live in Chaktomuk. However, the western edge is predominantly a Khmer area, and as more foreigners turn their attention to the locale and businesses catering to them continue to move in, perhaps some of the local charm is disappearing. Parts of it can also be rather loud late into the night, and during the day construction noise can be annoying.

Getting there, and away

Chaktomuk spans some of the city's major north-south thoroughfares but has relatively few major intersections. Getting to and from the area is really easy as streets 63 and 51, both of which are less busy alternatives to Monivong and Norodom boulevards, run directly through it. Traffic rarely backs up along the side streets here with the exception of Street 19 around the Paragon shopping mall and Preah Sisowath High School when students are going to school and leaving for the day.

Flat for rent

This single-bedroom, one-bathroom flat rents for $500 per month. It measures four by 20 metres, has air conditioning and is located on Street 63. Call 012 524 891 or contact John at Bonna Realty on 012 949 577 for more information.

Out of the house

One of the nicest things about this area is its numerous parks. The new park on Sothearos Boulevard and the park on Sihanouk Boulevard east of Independence monument are fantastic places to practice T'ai chi, throw a Frisbee around or just relax with a book. There is also a lot of shopping to be done in this neighbourhood including at the Paragon shopping mall, the boutiques on Street 240 and the local shops to the western side and along Monivong Boulevard. Food options include K'nyay vegetarian restaurant, Korean and Japanese restaurants, Americana food and loads of noodle shops and street-side cafes. The nightlife in Chaktomuk is hoppin' with Elsewhere parties, the Orange Club and a huge variety of bars to chose from. The Pavilion is a superb spot to relax poolside with a light sandwich and a glass of wine.

Schools

The Australian Center for Education (ACE) is NEAS-certified, which is the Australian accreditation for English language schools. It is located one block from the edge of Chaktomuk on Street 217. The British International School, Home of English and ISPP are also within close proximity. On the market

Land in Chaktomuk is priced from US$2,000 to $2,500 per square metre along the side streets and $3,000 to $5,000 along the major streets. Flats rent from $400 up to $1,000, while serviced apartments range between $800 and $1,200. Villas rent between $2,000 and $5,000 and sell for between $1 million and $1.5 million, according to Bonna Realty. Office space rents for around $10 to $15 per square meter.

From the streets of

Chaktomuk

Rob Ainge, owner of Rubies wine bar:

"I really like this area just because it’s got a really nice feel about it, there’s quite a lot of people around, and it’s convenient. You’ve got everything at your doorstep, so you really can live an entire existence in a little bubble around here. There’s a lot of development so it can be very noisy, especially in terms of construction going on. You know, there is a lot of hustle and bustle, so if you want a bit of a quieter life then you might want to get out of this area."

Niat Sarim, resident:

"It’s easy to go everywhere, like the park and the Royal Palace, which is in the area – everything is good here. It also only floods a little bit. It’s also easy to go to school, because Chaktomuk school, Sisowath school and many universities are around here. There is also shopping, like at Paragon shopping mall and Lucky market, and it is also near Duck Goh market, Central Market and O’Russei; it is easy to go there. Around here all the neighbors are friendly and there are a lot of police so it is very safe."

Jenny Vy, bar owner:

"The neighbours never complain about anything even though my restaurant/bar usually closes late. They’re really nice, they help and direct you. It’s close to Lucky Supermarket but my favourite thing is I like the way [the neighbours] give advice to people who are new here. Like if I don’t understand something, people are very helpful."