Though Cambodia Beer is a village favourite, I was over the moon to discover that there are plenty of gorgeous cocktails available in the bars of M'Pai Bay too. The standards of drinks are high and the prices are reasonable for delicious drinks all around the village. M'Pai Bay may be a small fishing community, and tourism numbers have certainly taken a hit in the last 12 months, but we still have plenty of little gems where you can find yourself a drink in M'Pai Bay.
The Azure Bar
I don't mean to play favourites, but it is my bar... So I'm going to put it first on the list! Azure Bar officially opened for the first time on 26th January 2021 (Australia Day) and has been serving up tasty cocktails and snacks ever since. Open from 2pm every day except Friday, you can always find a cold Cambodia beer, a locally made cider, glass of wine or a cocktail with us.
All house snacks are made by Berit and usually follow an Aussie theme. If you're looking for a cheesymite scroll or a sausage roll in Cambodia, then you've come to the right place! There's regular games of music trivia on the go when the bar's open and always time for a spot of jenga to keep you entertained between drinks. Local cocktail fav's include Bloody Mary's, Margaritas and Espresso Martinis, but we are always creating our own special cocktails, so you never have to have the same drink twice!
Dragonfly
If you've visited M'Pai Bay any time in the last 5 years, then you're sure to have had a drink or 10 at Dragonfly and probably danced on their bar, just like I have. Located on the rocks with the most stunning sunsets around, Dragonfly serves up great tunes every Friday night (which often leads into Saturday morning), paired with some tasty cocktails to boot. The village consensus, after the old faithful Cambodia Beer of course, is the Rum Snatch, being one of the freshest drinks on the island.
If you happen to be around for Dragonfly's epic Friday night parties, you're in for a treat. The nightlife in Koh Rong Samloem may not be off the charts at the moment, but you know that you'll always have a great Friday night at Dragonfly.
The Gaff
As the newest bar on the block, The Gaff is a fantastic beachside watering hole where you can kick back with an ice-cold Cambodia Beer and enjoy the ocean views. Known as M'Pai Bay's main sports bar, The Gaff shows regular football matches and other sporting events from around the world live, day or night, so you'll never miss the big game no matter how far away from the rest of the world you are. There's a blackjack table and regular poker showdowns here too, so I guess we can call it M'Pai Bay's own mini casino as well.
Cambodia Beer is the number one menu item, but The Gaff also does regular specials on G&T's and offers the occasional whiskey beverage to boot. The opening times depend on the football and the poker games, but if you're visiting M'Pai Bay for a couple of days or more, you're sure to get a quick session in here at some stage.
Yul
Usually open from Monday to Wednesday, Yul offers Angkor beer on tap and a delicious range of cocktails to boot. Aptly named with the airport code for the city the founders hail from in Canada, Yul does a delicious poutine and a range of pizzas to keep hungry drinkers fed. The music is on point and their adaptation of an espresso martini is definitely worth writing home about. It's a great spot for a vodka soda after a busy day of diving or exploring with a relaxed vibed in that indoor/outdoor kinda way that M'Pai Bay bars and restaurants specialize in.
Located at the top end of the main street in M'Pai Bay, Yul is only a few minutes walk from anywhere you are staying in the village making it the convenient choice for a quick drink before or after dinner.
Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger is a beautiful wooden bar on the beach with a pool table and beer on tap... Is there anything else you really need on the beach??? Indulge in an ice-cold happy hour beer and a game of pool as you while away your lazy beachside afternoons, or rent a kayak and head out to explore the stunning blue waters straight off the beach. The pool table is free for customers to enjoy and is also the location for the 'away' games in the M'Pai Bay Pool League tournament that happens in the village once a month. If you're lucky enough to be in town while this is going on, you can experience the truly competitive nature of the island's expat community as the pressure builds towards the finals.
Easy Tiger is open sporadically, so best to keep an eye on the M'Pai Bay Foodies Page for opening times and happy hour specials.
Honourable Mentions
Of course there are some honourable mentions for bars which have also featured as restaurants in my Top 5 Meals in M'Pai Bay blog recently, so we need to mention Bong's which has given me some of my best nights out in M'Pai Bay since moving here; Wildflower for their Thursday night trivia and awesome Chase the Ace game, which you get free entry for with every drink purchased; and just chilling with Hadrian (proprietor and chef) over a couple of cold Cambodia beers at Kunthea's Kitchen no matter what time of day it is!
If there ever was a question, the answer is that you clearly need to get yourself over to M'Pai Bay. We'll show you a great time with a drink or two in paradise, no matter what day of the week it is. In island time, the good times keep on happening every day!
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