Asasax, the painter and sculptor, was among the first artists on Art Street to create and sell original works. His gallery opened nearly 20 years ago at the junction of Streets 178 and 13. Former King Norodom Sihanouk was a fan of his work and he has shown internationally. The new restaurant that now occupies his former gallery feels a bit like a throwback to those earlier days. The cement stools and rough-cut wooden bar give the place a do-it-yourself art studio feel, the colourful painted apsaras and sky blue benches an understated sophistication. Just opposite the National Museum, the low-slung eatery’s streetside tables offer a laidback vantage point from which to sip cheap draft, nibble away at tapas-sized pizzas and watch the tourists amble by. Le Museum, #19 Street 178.
