Phnom Penh has three shopping ecosystems. The traditional markets — Central, Russian, Orussey and Olympic — sell everything from silk to electronics, and remain the most rewarding places to spend an hour with cash in your pocket. The shophouse boutiques of BKK1 and Toul Tom Poung carry small designers working in Cambodian silk, silver and recycled materials. The air-conditioned malls of Koh Pich, BKK and the airport district cater to middle-class Phnom Penh and resident expats, and stock imported brands at near-Bangkok prices.
For souvenirs that are genuinely worth bringing home, look for Kampot pepper, palm sugar, silk ikat scarves from organisations like Artisans Angkor, and lacquerware from the small workshops scattered across Toul Tom Poung. Avoid antiques — most are reproductions, and exporting real ones is illegal.