What’s On Christmas?

Photo by Ignacio R on Unsplash

We wish you a very merry and safe Christmas no matter how, or with whom, you choose to celebrate it! Should you choose to don ye now your gay apparel and head out amongst your fellow Phnom Penhers, we’ve collected a very special list of holiday fests to bring good tidings to you, whomever you are.

Christmas Eve

Urban Craft Beer’s way of preparing for Christmas is to offer up a two-hour free flow of their beers on tap for $15, along with a brewery tour and professional tasting. And if you need some food to go with those drinks, they’ll have a steak menu (making it extra indulgent).

1pm, Urban Craft Beer, St. 288

Celebrate every day of this holiday (i.e. today through Saturday) at Good Times holiday-themed art party. For this special edition, the arthouse dance spot has created a “snow room” accompanied by visual effects. Hanging on the wall are colourful pieces by fine artist Lixette Theo Sophy. UV face and body painting artist Visuall Art will adorn guests as well as the night’s performer, fire dancer SparkleAct. Live electronic music act LXR Project and five DJs will keep this party going till sunrise. And then repeat tomorrow. And the day after.

6pm, Good Times, St. 172

Saxophonist Gerard Evans will present a Jazzy Christmas medley at Lantern Rooftop Bar tonight and tomorrow. Expect an evening as smooth as a sleigh on snow. Those who opt for the special Christmas menu will receive gifts sponsored by Baitong Spa by Bodia, HighGround Skybar and Maison Kayser.

7pm, Lantern Rooftop Bar, St. 282

In the first year of the Great War (World War I), after months of terrible fighting, enemy soldiers came out of their trenches on Christmas day for an unofficial cease-fire. They shared cigarettes and treats with each other and even engaged in friendly football matches. Feature film Joyeux Noel depicts the miraculous day when international enemies found their common humanity.

8pm, Meta House, St. 178

Christmas Day

Mulled wine is such a yummy Christmas treat. Cloud will be serving up hot cups of mulled wine and traditional French treat coquilles along with its karaoke machine so carolers can belt out Mariah Carey and Wham to their hearts’ content. Santa’s stopping by and dropping off presents, too!

5:30pm, Cloud, St. 9

Dance to at least five DJs and drink a lot at Meta House’s A Very Christmas Party. Drinks specials encourage more, more, more – buy two beer towers and get a third for free (plus a tee-shirt), or buy two bottles of wine, get a third bottle for free. The DJ lineup has DJane Sopheak, NICK E. META, SAM.E, Shibui Q, but also expect some guests on the decks.

7pm, Meta House, St. 178 

Backstreet Bar is celebrating its first Christmas with holiday-themed games and a potluck meal. To join in on the White Elephant gift exchange ($10 maximum) or the potluck, RSVP. They also hope that you’ll come in Christmas attire. Tis the season!

7pm, Backstreet Bar, St. 308

Special meals:

Family-friendly midday buffet, $25 ($45 freeflow), 11am–4pm, Farm to Table, St. 360

Vegetarian feast and cuddle fest with kitties, $19, 10am–6pm, Ministry of Cat, St. 442

Freelow Christmas brunch by the pool, $38, 12–3pm, Mealea Restaurant, St. 240

3-course set menu with a glass of bubbly, $18.50, 12–10pm, Long After Dark, St. 450

Traditional English meal with freeflow and live music, $29, 12–3pm, 6–9pm, The Box Office, St. 244

Buffet dinner with live music, $20 (inc. one drink), 6–11pm, Alchemy GastroPub, St. 123

Parisian Christmas set menu, $78 ($108 freeflow), 7pm–12am, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, St. 92

Boxing Day

On Saturday, Meta House is loading up the VCR with Christmas favourites of yore. At 6pm is The Muppets Christmas Carol, in which the fuzzy puppets (and human Michael Caine playing Scrooge) reenact the classic Charles Dickens morality tale, albeit with a few Muppet-y alterations. It’s then followed by genuinely good movie Bad Santa – a flawed morality tale, starring Billy Bob Thornton as an alcoholic mall Santa/conman who, with his partner Tony Cox, plans a Christmas heist. But a new paternalistic friendship with a neglected neighborhood kid shows Thorton’s character that maybe he’s not beyond repair. Be forewarned: this is a flawed morality tale, so there’s a TON of swearing and raunchy talk. 

6pm, Meta House, St. 178

Peace and joy! XX –WOPP