Travel Report: The Strand Restaurant, Kep.


The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
August 2020.
Sometimes the most memorable travel experiences are the ones that come completely out of the blue. That place you didn’t even know existed. The one you ended up stumbling upon when your plan A didn’t work out.
This is precisely what happened to Sladja and I one evening in the Cambodian town of Kep. We were in need of a fancy meal, a culinary treat to ourselves after an extended period of simple eats.

An overcast afternoon in Kep.
We’d heard on the grapevine that Kep Sailing Club has some of the best seafood in town. Moreover, it enjoys an amazing location, perched right on Chhak Kep Bay. The magnificent views, we read, stretch deep into The Gulf of Thailand.
Thus we opted to swing by one overcast Monday afternoon. However, as soon as we jumped out of the tuk tuk I could see something was off. Sure, Kep was an incredibly quiet place in COVID times, but this was positively apocalyptic. “It’s closed isn’t it?” said Sladja with a sigh.
Kep Sailing Club.

Kep Sailing Club: Not much happening.
It was indeed closed. Weirdly the gate was open, hence we could wander in for a look. The views certainly were special, with choppy waters and the distant form of Rabbit Island balanced delicately beneath a moody, blue-grey sky.

Closed.
At the clubhouse itself you could have heard a pin drop. Not a soul in sight, chairs stacked together, its tables protected from the elements by plastic covers. “Bummer” was all I could say.

Chhak Kep Bay, Cambodia.
Back at the main entrance, we took some time out on the carcass of a giant tree embedded in the sand by the water’s edge. There was a pleasing breeze, which helped us gather our thoughts. “Guess we should walk to the end of the road” I mused, “grab a tuk tuk to the crab market”.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Just a few moments later, we noticed a sign pointing down a side street. “The Strand Restaurant? Let’s take a look”. It took just a minute to reach its arched entrance, where a wooden board informed us we had arrived at “Kep’s signature restaurant”.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Ducking under the archway, we entered the walled compound, following the path through a meticulous country garden. “Oh yes” I found myself muttering when the restaurant came into view, an incredibly handsome, restored fisherman’s cottage with a thatched roof.
The Strand Restaurant, Kep.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Inside, the woman behind the bar looked more than a little surprised to see us. “Are you open?” I checked, noting the entirely empty interior with its wooden tables and bamboo shutters. “Yes!” she smiled, grabbing a pair of menus,“you can sit anywhere”. So we took a table with a view out to The Strand’s private beach garden. As dining views go, this was ten out ten!

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Feeling thirsty, we ordered a couple of mocktails while we perused the food menu. Sladja went for a deep red Water’s Edge, a mix of watermelon, lime, basil and tonic. I plumped for the orangey Crimson Dawn, comprised of passion fruit, orange juice and grenadine.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Having ordered dinner, we grabbed our mocktails and sauntered out to the beach garden. With late afternoon edging into early evening, the temperature was perfect as we sipped our drinks. Our light chatter punctuated by the periodic crashing of waves against stone.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Somehow, I thanked my lucky stars that Kep Sailing Club had been closed. Because it truly felt like this was where we were supposed to be.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
After finishing our drinks, we took a stroll through the main garden. During our wanderings, I realised that The Strand is part of a boutique resort, Knai Bang Chatt. The compound, which actually includes Kep Sailing Club, was founded by a Belgian philanthropist by the name of Jeff Moons.
Knai Bang Chatt Resort.

The Blue Villa.
Knai Bang Chatt features eighteen luxury suites spread across two buildings. The iconic Blue Villa once belonged to the governor of Kep and is a fine example of the famous New Khmer architectural style that swept through Cambodia in the 1950s.

Red Summer House.
What’s more, the Red Summer House, set behind the pool, was once owned by Cambodia’s Head of Customs. The French architect Francoise Lavielle, based in Phnom Penh, played a key role in restoring and renovating both buildings for the resort.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
I was still marvelling at these impressive structures when news reached us that dinner had arrived. With increased expectations, we returned to our tables and set about devouring our fantastic dishes.
My pork belly was delicious, wonderfully tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. It came served with steamed rice and peanuts, while the broccoli, bean sprouts, tamarind and morning glory are sourced from the resort’s large organic garden.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Sladja’s similarly excellent Roast Barramundi sat surrounded by a quotation mark of smoked red pepper puree and three dollops of mustard aioli. Oh, and a battered crab cake topped with cabbage.
The Strand Restaurant, Kep.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Post-feast, we reacquainted ourselves with the beach garden and its fabulous wooden sofa. As had been our original intention, the end of dinner blended seamlessly into the gradual, magnificent performance of sunset. The perfect opportunity for photos, shared silences and declarations of gratitude for our situation during the global pandemic.

The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
That evening at The Strand will definitely live long in the memory. In fact, it remains our favourite evening from our two month stay in Southern Cambodia. Consequently, it feels right to sign this one off with a selection of sunset shots taken that evening. Cheers to The Strand Restaurant! And cheers to Kep!

Sunset at The Strand Restaurant, Kep.
Unfortunately, at the time of publication, the entire Knai Bang Chatt resort is temporarily closed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For the latest news, check out their website.
Like this? Read more of my travel reports from Kep.
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24 Comments
Wow what a find, don’t you just love stumbling upon gems like that. Great sunset shots too.
It’s gotta be one of our best memories from across the nine months we spent in Cambodia.
What a great find both for its location and mouthwatering food all beautifully presented. Sipping the mocktails there looked idyllic Leighton. Marion
Thanks for reading. We could certainly do with an evening like that here in cold, blustery Belgrade.
What a beautiful sunset. Sounds like everything happened for a reason. It’s always great to discover someplace new that ends up exceeding expectations.
Thanks for reading guys, it was a special night.
Absolutely beautiful. Everything happens for a reason and I think you were always supposed to be at the Strand. Thanks for sharing. Allan
Absolutely Allan, thanks for leaving a comment!
Lovely sunset captures!! Great post!!
Thanks Jyothi!
I don’t think you could have found a more picturesque place to eat and unwind. So beautiful!
It’s gorgeous right? Thanks for commenting!
You could probably enter this under good intentions meeting better luck. The whole experience from the disappointment at the Sailing Club to the more than make up for it Strand Restaurant was a visual feast. What tremendous ocean views topped by the sunsets. Great story and great photos.
Thanks Memo, I guess this looks extra good in what I’m guessing is still an unseasonably chilly Iowa? We are definitely missing the ocean after seven months in landlocked Serbia.
I think food always tastes better when it is an unexpected find especially one in an idyllic location like that. I hope your companion gave you appropriate kudos for turning a disappointing evening into the best night in southern Cambodia.
She always gives me kudos. More than I deserve at times 😉 Thanks for reading John.
Fine dining during COVID is tough, even in one’s hometown. I reckon such places won’t likely be quite the same again, even after the pandemic subsides…in any case, your trek for some fine dining in Kep seemed to have been worth it, as the food you had looks enticing! Sometimes, you just gotta “treat yourself” to the finer things in life. 😉
Oh yes, gotta treat yourself to the finer things in life. We are missing the sea very much after so long in landlocked Serbia. With a bit of luck, maybe we can schedule some kind of coastal visit for the summer. Cheers Rebecca!
A very positive review for a great experience. There are often ups and downs in a trip/stay and to always show everything in a positive light loses its flavour, whereas this review follows on from several more critical articles, which gives it more value. Thank you for your honesty.
It’s true that some of the best travel highs are often born out of disappointments. And feel all the more sweeter after some average or negative experiences. Thanks for reading!
Oh wow, what an amazing place to enjoy some food and drink!
Thanks for reading and commenting Diana. I hope they’re able to reopen after the lockdown.
Kep looks like a place to go. It’s on my list now. Maybe next year
It’s a delightfully sleepy place where very little happens. Thanks for reading!