Phnom Penh Pub Crawl with Free Mad Monkey Singlet

Phnom Penh’s Mad Monkey pub crawl is built around one simple idea: start with free drinks, gather a lively hostel crowd, and finish dancing at Club Love. At $12, it is an inexpensive way to meet people and get a planned night out without working out the bar route yourself.

I like the complimentary singlet, which helps you spot your group in a busy bar, and the cheap drinks throughout the evening. The free beer or house mixer, free shots at Mad Monkey, and discounts make the price fair. The main drawback is the size of the group. It can reach about 50 people, and the advertised rooftop stop may offer only a limited view.

Key points at a glance

• 7:00 PM start at Mad Monkey Phnom Penh: Free shots begin on the hour, so arrive ready to check in and collect your singlet.
• A large hostel crowd: The group may include around 50 people, with most participants coming from Mad Monkey.
• Three nightlife stops: The route includes Mad Monkey, Duplex Belgian Tavern, and Club Love.
• Free and discounted drinks: You get one free beer or house mixer, free shots at Mad Monkey, and lower-priced drinks during the crawl.
• Club Love finish: The night ends with music and dancing at one of Phnom Penh’s main club venues.
• Bring cash and expect changes: Times can shift, and personal spending is not covered.

What the $12 price really gets you

For $12, this is not a private Phnom Penh nightlife tour with careful tastings and quiet cocktail bars. It is a social night organized by a hostel, with drinks, a guide, a shirt, and a fixed route.

That is a good deal if you would otherwise spend the evening deciding where to go. Your fee covers a complimentary singlet, one free beer or house mixer, free shots at Mad Monkey, and discounted drinks during the night. Since personal expenses are not included, bring cash for anything beyond those offers.

The singlet has a practical use. In a large group, it helps you identify the people following the same route. It also makes the evening feel like a shared event rather than a series of unrelated bar visits. You do not need to treat it as formal clothing, but wearing it is part of the point.

The value is less clear if you already know Phnom Penh’s nightlife or prefer small groups. A group of 50 can mean waiting for people, moving as a pack, and having less time for conversation with the guide. The low price covers access and social energy, not personalized attention.

Meeting at Mad Monkey at 7:00 PM

The night begins at Mad Monkey Phnom Penh. The schedule says free shots start on the hour, so the meeting time matters. Arrive at the stated start rather than turning up much later, since the first drinks and group instructions happen here.

Mad Monkey is both the starting bar and the hostel connected with the crawl. That shapes the mood. Most people joining are staying at the hostel, and the crowd can feel young and ready to party. One 40-year-old participant found themselves much older than most of the group, so age is worth considering before booking.

You should expect an English-speaking guide to help organize check-in, distribute the singlets, and keep the group moving. No guide names are provided, so do not book this expecting a particular host. The important thing is the group setup, not a named specialist.

The opening period is also where you can decide how hard you want to push the night. Free shots may sound generous, but alcohol strength and quality can vary. One particularly poor experience involved the included alcohol causing illness, while another account described the shots as diluted. Take the free drink slowly, and do not feel obliged to accept every shot.

The long opening period and changing timetable

The published times list a 7:00 PM meeting, a 10:30 PM move to the first outside venue, and a midnight finish at Club Love. The Mad Monkey portion is described as lasting roughly two hours elsewhere in the schedule, so the exact timing is not perfectly clear.

The practical lesson is simple: keep your evening flexible. The times are subject to change, and a nightlife group often moves later than planned. If you have a dinner booking, another tour, or an early morning bus, leave plenty of room around the advertised schedule.

The long wait before the first outside bar can be a benefit or a nuisance. It gives you time to meet people, buy discounted drinks, and settle into the group. If you want to start exploring Phnom Penh independently, though, the crawl may feel slow at first.

The best approach is to treat Mad Monkey as the social base for the evening. Eat before drinking, keep some cash handy, and use the opening hours to decide who you want to spend the rest of the night with. The guide organizes the route, but you still control your pace.

Rooftop views at the first outside stop

At about 10:30 PM, the group is scheduled to head to a rooftop bar for city views. This should be the scenic part of the evening, offering a change from the hostel and a chance to look across Phnom Penh at night.

Keep your expectations modest. One account found that the supposed rooftop stop was actually a second-floor space with a view mainly of another building’s wall. That does not make the stop useless, but it means you should not book this crawl for a grand skyline panorama.

The value of this stop is the change of setting. You get out of the hostel, see another part of the city at night, and have a chance to take a break from dancing. If the view is limited, the visit may feel more like a group bar stop than a sightseeing moment.

The large group matters here. A roof terrace or upper-floor bar can feel crowded when dozens of people arrive together. Stay close to the singlet-wearing group, since the shirt is especially useful when moving between venues.

Duplex Belgian Tavern and the middle of the night

The next listed stop is Duplex Belgian Tavern, also shown as Duplex Belgian Tavern ឌូផ្លិច ប៊ែលជិន. The group is expected to spend about an hour here before heading to Club Love at midnight.

This is a useful middle stop because it breaks up the night. You can order a discounted drink, talk with people in smaller clusters, and decide how much energy you have left for the club. The pub setting may also suit you better if you want conversation rather than nonstop dancing.

The free shots continue to be part of the sales pitch at the venues, but again, pace yourself. A free drink is only good value if you can enjoy the rest of the evening. Ask what is being poured if you are unsure, and use the discounted drinks rather than chasing every included shot.

The crawl does not provide a detailed food plan, so assume meals are your responsibility. Eat before joining or make your own food arrangements. The supplied information lists personal expenses as excluded, which means snacks and extra drinks should come from your own cash.

Club Love, where the dancing takes over

The night finishes at LOVE, or Club Love, in Phnom Penh. The group is scheduled to arrive around midnight and finish there after roughly an hour in the listed itinerary, though nightlife plans can run longer.

This is the part aimed most directly at people who want music and dancing. The opening highlights make clear that you are expected to show off your dance moves, so this is not a quiet pub walk. If your ideal night includes a club finish, Club Love gives the crawl a clear final destination.

One account felt that too much time was spent at a karaoke bar when the group mainly wanted a club with music. That detail is useful even though the main schedule names Club Love. It tells you the evening can include entertainment that does not match every participant’s preference, and the balance between karaoke, bar time, and club time may shift.

The advantage of ending at a club is that you can keep dancing after the guided portion ends. The drawback is that a group arrival can be crowded and less personal. Once the formal crawl is over, you may need to arrange your own way back, since no return transport is included in the stated package.

Group size, age, and the social side

The social element is the strongest reason to book this crawl. You are not simply buying drinks. You are joining a ready-made group, wearing the same singlet, and moving through the city with a guide.

The group can be large, possibly around 50 people. That creates energy and makes it easy to meet someone, but it also creates friction. You may wait for slower members, struggle to hear instructions, or lose the group in a crowded venue.

The crowd is mainly linked to Mad Monkey Hostel. That usually means a younger, party-focused mix. The age detail matters. A 40-year-old participant felt noticeably older than most of the group, so this is best suited to people who enjoy a hostel-party atmosphere rather than a mixed-age night out.

The good news is that the people joining can still be friendly, and the shared route gives you an easy opening line. If you are traveling alone, the singlet and group structure can make the first hour less awkward. If you are already traveling with friends and want freedom, the organized format may feel restrictive.

How to make the night better

A few small choices can make a big difference.

• Eat before the 7:00 PM meeting: The package does not include food.
• Bring cash: Personal expenses are not covered, and cash is specifically listed as something to bring.
• Wear the singlet: It helps you find the group and is part of the crawl’s identity.
• Take free shots slowly: Some people found the included alcohol weak or unpleasant, while another account reported feeling sick after drinking it.
• Stay near the guide when moving: A large group is easy to lose.
• Keep plans flexible: The listed times can change.
• Know your exit plan: The crawl finishes at Club Love, and return transport is not included.

The most important tip is to treat free alcohol as optional. You can enjoy the social value, cheap drinks, and club access without accepting every shot. That choice protects the rest of your evening.

Who should book this Phnom Penh pub crawl?

I would recommend it to solo visitors, hostel residents, and younger people who want a ready-made night out for a low price. It is also useful if you have only one evening in Phnom Penh and would rather follow a set route than research bars yourself.

It suits you if you like meeting new people, dancing, and a group atmosphere. The singlet, guide, and fixed stops make it easy to join in even if you arrive alone.

I would think twice if you want polished venues, a small group, strong cocktails, or a carefully planned city view. The rooftop stop may be underwhelming, the crowd can be large, and the drinks are not the main reason to book. Older participants may also find the hostel-party mix less comfortable.

At $12, the tour is reasonably priced for its social package. You receive several drink benefits and a planned route, but you should budget for extra drinks, food, and your trip home. The rating of 3.8 from 15 recorded reviews fits the overall picture: organized and fun for the right person, but uneven in venue quality and group size.

Should you book it?

Book the Mad Monkey Phnom Penh pub crawl if you want a cheap, social night with free shots, a singlet, discounted drinks, and a final club stop. Go in for the people and the party, not for a perfect rooftop view or carefully chosen bars.

Skip it if you dislike large hostel groups, do not want to drink, or prefer choosing your own nightlife stops. If you do book, arrive at 7:00 PM, bring cash, eat first, and pace yourself. Those simple steps give you the best chance of enjoying the night on your own terms.

FAQ

Where does the Phnom Penh pub crawl start?

The crawl starts at Mad Monkey Phnom Penh at 7:00 PM.

Where does the crawl finish?

The scheduled final stop is LOVE, also called Club Love, in Phnom Penh.

What drinks are included?

You receive one free beer or house mixer, free shots at Mad Monkey, and discounted drinks during the crawl.

Is the Mad Monkey singlet included?

Yes. A complimentary singlet is included.

Is the crawl suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for anyone under 18.

What should I bring?

Bring cash for personal expenses and additional drinks. The tour is conducted in English.