Phnom Penh is officially anti-prostitution, but unofficially about as strict as a Cambodian traffic cop at nap time.
The city’s adult scene thrives behind closed doors (often marked massage), inside karaoke clubs staffed by bombshells, and girly bars on Streets 130 and 136 where your next hangover surely awaits. It’s an up-and-coming city, with a recently troubled past; a hub that is predicted to urbanise rapidly over the coming years.
In this guide, we take a look at the best adult entertainment Phnom Penh has to offer… from escort services and hostess bars, to the legions of adult KTVs and massage dens.
Sex In Phnom Penh
Prostitution in Phnom Penh
Prostitution is technically illegal in Cambodia, even though it remains prevalent across the country, and particularly in the busy capital of Phnom Penh.
Many local sex workers operate under the guise of local freelance escorts, via massage parlours or in high-end karaoke lounges. Street 130 and Street 136 and known for their roaring sex trade, underpinned by literally door-to-door hostess bars (where girls negotiate tricks long into the night).
Red Light Districts
It’s not that Phnom Penh’s red light action is confined to one “district” as such.
It’s spread across several streets and neighborhoods, each with its own flavour that has changed as the city has evolved. Over time, the hooker hotspots have waxed and waned – some once-bustling areas have quieted down, while others have emerged to satisfy the influx of sexpats and horny tourists.
Present hotspots include:
Street 136 (Riverside)
Of course.
The closest thing to a go-to red light strip.
Running from the riverfront into the city, Street 136 is lined with hostess bars.
This is where you find favorites like Xanadu, Charlie Chan’s, Pussycat and 69 Bar. As darkness falls, the balconies are full of girls calling out to guys below (see the walking tour vid above). And yes, it’s very much aimed at foreign customers. The area is safe and well-lit, just a bit chaotic with tuk-tuk drivers and working girls competing for attention.
By consensus, Street 136 has replaced Street 51’s scene as the ‘red light capital’ of PP.
Street 130 & Street 110
These two streets, parallel to 136, have a slightly more laid-back bar scene. Street 130 especially has a reputation for friendly, well-managed bars where expats hang out long-term. Bars like Loco, Angry Birds and Pour House are all regular staples with the punters.
Street 104 & Street 118
These were among the original hostess bar strips and still active. Street 104 has long-timers like Air Force Bar and Oscar’s Pub, plus a few smaller joints. Quieter than 136, good if you prefer a less frenetic scene. Street 118 is marked by popular bars like Baccara, White Cats, and the Croco club.
Street 51 (Pasteur)
Historically the heart of PP nightlife (home to the late Walkabout bar, Heart of Darkness club, and Golden Sorya Mall), Street 51’s red light status has dimmed slightly, shifting over to 136 in recent years.
GSM used to host a cluster of girly bars and freelancer hangouts, but it was demolished and redeveloped. That said, there’s life in the old street yet: Pontoon Club is allegedly still pumping as the city’s top hooker disco (freelancers galore after 11pm).
NagaWorld & Casino Area
The strip around the NagaWorld casinos (there are two connected buildings) has a cluster of KTVs and the Darlin Darlin lounge. Recent punter reports suggest that the Cambodiana Hotel area also has street freelancers late at night.
On Street Numbers:
If you’re a first time visitor to PP, the road numbering system takes some getting used to. Odd-numbered streets generally run north-south and increase westward from the river, and even-numbered streets run east-west increasing southward. But this isn’t evenly applied. And in some cases, numerically close streets, like Street 516 and Street 514, can actually be several kilometers apart. Whooooops.
For our case, doesn’t really matter. Most of these streets are located predictably close together in RedLightVille.
Adult Industry In Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh’s adult entertainment scene is lively, diverse, and evolving fast. While the red light girly bars are the most ‘public’ examples, sex workers are pretty flexible with their working arrangements… as we’ll see below!
Escorts
So, there are no licensed escort services – any “escort” advertising is underground. However, the act of exchanging sex for money itself isn’t outlawed.
Escorts in Phnom Penh typically pick up Johns independently via specialist escort websites, dating apps, or messaging platforms. Many are essentially freelancers you can connect with through online forums, Tinder, or specialized groups.
Some dating sites like Cambodia Cupid have women seeking “friendship”, but it doesn’t take many messages back and forth to uncover the real reason they’re there.
Local Facebook groups and Telegram channels (e.g. Cambodia Sextoy & Escort groups) often have listings. There is an entire Cambodia Afterdark section on the popular Cambodia Expats Online forum, which is rich with the latest escort intel.
Prices vary widely.
For an average local freelancer, expect roughly $50–$100 USD for short time (about 1–2 hours). The fancier escorts (highly rated or part-time models) will quote at least $150+ for overnights. Always agree on the fee upfront to avoid confusion. Many escorts will say “up to you” on payment (playing in to Johnny Foreigner’s lack of market knowledge), but a fair rate is around $50–$80 for the night in Phnom Penh’s market.
Brothels
Brothels are officially illegal in Phnom Penh under the 2008 anti-trafficking law.
Instead of open brothels, like you might find elsewhere in Asia, sex services have moved into massage parlours, karaoke clubs, and hostess bars.
Many of these venues function as de facto brothels behind the facade of another business. For example, hostess bars on streets like 136 have rooms nearby or love hotels for trysts. The Golden House has garnered a notorious rep for working girls coming and going over the years.
Note that their legal status means any brothels you find on your travels are vulnerable to police raids and should be avoided.
Strip Clubs
Not really a thing, in the Western sense.
Instead, many hostess bars double as mini strip clubs – they have poles or stages where girls dance in bikinis or less. Some bars feature topless or exotic dancing at peak hours. The vibe is very casual: you walk in, buy a drink, and soon a doe-eyed Khmer or Vietnamese beauty might be twirling on stage or at your table.
Lap dancing isn’t really a thing… their main goal is to score drinks (and maybe a bar fine).
If this is your jam, we suggest heading over to:
Charlie Chan’s Gentlemen’s Club
Street 136. A large, stylish two-story venue with two big stages and live DJs, opened in 2024.
Dozens of “Charlie’s Angels” dancers perform here, making it feel like Phnom Penh’s version of a strip club, or at least the closest thing we’ve seen in ambience and titty! It’s fairly high-end by local standards (draft beer ~$3, lady drinks from $4). Girls wear green badges if they’re available to go with customers, and there are different bar fines ($15 for hostesses, $30 for stage dancers).
Xanadu
https://www.facebook.com/xanadubar136/
Street 136. A popular go-go style bar, inside the infamous Golden House, often hosting wild party nights. It’s not unusual to see a dancer go topless on stage here when the crowd is lively. Lots of friendly girls. Lady drinks ~$4.50, local beer ~$2.50
Pussycat Bar
https://www.facebook.com/PCBCambodia/
Street 136. True to its name, it has sexy pole dancers and a fun party atmosphere. Most of the shows are restricted to lingerie and dress-up only, no full public nudity. Lady drinks ~$5.
Hollywood Bar
https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodbarpp/
Street 172. A newer bar that has quickly made a name for itself by running 24/7 with dancing hostesses… when they’re not hustling on the pool tables, that is! You can walk in at noon or midnight and still find a girl shimmying on the bar top. Owned by an American expat, it’s foreigner-friendly and picking up some decent reviews.
As a general rule, there’s usually no cover charge at these bars.
Drinks cost a bit more than regular pubs (beer ~$2–$4, lady drinks $4–$6). Tipping a dancer for a private show isn’t real the done thing – instead, if you like a performer, you buy her a drink.
If you want more than eye candy, you can bar-fine a dancer for the night. That will run you $15–$30 for the bar fine, plus whatever you negotiate with her for personal services. Probably around $100, minus the drinks.
Go Go Bars
Go-go bars (like those in Thailand) aren’t a traditional concept in Cambodia, but plenty of “hostess bars” function much like go-gos. These are often called girly bars, and Phnom Penh has plenty.
Expect neon lights, loud music, pool tables, and groups of girls in skimpy dresses vying for your attention. When you enter, several hostesses might swarm you… especially if it’s a quiet night – don’t be overwhelmed, just smile and pick one or two to sit with, or politely say you’d like to look around first. The pool table is usually a nice way to get your foot in the door!
As a general rule, we’d say Phnom Penh go-go bars are a bit more laid-back than Bangkok’s.
Some popular haunts for your bucket list:
- Angry Birds Bar – Street 130. This is one of several well-run bars on Street 130 known for low-pressure fun. The girls aren’t overly pushy.
- Loco Bar – Street 130. Another expat-favorite on St. 130 with a chilled atmosphere. They sometimes have theme nights with girls in costumes.
- Air Force Bar – Street 104. A long-running beer bar that packs in about 30 girls nightly. It’s a large venue with two floors; it has an upstairs and there’s a live band or DJ on some nights.
- Oscar Bar – Street 104. Just down from Air Force, Oscar has a big second-floor stage with live music. Prime spot for freelance action.
- Croco Club – Street 118. A hybrid nightclub and go-go bar. The girls here are definitely working, but it feels like more of a natural club-like environment.
- 69 Bar – Street 136. A bit more intimate, often has dancers twirling away in lingerie.
In go-go bars, buy a drink for a hostess if you want her company – that’s pretty much the unwritten rule. If you’re just bar-hopping to scout, you can take a quick look without offense, but if you sit down and chat a while, dyou gotta whip out the wallet and keep her sweet with regular drinks.
Oh, and check if she actually goes with her customers. A simple “Can you go out later?” will do. If she says no, you’ve saved yourself a chunky bar bill.
Adult KTVs
Karaoke venues are fully legal as entertainment businesses.
Having hostesses in a KTV is legal, and many of the so-called “political elites” enjoy these establishments… as well as Chinese tourists. They absolutely love them.
KTVs in Phnom Penh come in two flavours: local-style (Khmer or Chinese clientele) and upscale clubs for foreign/high-end clients.
In both cases, the setup is similar: you and your buddies rent a private karaoke room, pick a lineup of hostesses to sit with you, and then party the night away singing, drinking, and flirting. The hostesses pour your drinks, clap for your shitty off-key singing, and keep the party alive.
Song selection usually includes Khmer, Mandarin, and some English hits (don’t worry, there’s always some Bon Jovi or Adele for foreigners to belt out).
Many KTV hostesses will offer sexual services after the karaoke session, but typically not on premises (some KTVs have short-time rooms upstairs, but it’s not something we exactly track and keep on top of). You either negotiate for the hostess to leave with you (paying a likely bar fine on your merry way) or arrange a meeting later.
Popular Phon Penh KTVs include:
- V Club – Street 208, Boeung Raing. A self-described “gentlemen’s club” KTV known for Thai and Vietnamese hostesses. It’s popular among affluent locals and expats. The strategy here is to buy a bottle of liquor upfront – at ~$80+ – which saves you from paying $10 per lady-shot repeatedly.
- Darlin Darlin Music Lounge – NagaWorld Casino. Though not a private KTV, this is a fancy schmancy lounge with live music that serves a similar purpose. It’s filled with elegant hostesses (often local or Vietnamese) targeting wealthy businessmen. Drinks are pricey (think $10 cocktails). If you click with a lady here, be ready for sky-high quotes – reports of $150 or even $300 for take-out are not uncommon. They target Chinese high-rollers, after all. Some scheming Johns have managed to snag the same women later at Pontoon Club for a fraction of the price lol…
- Tin Tin KTV & Bar – Street 51 (BKK1 area). A newer KTV that markets itself on Facebook as “luxury KTV rooms, nice girls, and a bar area” open to all nationalities.
- Sorya KTV – Russian Blvd. A large Chinese-run KTV, popular with the Chinese expat community. Neon facade and dozens of rooms. Hostesses here might speak Chinese… but not much English.
- Emperor KTV – Monivong Blvd. A legendary name, one of the older big KTVs. Has a dodgy rep for being a bit seedy in past years, but still running strong. You choose hostesses from a line-up behind a glass panel (almost fishbowl style, but for karaoke).
Needless to say, KTV nights are not cheap… when compared to a simple visit to a girly bar, anyway.
Erotic Massage
Walk around Phnom Penh and you’ll see countless massage salons – some fancier-looking spas, but most are tiny storefronts with neon signs.
For erotic services, the rule of thumb: if the massage parlour has dim lighting, pink/red signage, or young girls beckoning you in, then obviously, yeah… extras are going to be on the menu.
A standard routine is you pay for a massage (Khmer massage $8, oil massage $12 on average for an hour). In the room, if the masseuse is comfortable and the place is indeed a “happy ending” joint, she’ll likely offer a handjob or blowjob for a tip. Sometimes you have to take the initiative and ask softly, “Special massage?” or “You do boom-boom?” – yes, sounds comical, but she’s heard it before. 😂
There are several well-known AMPs on Street 136 and 130, but they don’t market their sexual services explicitly, and we won’t list them here out of respect… or in case their menus have dried up!
Soapy Massage
If you’ve experienced Thailand’s soapy massages (like the epic spas in Bangkok), we’ll warn you in advance: Phnom Penh’s version is much smaller in scale… and not as well documented.
The general working principles are the same though…
You enter a rather nondescript building, go upstairs to a lobby, and you’ll be greeted by a fishbowl panel of women sitting behind glass, each wearing a number tag for maximum punter convenience.
You indicate which girl you fancy by number. The girls here are often young and attractive – a mix of Khmer and Vietnamese (blue number tags for Cambodian, red for Vietnamese in one parlour). The Viet girls are typically very high demand, so may cost more (or there may be less available).
Some popular PP soapies include:
- Massa Massage – Street 252. Perhaps the most well-known soapy in town. It’s on the second floor of an unassuming building, not far from Independence Monument. Look for bright neon lights in the window at night. Inside, Massa usually has 20–30 girls available in the fishbowl. The house fee is $15/hour and it stays open until midnight.
- Hotel Luxury World (2nd Floor Spa) – Street 200. Just down the road from Massa, this hotel houses another fishbowl massage on its second floor.
- Mean Haur Hotel Massage – Street 122 @ Street 221 corner. A bit further out (take a tuk-tuk) Same drill: around $10 house fee, selection of girls, negotiate extras.
One more option at the high end: Nuru Massage. Sky Massage (street 398) does a Japanese-style Nuru with full service for $120 all-in. There are a few different ‘Sky Massage’ venues, so don’t get it mixed up. The one we’re talking about has an active Telegram group.
Sex Shops
Believe it or not, sex toys and pornography are illegal in Cambodia.
The law bans distribution of “obscene material,” which, rather amusingly, has been interpreted to include vibrators and dildos, too.
In fact, a group of Chinese nationals in Phnom Penh were even arrested for selling sex toys.
When it’s not your day, it’s not your day. 🤦
As a result of this peculiar law, sex shops in Phnom Penh are not really a thing. The stores that exist operate quietly, often online. Many are run by entrepreneurial locals or expats via Facebook pages, Telegram channels, or word-of-mouth.
They’re typically imported from Thailand or China and sold at a markup. One Khmer woman who started an online sex toy shop said she sells 5-6 items a day, priced $15–$85 each – a booming trade for a country with a $290 average monthly income.
We don’t know of any brick-and-mortar stores, but if you’re looking to shop kinky, these are your best bets:
- Cambodia SexToy – A popular Facebook page (run by “Miho”, a local female entrepreneur) where you can browse a catalog and order via Messenger. Delivers to Phnom Penh, usually via moto courier. Payment by cash or ABA (local bank app). Products range from vibrators to fleshlights. Discretion guaranteed – the page is private and you’ll get your item in a nondescript package.
- Sextoyshopcambodia.wordpress.com – A small website listing toys with a phone number (+855 70 268 865). It’s basically an online catalogue and you order by texting/Telegram. Hours listed as 7am-9pm for inquiries. Aimed at locals, Khmer language, but they may understand English too.
Elsewhere, bit of a lucky dip, but Phnom Penh’s Central Market (Psar Thmei) has historically had some vendors fly under the radar selling porn DVDs and toys. YMMV.
Love Hotels
If you pick up a bar girl and your own hotel is not guest-friendly or is far, she might suggest going to a nearby guesthouse she knows. AKA, a love hotel.
These places are very used to the drill: you pay $10–$15 at the front desk, no questions asked, they hand you a key (or even just rent by the hour without formal check-in). Bedsheets may not be pristine – but that’s part of the authentic short-time charm, right? 😅
Some newer establishments have combined the concept of bar + hotel. They encourage customers to stay, party, and then rent a room upstairs to seal the deal. Security is generally not an issue in these joints, but you might hear other couples through thin walls.
Popular local hotspots include:
Floozy’s Hotel, Bar & Grill – #30, Street 172. Opened in 2023, Floozy’s is a 24-hour bar with an on-site boutique hotel… basically a modern incarnation of the infamous Walkabout bar of years past. It’s a Punter fave for convenience: drink downstairs, take a freelancer upstairs.
Happiness Guesthouse I – #8E0, Street 51. A no-frills guesthouse in the heart of the old red-light area (near where the legendary Heart of Darkness club is). They offer short-time rooms for around $10.
4 Rivers Hotel – Street 136. This place appears on TripAdvisor with some scathing reviews calling it out explicitly as a short time hotel full of prostitutes. Well, it’s smack in the middle of Street 136’s bar strip, so what did they expect?!
Tip: If you know you’ll want a short-time room, do yourself a big favour and carry some small USD bills. It’s awkward to negotiate change for a $100 at a $10 guesthouse.
What are your favourite spots for adult fun in Phon Penh?
Let us know your recommendations!
