The Willow Boutique Hotel

The Willow Boutique Hotel feels more like a family home than a hotel. This a small property, with just 10 rooms, which translates into a very relaxed vibe. Once inside the unassuming entrance, the hotel opens into an open-air main floor that consists of a small pool, restaurant, bar, and reception. The lobby is toward the back, where artsy paintings and handicraft lampshades give the seating area a bespoke look. From here, a gorgeous carved teak staircase leads up to the rooms. There is also an overflow area adjacent to the lobby, with a large sofa, some tables, and even more local paintings. The main restaurant area sits right in front of the lobby, with a red tile floor, hanging Chinese style red lanterns, and small tables with bouquets of fresh lotus flowers brightening things up. It's a cozy and homey spot, although it lacks the garden and lush greenery of other nearby boutique hotels. The hotel attracts travelers of all stripes, including solo travelers and businesspeople, but couples and families make up the majority of guests staying here.

The Willow Boutique Hotel sits just off of busy Sihanouk Boulevard and the Independence Monument, on a quiet side street that's close to restaurants, bars, and shops. The hotel's street with trees and a mix of houses and shops, and has security out front, plus a motorcycle parking area.This is a popular neighborhood for tourists, with many boutique hotels and great places to eat and hang out -- head to Street 240 for particularly trendy options (a 10-minute walk), or west to the BKK-1 enclave (also 10 minutes away on foot). It's a 15-minute walk to the riverside, which bustles in the evening, as well as the Royal Palace and National Museum, but tuk-tuks are available right outside of the hotel and can make the same journey in five minutes. It is a 40-minute drive to the airport.

There are only 10 rooms at this tiny hotel, and they are a great value compared to the other boutique hotels in the neighborhood. Most are boutique hotels have very small rooms -- more like closets -- but the Willow offers quaint and spacious rooms with tiled floors, and all rooms come with four-poster beds -- a particularly romantic touch. The Superior Room has a jade-colored floor with floral tile accents that brighten things up, but most rooms employ an earthy palette accented by handsome dark wood furniture. Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, air-conditioning, electric kettles, safes, and free Wi-Fi. 

There are several categories to choose from, and Standard Rooms don't have balconies, while Superior Balcony and Deluxe Balcony Rooms feature great street views -- some offering distant glimpses of monuments and temple rooftops -- with plenty of sunlight and small furnished terraces. The Deluxe Room also has a beanbag cushion chair and an extra day bed for seating. Bathrooms are likewise spacious and feature generous marble or granite countertops, vessel sinks, and walk-in showers. Superior Rooms have rainfall showerheads, and all bathrooms include toiletries. 

The Willow Boutique is a very small hotel and doesn't have too many extra facilities. There's a swimming pool, but it is one of the tiniest hotel pools in town that's really only suitable for a quick dip to cool off. A few chairs sit to one side of it, and there's an adjacent bar for a cocktail as well. The restaurant is breezy and charming. It serves a free breakfast that's nicer than other hotels and items are ordered from a menu, not served at a buffet. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves a fairly extensive menu of both Asian and western dishes. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel