Perched 37 floors above the rush of Phnom Penh, Sora, the rooftop bar at Rosewood Phnom Penh, has always felt like a place suspended between worlds—a collision of cloud-level glamour and grounded, local soul. Now, the sky-high cocktail haven has something new to toast: the Ketel One Sustainability Award from Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, announced in Macau on July 15th. It’s a historic nod not just for the bar, but for Cambodia itself—Sora is the first bar from the country ever to be named on the 50 Best list, debuting at No. 65.
Judged by The Sustainable Restaurant Association, the award recognizes Sora’s zero-waste ethos, tight-knit community partnerships, and commitment to Cambodian heritage. The judges highlighted Sora’s house-made vermouth crafted from kitchen scraps, and the SORA MARTINI—a cocktail that uses the whole orange, Kampot pepper, and spirits from local producers like Seekers Spirits and Samai Distillery. More than 70% of the bar’s ingredients are locally sourced, including from the hotel’s own hydroponic garden. This is sustainability not as marketing fluff, but as a guiding principle.
“It was Sora’s focus on provenance that really got our attention,” said Juliane Caillouette Noble, Managing Director of The Sustainable Restaurant Association. “It’s bringing traditional Khmer flavors into a modern cocktail language.”
The win arrives alongside a major shift in the bar’s leadership. Nimol Leourng, a rising force in Cambodia’s cocktail scene and alum of both the Pour un Sourire d’Enfant Institute and Raffles Hotel Le Royal, has been named Bar Manager of Sora. His vision includes refreshed, locally driven menus and immersive guest experiences that lean into Cambodia’s culinary identity.
Joining him is Jonas Vittur, the newly appointed Director of Bars at Rosewood Phnom Penh, whose global experience spans from London to Tokyo. “A great bar is never just about the drinks,” he says. “It’s about the stories we tell, the feelings we create, and the community we build.”
Together, Nimol and Jonas are poised to steer Sora into its next chapter—one where Phnom Penh’s cocktail culture isn’t just participating in the Asian bar renaissance, but shaping it. Sustainability, storytelling, and Cambodian soul in every glass.
For more information or to make reservation, head over to the hotel’s official website.
