AsiaLIFE

Owning one of the most popular bars on one of the most popular streets in the Penh, Marc Saveltti should have his hands full, but the laidback Frenchman has found his equilibrium. Words by Craig Gerrard.

“I always try to derive inspiration from the name,” says Marc Saveltti, owner and manager of Equinox. “I don’t want the place to be too posh, but it has to be comfortable. I want it to be a place to come and just have a beer, not only a special event bar. It’s about keeping the right balance.”

A six-year veteran of Cambodia, Marc has owned Equinox for the past four years, having celebrated its anniversary in January. He says that business is booming, thanks to the increased popularity of the Golden Mile.

“There was a need for this kind of scene in the city,” he says. “Expats were looking for something different than the lakeside or the riverfront – a place to meet with friends for a beer and listen to good music.” Street 278 has become that home for many Penhites looking for their own spot, and Equinox seems to find the balance between value and comfort.

Another draw is the rotating art exhibitions selected by Marc – part of the general trend of increasing cultural events in the capital.

“I hope this will bring more artists to Phnom Penh,” he says. Not only does the changing décor keep him and the customers from getting bored with the bar, but as he puts it “it’s always a good occasion to have a party.”

Marc first brought a business to the Golden Mile more than five years ago as owner of Setsara Thai Restaurant, when he knew many of the other business owners on the block. Though there are many alternatives to Equinox nearby, he does not see these bars as competition. Recently, the street’s business owners have collaborated to talk about how they could improve things. “If you look at this from a city level,” he says, “these are my business partners, not my competition.”

The future looks bright for Marc and his neighbours. He has plans to expand the upstairs to allow for more table space. He also hired another bar manager, this time an Englishman, hoping this solidifies the bar as an international destination, not just a “French bar” as some suspect. For the time being, Marc enjoys life in Cambodia. “There is something exciting about the unpredictability,” he says.

Equinox, 3A Street 278