Review: Naga Gate Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap

Early in November this year, me and 3 of my good friends from elementary and high school traveled to Siem Reap to see the majestic temples of Angkor. The city of Siem Reap is rapidly expanding. There are new infrastructures being built everywhere from hotels and residences to high-rising commercial buildings.

So, in keeping with our budget while exploring a new place with comfort, we stayed at Naga Gate Boutique Hotel, a new nicely designed contemporary hotel in Siem Reap.

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

It is conveniently located along Makara St, Chun Lung Village. It’s 2 km away from the city centre, but it’s easy to get around – about 7 minutes by tuktuk ride to the PUB Street, the place to be if you need a range of options for restaurants and for evening entertainment in Siem Reap.

The tuktuks that picked us up. Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

Arrival – at the hotel’s reception. Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

Upon arrival they picked me up at the bus station, and they picked my friends up at the airport. At the hotel, the staff were very welcoming and we were greeted with a towel and a complimentary welcome cocktail – it was so refreshing!

Me…enjoying the complimentary welcome cocktail by the pool. 🙂

Since we were 5, we opted to stay in a Family Interconnecting Pool View Room so that we would have ample time to catch up since we haven’t seen each other for so many years (2 of them I haven’t seen for 18 years and for 14 years). The rooms are interconnected to each other and there was enough space for everybody. It was very spacious, very tidy and very comfortable.

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Our room has 1 large double bed, 2 extra double beds, 2 private bathrooms and a bathtub. The beds were very comfortable; it’s firm and pretty good for your back. The blanket is thick and soft too, and the pillows are fluffy.

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

The windows are huge to ensure sunlight when you need it. It has a sitting area – a small couch, a small round table and 2 chairs where we could relax or do some work.

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Our rooms were well furnished with 2 safety deposit boxes, 2 flat screen TVs with cable channels, 2 small refrigerators, 2 air conditioners, 2 kettles. Other extras include free toiletries, 5 bathrobes, slippers and many more.

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel has also a lovely restaurant which offers Cambodian and western cuisine. We had breakfast there and it was super – plenty of choice and very generous portions. The food was fresh, healthy and luscious.

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

I highly recommend the chicken soup. My friends and I loved their salad, too, as well as their coffee and fresh homemade fruit juice.

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

Photo credit to my friend, Carl G. Fernandez.

What I loved about Naga Gate was its facilities. They have a nice sea water swimming pool with sun loungers as well as a fitness center and a spa. Due to our hectic schedule, I never got to try out the gym and massage. The hotel facilities are excellent – keeping with any top class hotel, and provides free strong WiFi which is accessible everywhere in the hotel.

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Photo credit to my friend, Julie Ann D. Manzano.

Photo credit to my friend, Julie Ann D. Manzano

Early splash in the pool, 6AM. 🙂

The staff were absolutely lovely and always greeted us with a beautiful smile. We like the kindness and politeness of the staff. They were attentive – always there to help us, and they really tried to make sure that our stay would be a special one.

with the staff of the hotel.

The best thing about Naga Gate is definitely its price. A room, complete with breakfast and complimentary use of swimming pool, as well as a discount to services like massage. Talk about good value for money! 🙂

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel

Naga Gate Boutique Hotel is certainly a true oasis – quiet, fabulous and a real touch of luxury! It’s chic and cosy in a busy street but managed to remain remote from the noise and movement of the city. Its location, helpful staff and its facilities, not to mention its affordable rate, makes it the perfect place for family and friends visiting the gateway to the ruins of Angkor.

Taste of Home: Baked French Omelet

Ever since I was a small child I love omelets! I enjoy to eat this dish for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner. I just stuffed it with the vegetables I like or cheese and it makes a super yummy meal.

Baked French Omelet

My mom has always made incredible omelets and since I was in elementary she taught me how to make it – her way, the Filipino way. But, through the years, and as I continue to immerse myself into different cultures, I learned several ways of making omelet.

At the moment, the oven baked French omelet, which I learned from Alan, is the one that inspires me the most especially when they are perfectly baked and stuffed with cooked fresh yumminess of carrots, tomatoes onions, ham and cheese – it’s downright healthy, absolutely delicious and gorgeously sumptuous.

Fresh eggs, fresh vegetables and fresh ham – combine them in such a pleasant way, would definitely inspires you to get up early in the morning, and probably not any kind of omelet you may have encountered before.

One technique to make this elegant bright yellow cheesy-doused omelet is to whip the egg mixture until it is very foamy. The mixture will still be foamy while coking, so that the bubbles of air trapped inside will expand while in the oven making the omelet lighter.

Baked French Omelet

If you wish to try this melt-in-your-mouth egg dish, here’s a simple recipe: I hope you enjoy eating the way we savor it.

Ingredients good for 6 servings:

• 10 fresh medium-sized chicken eggs
• 300 grams of ham, cut into thin stripes
• 2 medium-sized carrots, grated
• 1 medium-sized onions, diced
• 1 kilogram of tomatoes, diced
• 200 grams of Emmental cheese, grated
• ½ cup of milk
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste

Method:

Step 1: Prepare the ham and vegetables mixture.

• Cook the tomatoes and onion in the pan.
• When it’s half-cooked add the carrots.
• When it’s fully cooked, add the ham. Stir occasionally.
• Let it cook for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Step 2: Prepare the egg mixture.

• Put all the eggs in a big bowl.
• Add salt, pepper and a bit of milk.
• Whip the mixture until it is very foamy.

Step 3: Putting together.

• Put the egg mixture in an oven dish.
• Add the vegetables and ham.
• Stir until it becomes homogenous.

Step 4: Bake it.

• Put it in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for about 45 minutes.
• Ten minutes before the dish is cooked, add the cheese on top.

Step 5: Et Voila! Serve, share and enjoy!