The Architecture of Taste: Sora’s “Build & Sip”
- Chomp Magazine
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Words: Pasuta Phongam Photos: Pasuta Phongam & Sora
In 2025, Sora entered the extended list of Asia’s most compelling drinking destinations, debuting at No. 65 on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 51–100—marking a quiet yet significant milestone as the first bar in Cambodia to do so. The same year, it received the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, recognising a measured, forward-thinking approach to sourcing, sustainability and the choreography of modern cocktail-making.
Perched on the 37th floor of Vattanac Capital Tower, Sora—Japanese for “sky”—unfolds within Rosewood Phnom Penh as both vantage point and destination. The space moves seamlessly between an indoor bar and an open-air Skydeck, where Phnom Penh stretches toward the Mekong in a haze of light and motion.
Across these settings, Sora’s identity is defined by a dialogue between Japanese restraint, Cambodian terroir and a globally attuned sensibility—each menu conceived as an exercise in craft, narrative and place.
Its latest chapter, Build & Sip, introduces a cocktail programme that leans into both play and precision. Drawing on the universal language of modular building bricks, the menu reframes drinking as an act of construction—layered, deliberate and quietly nostalgic.
Developed by Jonas Vittur and the Sora team, familiar cocktail archetypes are deconstructed and rebuilt through a lens of Japanese aesthetics, Cambodian ingredients and global references, resulting in compositions that feel both structured and personal.
The menu spans 16 drinks—14 alcoholic and two zero-proof—moving from spirit-led classics to lighter expressions. Each begins with a recognisable foundation before being reinterpreted through Sora’s lens of technique, flavour and presentation. Underpinning the programme is a continued emphasis on locality, with ingredients sourced from Cambodia’s agricultural landscape, aligning with the bar’s broader commitment to sustainability.
Among the highlights, Banana Skeleton is conceived with architectural clarity—Mondulkiri banana layered against pickled Kampong Chhnang ginger, lifted by vermouth and ginger beer, and anchored by cristalino tequila, unfolding into notes of banana bread, gentle spice and subtle umami.
Nihon Gimlet offers a quieter expression, where Japanese gin, matcha and kaffir lime leaf deliver a profile that is crisp, aromatic and contemplative.
Khmer Colada reinterprets the tropical archetype through a distinctly regional lens, balancing Kampong Cham pineapple and coconut with Cambodian curry, sansho pepper and restrained chilli heat—lush yet controlled.
Cherry Lady Punch, presented as a clarified milk punch, layers cashew nut whiskey, spiced rum and sakura tea with a dark chocolate finish that lingers between richness and spice.
Elsewhere, Coco Brekkie translates breakfast nostalgia into a composed, textural drink—bourbon, toasted Kampot coconut, kokuto sugar and cinnamon forming a profile of dark caramel depth and buttery warmth.
Purple Wednesday, a zero-proof composition, centres on Kampong Cham purple sweet potato, softened by coconut foam and lifted with non-alcoholic sparkling wine and gin, resulting in a delicate, quietly floral expression.
Sora’s continued evolution arrives amid growing international recognition, positioning Phnom Penh not only on the map, but firmly within the global conversation. Sora, Rosewood Phnom Penh Hour: 17:00 PM - 12:00 AM Contact: +855 23 936 860 Reserve: https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/phnom-penh/dining/sora
Location: Vattanac Capital Tower, 66 Monivong Boulevard, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, 120211, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
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