Conceptualised as a hotel within a hotel, the Bensley Collection Pool Villas provide the ultimate in private luxury stays in Siem Reap. Designed and founded by world-renowned hotel designer Bill Bensley and featuring a strong element of local social responsibility, this intimate 10-villa stunner sits within a walled enclave and adjoins the upscale boutique hotel Shinta Mani Angkor. Find out why we didn’t want to leave.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We review the Bensley Collection Pool Villas

It’s no secret that we love Bill Bensley-designed hotels as they constantly push the limit in the most creative ways. In the words of the hotel’s General Manager Ewan Taylor, the Bensley Collection Pool Villas are “maximalist Bensley”.

But it’s not only the design that wins us over here. Shinta Mani Hotels and Resorts supports the work of the Shinta Mani Foundation – a not-for-profit benefiting Cambodia’s people, communities, animals, and ecosystems through targeted programmes. The foundation even trains under-privileged locals in hotel operations and helps graduates to find employment, which is a wonderful initiative. A percentage of all hotel room revenue goes directly to the Foundation – gladdening the heart of many – guests and local communities alike.

Setting the scene

In a lush tropical landscape under the ancient canopy of Siem Reap’s palace trees, the 10 exquisite and roomy Bensley Collection Pool Villas feature a minimum 156 sq-m of space. Uniquely blending traditional and contemporary design elements, they also showcase the designer’s love of Art Deco with gilded trimmings, arched doorways, and geometric patterns aplenty.

walled enclave entrance to Bensley Collection Pool Villas
The entrance experience to Bensley Collection Pool Villas wows

The villas are sumptuous, vibrant, and insta-worthy, providing guests with a luxurious and private retreat. Additionally, the intuitive Bensley Butlers are available 24 hours to assist with your needs. They certainly surprised and impressed me with the thoughtful initiatives they took on my behalf, including delivering fresh coffee and pastries to our villa before I departed on an early morning tour and confirming our departure flight details with the airline so we were delivered to the airport on time.

Villa details

Stepping through the outer doors of your villa is your first jaw-dropping reveal. A slim and private nine-metre-long Art Deco tiled pool surrounded by lush gardens and a relaxed seating area welcomes. To one side, stairs lead up to a rooftop sky lounge perfect for outdoor dining and relaxing.

bedroom at Bensley Collection Pool Villas
Room looking out over the private swimming pool

On the two-storied tall wall separating each villa, billowing folds of curtain-like plasterwork fill the wall and continue indoors into the bedroom. The design is inspired by the swirling robes of Jayavarman VII – one of the Khmer Kings responsible for commissioning many of Angkor Wat’s stunning elements.

Step past the pool to enter the first of two pavilions – your bedroom, which overlooks the pool, and garden. A day bed invites lingering though the super plush bed with its soft, snug pillows will win out. Interiors showcase custom-designed furniture, handcrafted light fittings, and exclusive artwork depicting Khmer civilisation. Rich timber floors with gold inlay and woven textures add to the luxurious feel.

At the entrance is your kitchenette with dual fridges, an espresso coffee machine, signature teas, an ice machine and customised mini-bar. The villa has every imaginable perk – tailored bed linen, Bluetooth speakers, smart TV, curated art, and the best hand-made fixtures and fittings.

Bensley Butler draws bath in stone tub
Feeling tired? The Bensley Butlers will draw you a luxe bathing experience in the outdoor stone tub

Step beyond the bedroom and living area through the private open-air tropical garden to your glassed floor-to-ceiling bathroom, which blurs the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors. An expansive dressing room, double vanities with rattan-framed mirrors, exclusive toiletries and amenities occupy the indoors of this pavilion, while outdoors, a rain shower, and inviting stone bathtub await.

Eat & drink

Suppose you can resist asking your Butler to deliver all your meals to the villa. In that case, you will find the all-day dining Baitong restaurant in the Bayon wing of Shinta Mani Angkor Resort. Baitong offers a scrumptious breakfast, international comfort food, and Khmer street food.

Bensley Collection Pool Villas Sky Lounge breakfast set up
Take breakfast in your private sky lounge

A must-do if wanting to experience Khmer food is Chef Chanrith’s unforgettable seven-course Khmer degustation menu showcasing the authentic tastes of traditional Cambodian cuisine prepared and presented in an elevated fashion. This is available in the resort’s Kroya restaurant.

And with over 30 Gins from all corners of the world, Bensley’s Bar is the only place to hang out when the need for a G&T, or other such tipples, strikes.

Extra bits

The Khmer Tonics Spa is the wellness sanctuary within Shinta Mani Angkor. Based on traditional Khmer healing rituals, spa treatments here are designed to reduce stress, ease tension, and uplift your creative mind and spirit. Although you can enjoy a massage in your Bensley Collection Pool Villa, I recommend indulging in the whole Khmer Tonics Spa experience. My Shinta Mani Signature massage was exquisite after a long day out exploring.

Our only issue with experiencing the Bensley Collection Pool Villas at Shinta Mani Angkor was that we had to checkout.

Discover more about Bensley Collection Pool Villas

But wait, there’s more…