Paix Rise

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The hipsters behind trendy Bangkok night spot, Bed Supperclub, have added elegant overnights to their menu with the opening of Hotel de la Paix (hoteldelapaixangkor.com) in Siem Reap — an ancient Cambodian city now in the throes of rapid, tourism-led development, thanks to its proximity to the World Heritage-listed ruins of Angkor Wat.

From its strategic perch on the edge of Siem Reap's burgeoning bar scene, the imposing, Art Deco-inspired La Paix formally launches the architectural career of Bill Bensley. The landscape designer behind the much-admired gardens and terraces at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai, Bensley proves that his talents extend to bricks and mortar here, with a massive glass dome that awes on arrival, as well as 107 guestrooms that exude understated chic and come equipped with luxurious rain showers (perfect for washing off any dust accumulated during your rambles through Angkor Wat). Evenings should be spent dining on the fabulously spicy cuisine at the hotel's restaurant, Meric, aptly named for a locally grown pepper. Don't miss Australian chef Paul Hutt's grilled Battambang snake and green mango salad. Afterwards, take a digestif in the Arts Lounge — La Paix's innovative live music bar-cum-art gallery.

Spa lovers will be delighted with the hotel's five-roomfacility, Spa Indochine, and its sensuous array of Eastern therapies. For those who crave more meaningful contact with local culture, La Paix arranges a selection of charitable activities, from teaching English to war orphans to participating in Angkor's preservation efforts, thereby turning guests into do-gooders without any sacrifice of five-star comforts.