Page 258 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

256 INLE LAKE AND THE EAST NYAUNGSHWE

RED MOUNTAIN WINERY
One of the most enjoyable side-trips from Nyaungshwe is to the Red Mountain Winery
(daily 9am–6pm; free; Wredmountain-estate.com), 5km by road southeast of town, off the
road to Maing Thauk. Following harvest time in February and March, a range of wines is
produced, including Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, two varieties of
Shiraz, a rosé, a white muscat and tawny port. Bottles cost from around K9000, or you can
opt for a bargain four-glass sampler set for $3 in the winery’s outdoor pavilion, enjoying
6 wonderful views.
The best way of getting to the winery is by bicycle; it’s less than an hour’s ride from
Nyaungshwe. It’s not far by motorbike taxi, though since it’s hard to find another one for the
return journey, you may be looking at a fare of up to K10,000, including waiting time.

chicken with green pepper, long beans and basil, and a lip- salads and a good drinks list to boot. Mains K3000–
smackingly good yellow tofu with lemon coriander sauce. 6000. Daily 11am–9.30pm.
Daily 10am–10.30pm. Viewpoint Taik Nan Bridge T081 209062. Swanky
★ Thanakha Garden Thazi St T09 428 371 552. (for Nyaungshwe) restaurant at the town’s top hotel (see
Attractive garden restaurant (particularly when candlelit p.254), reached via a sweeping Hollywood staircase and
after dark) serving up quality food from a menu that’s with breezy views of the town, hills and chattering boats
mainly Asian, with a healthy sprinkling of Western below. Shan cuisine is the speciality, with a range of set
dishes – burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches and menus (K20,000–25,000) including vegetarian and
waffles. Burmese and local Shan-style dishes are well barbecue options alongside “Shan tapas” and various
represented, with dishes including Inle-style steamed other Burmese and Asian mains (around K7500). Daily
fish and Inle Lake tomato salad with pounded peanuts 9am–1pm & 6–10pm.
and lime juice, and there are also curries, stir-fries, tasty
DRINKING
The French Touch Kyaung Taw Shayt Rd T09 525 balcony. Drinks include cheap Mandalay beer, local Red
1365. This loungey café (see p.255) is a decent place for Mountain and Aythaya wines (from K2500), and cocktails
cocktails (K4500) and other tipples, with people-watching (K3000–4000; three-for-two during 4–8pm happy hour),
out front, or more secluded seating in the garden behind. plus plenty of other options. Daily 8am–10pm.
Daily 7am–10pm. Pub Asiatico Museum Rd T09 452 096 741, Wpub
Ginki Sao San Htun St T09 306 66456. Sexy new bar- -asiatico.asia. Looking like it’s been airlifted straight out of
restaurant in a pretty two-storey wooden house mixing uptown Yangon, this big modern bar-pizzeria offers an
colonial style with a contemporary chillout chic. Drinks unexpected haven of urban cool amid the dusty streets of
include cheap Mandalay beer, wines by the glass (from Nyaungshwe, plus sunset views from the rooftop terrace.
K2500) and a cornucopia of cocktails, plus there’s also a The big drinks selection features exotic (for Myanmar)
good selection of grilled and barbecued mains (K5000– beers including Corona and Hoegaarden, a decent wine
7000) if you want to eat. Daily 10am–11pm. selection (glasses from K2400) and cheap cocktails
Inle Palace Yone Gyi Rd T094 2834 4972. Cute and (K2000–3000) during the daily happy hour (3–7pm). Also
colourful two-storey bar with green-painted bamboo-log serves up passable if rather pricey pizzas (K7600–10,000).
walls, colourful paper lanterns and a nice street-side Daily 11.30am–11.30pm.
ENTERTAINMENT
Aung Puppet Show Ahletaung Kyaung Rd. Pulling enjoyably intimate taste of this ever-popular artform.
strings in Nyaungshwe since 1995, the Aung Puppet Show Entrance K5000. They also sell the puppets (K10,000–
puts on nightly performances (lasting 30min) of traditional 40,000); the shop is open around 8.30–9pm. Nightly 7pm
Burmese puppetry in its tiny backstreet theatre, offering an & 8.30pm.
SHOPPING
Gallery 19 Shwe Chan Thar St. Sells the striking work of along with assorted paintings by other regional artists.
Taunggyi-based photographer Kyaw Kyaw Win (prints from Tues–Sun 9am–8pm.
around $20), with images of local people and landscapes,
FROM TOP HILLTRIBE WOMEN, NEAR INTHEIN P.260; NAUNG TUNG LAKE, KENGTUNG P.271 >