Hotel Old Cinema in Kampot – a theater from the 1930s, which became a cinema in the 1950s, then ruins, and since 2016 – an Art Deco hotel after four years of restoration.

The building in the center of Kampot showed films to local residents as early as the 1950s, but by 2016 it had become a derelict ruin — before a Franco-Dutch couple bought it and spent four years restoring it. Hotel Old Cinema is a rare example in Cambodia of authentic, rather than fabricated, adaptive reuse: a 1930s theater that became a 1950s cinema, and now a hotel in the Art Deco style.

Briefly. The building was constructed in the 1930s as a theater, converted into a cinema in the 1950s – hence its current name. By 2016, it stood abandoned until a Franco-Dutch couple bought it and transformed it into a boutique hotel over four years, preserving the Art Deco décor. It’s located in the very center of Kampot, within walking distance of restaurants, cafes, and the promenade. Guests mention this place as one of the best hotels they’ve stayed in during their travels across Asia – praising the design, pool, and breakfasts, noting only the noise from passing cars due to its proximity to the road.

From Theater to Cinema

The building was constructed in the 1930s as a theater — at that time Kampot, once an important French colonial port city, still retained some of its pre-war cultural and commercial significance. In the 1950s, the building was converted into a cinema, which is how it got its name, even though there’s long been no trace of its original cinematic function.

Abandonment and the 2016 Discovery

Like many similar buildings in Cambodia, the cinema did not survive decades of post-war turmoil in working order — by 2016 it stood abandoned and dilapidated, one of many mementos of Kampot’s pre-war prosperity scattered around the city. In 2016, a Franco-Dutch couple bought the ruins and undertook a complete restoration that took four years – a typical timeframe for projects where you don’t just repair, but literally rebuild the structure from scratch while preserving its historical identity.

The result is a rare example of genuine adaptive reconstruction for Cambodia: unlike many “colonial” hotels in the region, whose historical character is limited to the marketing phrase “in the style of such-and-such an era,” Hotel Old Cinema occupies a real historic building with a documented functional lineage — a theater, then a cinema, then an abandoned ruin, then a hotel.

Art Deco in the Heart of Kampot

The hotel’s design consciously draws on Art Deco aesthetics – a style that for many guests becomes the main impression of their visit even before getting acquainted with the building’s history. Inside there is an indoor pool, a terrace and a well-maintained tropical garden with palm trees, creating, according to guest reviews, a feeling of tropical coziness right in the city center, not outside it on a separate territory.

Its location on one of Kampot’s central streets makes the hotel a convenient base for exploring the city on foot: restaurants, cafes and the Prek Tuek Chhoeu River embankment are within walking distance, while the Kampot Provincial Museum complex and Kep beach are 5–10 minutes away by car.

What Guests Say

  • “Simply fantastic. The layout, decor, style, atmosphere, pool, cleanliness, food quality, beverage selection and location of the hotel – all top-notch. […] My wife says it’s the best hotel we’ve stayed in during our numerous trips throughout Asia.”
  • “My stay at Old Cinema Hotel in Kampot was simply exceptional. This place has an incredible atmosphere – a combination of the history of an old cinema with modern comfort creates an atmosphere unlike any other hotel I have ever stayed in.”
  • “Wonderful stay. Wonderful and caring staff. Excellent location, within walking distance of all restaurants and cafes in the city, as well as the embankment. […] The stunning Art Deco design elements everywhere create a real wow effect.”
  • “Very stylish hotel with thoughtful design and beautiful details. There is plenty of greenery and palm trees inside, creating a feeling of tropical coziness right in the city. The pool by the bar is a separate pleasure.”
  • “Highly recommend staying here if you’re in Kampot! It was an amazing stay. The staff were very friendly […] Unfortunately, my friend got sick while we were there, and the staff were very kind and caring.”

The only recurring comment in reviews is the noise from passing cars due to the building’s proximity to the road – a minor drawback against the overall level of service and design.

What’s Next

In Kampot itself, our section has already gathered quite a collection of historic hotels: colonial shophouses The Columns and a genuine mountain resort-casino from the French era Le Bokor Palace on the plateau above the city.

Prices, room availability, and service inclusions are subject to change – please check the latest information before your trip.