Alaska Bar is another of the many hostess bars in Phnom Penh. It has been around for several years. Yet this place remains under the radar. That is understandable since the bar doesn’t really stand out from the crowd.
Street 136 is now lined with bars on both sides. The once limited bar scene in this town has expanded greatly. Girly bars can be found from the riverside to locations several blocks over. Bars like the previously reviewed Chhing’s have even popped up in the periphery.
It takes real effort to get away from the pack in this crowded field. Some bars do promotions or parties to set themselves apart. Others hire large staffs or restrict employment to the best looking ladies. Then you have Alaska Bar. It has some ladies and they serve up drinks. That’s about all there is to this place.
Layout and location
That’s not to say Alaska Bar is some abandoned shop or anything of the sort. The management runs the place as a business. They do all the normal upkeep. You can find all the usual drinks inside too. It’s just that there is nothing special here. Perhaps I am jaded after more than a decade of reporting on the global adult entertainment industry. Alas this is my genuine feeling.
Alaska Bar is one of the old school dive style bars in Phnom Penh. It’s a smaller space with a bar and seating. Pink rope lights on the walls illuminate the space. It’s possible to see the entire bar by simply popping your head through the door.
The bar is located on the north side of street 136 one block back from the riverside. A large sign displays the name of the bar in English. Otherwise it really blends in with the surroundings. There is a pole on the bar but I have never seen anyone dance there. A pool table can be found in the back part of the bar with the lower ceiling.
Staff, prices and summary
There are around a dozen women working at Alaska Bar most nights. There is some variation among the staff. Generally speaking they are in their twenties. A few are a little older. The majority of the gals are fit. Some are attractive. There are also a few more homely ladies on staff. Though no one can fault them for trying to make a buck. As I always say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The women working at Alaska Bar are pretty friendly in my experience. They are welcoming if reserved. I haven’t come across many pushy or demanding women here. That is always a plus. Though truthfully I don’t encounter many aggressive women anywhere in Cambodia.
Prices are right on par for the area and the industry. A beer runs $3.50 USD. Lady drinks cost $4 each. The bar fine is the standard $10. The ladies themselves ask for varying amounts when they agree to leave the bar with a customer. If there is a going rate it is somewhere between fifty and a hundred dollars.
Alaska Bar resembles some of the older bars in many ways. At the same time it is something all its own. The old bars find ways to stay around and continue to draw in customers. Alaska has been going for a while though there have been stops and starts. The place isn’t bad. It is just average. Accordingly I give it two-and-a-half stars. 
Alaska Bar. No 35 Street 136, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Click here for a map. Open every day from 6:00 PM until 3:00 AM.
