Svay Dangkum is the central urban commune of Siem Reap that encompasses most of the city's accommodation and dining. The name refers to the broader district rather than a single neighbourhood, and it includes the Angkor National Museum strip along Charles de Gaulle Avenue — one of the few stretches of Siem Reap with multi-storey modern architecture. The area between the museum and the French Quarter to the north has several mid-range and upmarket hotels set back from the road in garden compounds.
The northeastern part of Svay Dangkum around Kandal Village — the Siem Reap equivalent of a creative quarter — has attracted boutiques, design shops, and some of the best cocktail bars in the city, away from the Pub Street crowds. It is a good area to base yourself if you want quiet streets within easy reach of the night market and the river.