All the hotels and guesthouses double up as restaurants , but the real Kep dining experience comes with the fresh seafood served on the seafront. Both the crab market and the esplanade in town in front of the beach are places to enjoy this wonderful aquatic bonanza. If you're at the crab market, there is a series of wooden restaurants with sea-facing verandas serving the Kep signature dish, among others. If directly on the beachfront, just take a pew on one of the empty wooden platforms and the vendors will come to you. Most places have menus in English these days. On a weekend in good weather expect crowds (almost all of who will be locals), with a good time being had by all. After dark many of the Crab Market stalls stay open until 11pm.
The Riel Bar and Restaurant (tel. 017/902-771; open daily 7-10am, 6pm-midnight) on Crab Market turnoff is the main place to go for evening entertainment and it often stays open late. The Dutch/Khmer management is trying to promote the use of the Cambodian riel as opposed to the U.S. dollar, so the prices are cheaper if you use local currency.
The restaurants at the Kampot end are a little more expensive and not as good. The best one is the farthest along toward Kep. On the weekend you will see more cars parked outside this restaurant than any other.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
