Scene

Stylish lounges and art galleries are adding a new energy to the city’s nightlife. On Street 240, wine shop Red Apron (Nos. 15-17 St. 240; 855-23/990-951; drinks for two $12) turns into a swank lounge at night, with adventurous wine-food pairings such as South African Pinot with foie gras and lychees. Purple walls and armchairs pay homage to the grape at Le Sauvignon Wine Bar (6B St. 302; 855/1290-5856; drinks for two $7), an intimate spot near the Independence Monument with a cellar of 200 wines. Rooftop bars are popping up all over the city, and the best among them is the riverside Le Moon Terrace Bar (Amanjaya Pancam Hotel, No. 1 Sisowath Quay; 855-23/214-747; drinks for two $12), where a sophisticated set gathers at sundown for gin and tonics and Angkor beer. To get a glimpse of the nascent art scene, head to Meta House Phnom Penh (No. 37 Sothearos Blvd.; 855-10/312-333), a gallery-café-cinema run by a German filmmaker that exhibits regional and international artists, and the cutting-edge jGallery (56 Sihanouk Blvd.; 855-23/997-522), which focuses on the work of emerging Cambodian talent. Don’t miss Meta House’s current show of multimedia work by artists from northern Battambang province, open through September 18.