Responsible Dining
There are numerous restaurants and cafés in Siem Reap with a strong focus on Responsible Tourism and the environment. Here is a list of recommendations from us at Babel Guesthouse. Eat at ANY of these restaurants, and know that you are dining for a good cause. And you are guaranteed great service, lots of smiles and GOOD FOOD.
When you have a meal at Sala Bai Restaurant you´ll be actively participating in the vocational training of young disadvantages Cambodians by allowing them to practice their newly acquired skills in real conditions while financing their training.
The fusion cuisine of Sala Bai prepares students for international standards of hospitality and offers a selection of varied dishes (international and Khmer) taking you on an unforgettable culinary journey.
Sala Bai training Restaurant is situated inside Sala Bai Hotel School, a bit outside the city center of Siem Reap, next to the river on the way to Lake Tonle Sap.
The restaurant is open for lunch from 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm every weekday (Monday to Friday. Closed on public holidays).
Spoons - Training Restaurant
Spoons restaurant is part of EGBOK mission, a program that originally provided supplemental classes, housing, job and financial support to young disadvantaged Cambodians studying at other hospitality schools in Siem Reap, like Sala Bai Hotel School. Now EGBOK has grown into their own training and internship program formally recognized by the Cambodian Government.
Spoons provides hands-on service training for their students and they serve a delicious array of Cambodian cuisine, from street food favorites to classic home-style dishes. The restaurants profits are channeled directly back to support EGBOK, helping them to achieve greater financial stability and sustainability.
Spoons is a very charming bamboo restaurant, situated near Wat Damnak, not so far from the city center of Siem Reap.
Open Monday to Saturday, 11.30 am to 10 pm.
Haven - Training Restaurant
HAVEN is exactly what it means: an oasis for their guests and a safe place for their “family”, their trainees and staff. While enjoying a dish from their special selection of flavorful Asian and Western food – including many fresh vegetarian dishes – you are supporting their training program and thereby helping disadvantage young adults to achieve a secure and independent future.
At HAVEN they are extremely passionate about taking care of the environment. They have a very long list of environmental initiatives they have implemented.
“Because offering a better future also involves reducing our environmental footprint and help sustain a healthy planet”.
Bayon Pastry School is part of l´ecole du Bayon, a French association working to provide education to 400 underprivileged children and youth living in the Angkor temples area and the nearby village.
Bayon Pastry School is an 11 months program for underprivileged women. During this time they receive pastry courses, both theory and practice at the coffee shop/bakery. They also receive English classes, business-, mathematic-, computer science-, accounting- and personal development classes.
This very charming coffee shop/bakery is located in a peaceful garden not far from the city center of Siem Reap. Here you can enjoy tasty pastries freshly baked by the students, as well as delicious hot and cold coffees, teas and fresh drinks.
New Leaf eatery is a social enterprise café/restaurant in the heart of Siem Reap. New Leaf has implemented numerous environmentally friendly initiatives and adopted fair employment practices; including a living wage, profit share, regular training and providing career development opportunities.
Each month 30% of their profits are donated to a chosen charity or project and 20% is shared among their Cambodian staff.
Located in the heart of Siem Reap, just minutes away from pub street, New Leaf eatery is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy excellent Khmer and international cuisine.
Open every day from 7.30 am – 9.30 pm.
Sister Srey Cafés vision is to support young Khmer students who struggle to keep balance between study and supporting their family. Each staff member is trained in hospitality, English language skills, personal development, health and Hygiene and banking. Sister Srey is a stepping stone to a brighter future and a means for them to have skills and knowledge to approach the world empowered and confident.
Sister Srey donates a percentage of their profits to APOPO, a humanitarian landmine clearance project in Cambodia. They also have various incentives and activities in which support the local and rural community. They are also extremely passionate about environmental sustainability and have implemented an impressive long list of environmental initiatives.
Everything in Sister Srey is prepared fresh daily. Their produce is as organic and chemical free as possible and they are gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and food intolerant friendly.
Sister Srey café is situated by the river right in the heart of Siem Reap, and is open every day from 7.00 am – 6 pm.
Footprint Café provides excellent employment conditions for their local team and investing in their future through training and skills development allowing them to follow their dreams. They source ethically and locally whenever they can as well as doing all they can to reduce, reuse and recycle. 100% of their net profits is giver as grants back to the local community as education and entrepreneurial grants decided by a local committee.
Footprints Café is located one street 26, not so far from Babel Guesthouse, only a small walk from Siem Reap´s beautiful meandering river. A modersn, stylish, book lined interior is complimented with a small green outdoor seating area. Customers can choose from an array of meals and snacks both local and international as well as freshly made smoothies, juices and of course coffee, cocktails and teas.
The vision at The Little Red Fox Espresso is one that always looks into the future for their team. Training and support in their workplace is of integral importance. They endeavor to guide their team members in many aspects of life. Hospitality skills, English skills, general world knowledge, health and hygiene, savings plans, personal development and environmental improvement.
The Little Red Fox Espresso was one of the first cafes in Siem Reap to take noticeable action towards lowering its daily carbon footprint and sharing the knowledge on how to go green and clean with their team and the community.
With a large variety of brewing techniques complemented by a delicious foxy menu and a devoted and powerful ethos; its no wonder The Little Red Fox Espresso has quickly become one of the favorite spots in town for both locals and expats.
The little Red Fox is situated in Kandal Village.
Open Thursday – Tuesday 7 am – 5 pm. Wednesdays closed.