AsiaLIFE

In many of Phnom Penh’s most popular establishments, barstools are the best places to sit. To prevent your bum from going numb, you had better choose wisely. Nora Lindstrom takes a seat.

Stool of the Stools Award
Freebird
69 Street 240
Freebird’s barstools set the standard in Phnom Penh. Supersized, comfortable and secure, they are at a perfect height for eating. Popular among regulars, many of the seats along the bar are often reserved, but given that the same stools can be found throughout the bar there is no major drawback. This gets the stool award over Cadillac and Huxleys because, let’s face it, they came first.
Rating: 9 / 10

Cadillac Bar & Grill, 219E Sisowath Quay
“It’s not the smallest of men that frequent Phnom Penh bars,” says Cadillac’s understated owner, Ken. Consequently, he decided to get the best stools he could – exact replicas of the ones at Freebird. At Cadillac the seats are white, but in all other ways the stools are the same. Effortless to get into, the cushion is so massive it makes you feel like royalty on a comfortable throne, and never once do you miss a backrest. Ken wants us to point out that he serves beer in pint glasses, just like Huxleys.
Rating: 8 / 10

Coolest Stool Award
Chow, 277 Sisowath Quay
Like everything else at Chow, the barstools have a modern flair. Unfortunately modern design does not necessarily make for great comfort, as the seats lack cushions and are a bit cold and slippery. They do swivel, making conversing with fellow revellers in all directions a simple task. The backrest is minimal but effective, and the cool design of the stools is likely to rub off on anyone who's sitting on them.
Rating: 7 / 10

Green Vespa, 95 Sisowath Quay
“If it’s got a back it’s a bar chair,” declares Green Vespa’s Alan. The eight ‘bar chairs’ here, highly coveted by regulars, are of a conventional make, with small round cushions, four legs and footrests. Naturally, they are green. And as my six hours of sterling attendance during the sitting proves, the stools gloriously pass the numb bum test.
Rating: 7 / 10

FCC Phnom Penh, 363 Sisowath Quay
Although there are a variety of stools at the FCC, those at the bar are technically chairs as they have a backrest, according to the Alan-rule. You may miss out on the view by sitting there, but the sturdy wooden chairs are comfortable despite the lack of padding and at a perfect height to allow your elbows to casually rest on the bar. The one drawback is the weight of the solid, wooden chairs making for difficulties in getting in and out if the bar is crowded. Best to sit tight through happy hour at the very least.
Rating: 7 / 10

Le Deauville, Wat Phnom Roundabout
The barstools at Le Deauville are potentially the oldest in town, having lasted for 14 years since the French establishment first opened. Light and manageable, they are simple and round with footrests, although the cushions have gone a bit hard over the years. When choosing your stool, be sure to get one on the correct side of the linguistically-divided bar.
Rating: 6 /10

Overhang Award
Howie’s Bar, 32 Street 51
Given the amount of regulars sat on the stools at Howie’s every night, you might assume there can not be much wrong with the seats. On the rough and ready side, the small cushioned square on which to perch you bottom is nevertheless likely to leave some overhang, although it’s not like anyone’s looking. Getting up to play pool every now and then should prevent your bum from going numb.
Rating: 5 / 10

Rubies, Cnr. streets 19 & 240
High and a bit difficult to ascend, Rubies’ barstools may pose a challenge for those of lesser height. The seats sway and one out of six is broken – allegedly. However, the removable fabric cushions are not only stylish but extremely comfortable, big and soft. Have a look out for the baby barstool, which won’t let you reach for the bar, but is probably the cutest in town.
Rating: 7 / 10

Pacharan, 389 Sisowath Quay
Pacharan’s stylish wooden barstools are satisfyingly wide even for ample rears. Though they require some effort to get into for those of us who are on the shorter end of the height spectrum, the footrests give you a true feeling of safety once you’re perched. They are also at a great height for stuffing yourself with tapas at the beautiful air-conditioned bar, though be careful when climbing down if you’ve had one too many glasses of sangria.
Rating: 7.5 / 10

Huxley’s Public House, Cnr. streets 136 & 5
With rounded backrests each chair at Huxley’s can only fit one, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as barstools regardless of their size generally become uncomfortable with two on them. The green vinyl attached with studs to their wooden frames, makes them as distinctive as the bar’s Bloody Marys. Set at a nice height for both tall and short patrons, they invite a long stay.
Rating: 8 / 10

Equinox, 3A Street 278
There are two types of barstools at Equinox – steel and wood. Avoid the steel ones at all cost, as they provide no comfort at all, however the wooden stools with grey cushions make for a nice comfortable seat. With backrests and two levels of footrests in addition to the bar railing, these barstools are functional. However, despite the pleasant breeze from the fans, the lack of air conditioning combined with the seats’ vinyl can make things a bit sticky.
Rating: 6 / 10

Liquid, Street 278
Without a doubt, Liquid has the best padding of all the barstools in town. You literally sink into them. They are of a nice height, both in terms of the footrest as well as seating yourself comfortably at the bar. Sadly the half-sized backrest is rather deceiving and not particularly useful. As the seats are made of vinyl and the bar lacks air conditioning the stools are also prone to stick.
Rating: 7 / 10

Talkin to a Stranger, 21b Street 294
At Talkin you get a choice of two – high rattan chairs with backrests and low round vinyl-cushioned stools on one leg. The former have comfortable fabric cushions, but are rickety and do not inspire structural confidence. While the former makes for a sturdier seat, the lack of being able to lean either backwards or forwards onto the bar might not keep you sat very long – not that this seems to deter most newspaper and magazine editors in town.
Rating: 6.5 / 10

One More Pub, 16E Street 294
One of the latest arrivals on the Phnom Penh bar scene, the bar chairs were hand-made by the same carpenter who created the bar. Solid wooden chairs ensure no sway factor and the small cushions provide ample padding for those preparing for a lengthy session. The chairs are an ideal height for eating at the bar.
Rating: 7.5 / 10

Maxine’s, Over Japanese Bridge
The bar commonly known as Snow’s has black leather bar-chairs with a low backrest. Comfortable to sit on and at a perfect height for customers of all sizes, these will reward anyone who has made the long trek over the Japanese Bridge.
Rating: 7.5 /10