AsiaLIFE

One of the most talked about 2009 additions to Phnom Penh’s bar scene, Fly Bar is the first joint venture of ambitious Cambodian duo Ke Sophea and Chun Vuthy

The pair first clashed heads in school over a girl. “We both lost her in the end – she got married to some rich guy,” Sophea notes. But the two remained friends, and when Sophea returned from further education abroad, Vuthy asked him to help out with his latest venture – Fly Bar. With no experience in running a bar, Sophea and Vuthy started slowly with a soft opening on New Year’s Day, followed by a grand opening on Valentine’s Day when the bar’s trademark – the indoor swimming pool featuring a glass wall – was finally completed. “I always wanted a swimming pool, but I live across the street from my parents and they would not approve,” says Sophea. Despite lacking a formal training in architecture, he designed the whole establishment. “I saw the concept of a glass-walled pool in a magazine, but we had to compromise a little in its realisation as the construction company had never made anything like it before.”

In addition to the pool, Fly Bar encompasses a stylish bar, a Middle Eastern-style lounge, a dance floor, and a mezzanine complete with glass floor allowing a quick peek at the bathers. A long and narrow space, typical of shophouses, this helps keep the thumping, dance-floor music from penetrating into the more chilled out bar and lounge areas. The menu specialises in cocktails, partly because Sophea and Vuthy are fans themselves, and partly because the duo is intent on introducing more than whisky to the party-going Khmer crowd. “We want to change Cambodian drinking culture,” says Vuthy. “We want people to come here to have a few cocktails, make friends, be happy, and relax, not like what happens in many Khmer places.”

Indeed, Fly Bar is one of the few places in town where locals and foreigners mix over pineapple and chilli margaritas, mojitos, long island ice teas and the twenty or so other cocktails on the menu (US$3-US$4). “We always have different groups coming, both foreigners and Khmers,” says Sophea. “I’m not sure if the Khmers and foreigners can stand each other, but we have a good atmosphere here and there is a lot of space, so slowly they will get to know each other.” For a classy riverside joint, the prices are affordable, and there is a short menu with select midnight munchies for a few dollars. “When I’m out I like to have a small snack, so I expect other people do too,” Sophea said. Most things at Fly Bar are modelled on what the pair like, but customers’ suggestions are always welcome. As for the future, the high school friends have ambitious plans for further joint ventures, so watch this space.

Fly Bar is located at 21 Street 148, just off Sisowath Quay. Open 5pm – 12/1am, or 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.