Our Experiences from an
Apsara Restaurant in
Siem Reap Cambodia

"Personal Review of the Apsara Show
at Koulen 2 Restaurant"

apsara dancers siem reap Cambodia at koulen 2 restaurant
Apsara Restaurant

Last updated on July 15, 2010
All prices listed below are subject to change

Finding a restaurant in Siem Reap where they show Apsara performances is not hard at all.

Our Tuk-Tuk driver that day (in April 2010) had tipped us about a restaurant near the Angkor National Museum. I didn't know what we were getting into, but we followed him.

We arrived at the notorious Koulen 2 restaurant, which at that point we didn't know had received bad reviews. We got to pick a table, and chose one of the tables at the front and near the stage.

Price: $ 12 per person




apsara restaurant performance buffet food at koulen 2 siem reap Cambodia at koulen 2 restaurant
Apsara Restaurant: Buffet and Cambodia food at Koulen 2 Restaurant

Me and my boyfriend were picked up at 7 pm, and the show started at 7.30 pm. When we entered the restaurant, we were met by hundreds of tourists running forth and back -- to the buffet. Ushered to our table, we were hungry and started collecting food.

We were there for two things: the buffet and the Apsara show. The variety of Cambodian food was pretty good. You could choose a dish, and they would fry it in front of you. I personally thought it was delicious (and none of us got sick).

Then the Apsara show started!

They were gracious with their hands and decorative costumes, and my boyfriend thought so too.

Watch my video clips from Koulen 2:

He was mumbling: "Ah, they're beautiful." We thought the show we saw that evening was good, but frankly I haven't been to many Apsara shows, so I haven't anything to compare to…

At the end of the show, the dancers posed so the audience could take pictures. Honestly, that was not charming at all. Seeing dozens of tourists taking pictures of them, like they were dolls, was just obnoxious. You could see that the Apsara dancers were uncomfortable about it.

apsara restaurant koulen 2 siem reap cambodia performance dancers apsara restaurant koulen 2 siem reap cambodia performance dancers
Apsara Restaurant: Traditional Khmer dancing -- part of Cambodia culture

 

Was it worth it?

Seeing an Apsara performance is a great way to get an introduction to the Cambodian culture. It was worth those 12 USD, but I would go someplace else the next time. The fact that there were hundreds of tourists around us was less charming.

Where: Sivatha road, near Angkor National Museum.

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Other Places to See
an Apsara Performance in Siem Reap

Before Koulen 2, I wanted to go to Acodo Orphanage in Siem Reap. We found a flyer at Blue Pumpkin saying Khmer traditional dancing and music was performed by the orphans.

If you're interested, they have shows every evening at 6.30 pm and lasts for 45 minutes.

For more information on Acodo, visit their website (opens in a new window)

You can also try the Cambodian Children's House of Peace, where they also have traditional Khmer dancing performed by the children. The show is every Sunday evening at 7.00 pm.

For tours around Angkor Park, visit my page about Angkor Wat Tours

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You're done with Apsara Restaurant Siem Reap, where do you want to go next?

Back to Siem Reap?

Don't know where to eat? Check out these Siem Reap Restaurants

Siem Reap nightlife? Click here!

Looking for some Siem Reap shopping?

Read useful general info about the Angkor Temples (Angkor Cambodia)

Heading for the Land Mine Museum. Here`s some info on the museum (Landmines in Cambodia)

Want to try something new? I suggest the tour of Kampong Phluk (Tours in Siem Reap 3)

Get an interactive Cambodia Map and detailed bus information for Cambodia

TOP 10 - CAMBODIA HOLIDAY PACKAGES & TOURS

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