Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Temple Group - A business built upon a dream of two brothers

Temple Group - A business built upon a dream of two brothers

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Pub Street is a popular tourist destination located next to the old market in Siem Reap town centre.

Temple Group - A business built upon a dream of two brothers

The “brother partnership” of Lee Korngvong and Lee Kongsren has sparked the development of Pub Street in Siem Reap and helped establish it as one of the most popular destinations in town.

Under the leadership of the two local brothers, Temple Group has grown into a brand name which owns operations in the hospitality, entertainment and food and beverage (F&B) sectors in Siem Reap’s vibrant tourism scene.

Seventeen years ago, Lee Korngvong, managing director, and Lee Kongsren designed a small flyer to help tourists locate pubs on the street next to the old market in the town centre of Siem Reap. It was then when “Pub Street” was first used to describe the now famous location.

Back then, it was only home to a few small businesses but the opening of Temple Pub, which was later renamed as Temple Club, changed Pub Street’s destiny.

The Lee brothers were originally working as drivers when they came across the chance to own and operate a small local guesthouse (Get Lucky Guesthouse). From there on, they gradually built the Temple brand.

As of April this year, Temple Group has more than 1,200 staff, making it one of Siem Reap’s biggest employers and an integral member of the city’s business landscape.

Being locals who always remember their roots, they are very supportive of the local community.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The Lee brothers helped establish Pub Street as Siem Reap’s icon..

They have a keen interest on Khmer entrepreneurship, always helping local budding entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses. They also work with local suppliers whenever possible to promote Cambodian businesses and help smaller businesses grow.

The brothers founded the first of the Temple brand business, Temple Bar (which was renamed Temple Club) in 2002, adding to the fun and excitement in Pub Street.

This year, Temple Group added Kitchen 2002 into its line of restaurants. The restaurant’s cozy environment is one of its main attraction.

Another project in the pipeline is “The One by T”, which the group claims will be the restaurant with the highest seating capacity (300 people) in town. It will serve as a fine dining venue with superb food presentation and excellent service for high-end diners.

Last year, The Chef 1950 Steak House opened its doors on the end of Pub Street. Being the first Brazilian Samba grill steakhouse and the only place serving cider on draft in town against a backdrop of warm 1950s vibe, it is popular among the town’s fashionable crowd.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Temple Food n Beverage is a cozy pub.

Another popular venue, V design, sits on a corner of the Pub Street crossroad, opposite Temple F&B and Red Piano. It serves a blend of Asian fusion and great authentic Japanese food. Live music is performed from 7.30pm by a resident singer here.

For an authentic Cambodian dining experience, foodies can visit Khmer Family and also participate in cooking classes conducted by the restaurant’s local chefs.

Another option for authentic local food is Traditional Khmer Food, the smallest Temple Group F&B venue, which is tucked in a small alley behind Pub Street.

On the other hand, Temple Group’s exquisite luxury resort - Golden Temple Retreat - was selected as the Top 25 Hotels - World in TripAdvisor’s 2019 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Kitchen 2002 commenced business this year.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Tourists can get a good view of Pub Street from Temple Sky Lounge.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom