Page 96 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

94 Yangon and around EATING
1 Strand Café 92 Strand Rd T01 243377, Whotelthe taste of colonial Yangon, set in a chintzy old half-timbered
strand.com; map p.64. The more affordable of the two house (once home to the office of General Aung San) and
restaurants in Yangon’s most famous colonial hotel (see with an interior last updated in around 1930. There’s good
p.65), serving up a range of European and Asian light meals Myanmar food – including chicken chet curry, beef yoghurt
– although most people visit for the sumptuous afternoon curry with raisins, and prawn and coconut curry (mains
teas (served either European- or Burmese-style, from K7500–9000) – plus some Thai and Chinese options, and a
2.30pm to 5pm; $22). Daily 6.30am–11pm. pianist tinkles the ivories every Fri and Sat evening. Popular
Suzuki 182 Sule Pagoda Rd T01 392686; also 149 with tour groups, so worth reserving. Daily 11am–11pm.
Bogalayzay St T01 380 826; map p.62 & p.64. A popular Kipling’s Savoy Hotel, 129 Dhammazedi Rd T01
backpacker hangout, this long, skinny café squeezed in 526289; map p.71. Appealing colonial-style restaurant in
along Sule Pagoda Rd serves up a good selection of the lovely old Savoy Hotel (see p.91) with plenty of white
authentic Thai and Chinese food (mains K2500–4000) at linen and wickerwork chairs, plus views of nearby
bargain prices, with cheapish beer thrown in for good Shwedagon and seating either inside or on the pool-facing
measure. There’s also a second branch on Bogalayzay St, terrace. The resident German chef rustles up a mix of
serving the same menu. Both daily 8am–10pm. Burmese and other Asian dishes (mains $16–25), backed
Union Bar and Grill 42 Strand Rd, at the corner of up by a good drinks list and wine selection. Daily 6–11pm.
42nd St T09 3101 8272, Wunionyangon.com; map Le Planteur 80 University Ave T01 541230,
p.62. This buzzing bistro adds some welcome pizzazz to Wleplanteur.net; map p.60. Generally considered
Yangon’s moribund Strand Rd. The funky interior has plenty Yangon’s top foodie destination, this beautiful fine-dining
of urban chic (the clientele just as much as the decor) while garden restaurant next to Inya Lake majors in exquisite
the mainly Western menu serves up good pizza, pasta, modern European cuisine. The main restaurant is pricey,
burgers, sandwiches and fish and chips (most mains even by European standards (mains $26–57; six-course set
K10,000–17,000) plus more expensive steaks. Daily menus $65/87, vegetarian $49), although there’s less
10am–midnight. expensive food available in the more casual bistro (mains
$12–20), plus opulent afternoon teas ($22) and a superbly
OUT OF THE CENTRE stocked wine bar. Daily 11.30am–11.30pm.
Alamanda Inn 60b Shwe Taung Gyar Rd T01 534513, L’Opera 62d U Htun Nyein St T01 665516,
Whotel-alamanda.com; map p.71. Idyllic restaurant Woperayangon.com; map p.60. Idyllic little backstreet
attached to one of Yangon’s most appealing small hotels (see restaurant, with the Italian owner and chef providing
p.90), set beneath a sweeping pavilion in the garden in front. Yangon’s best Italian food either in the attractive a/c dining
The mainly French menu (mains $9–14) features classics room or on a gorgeous lakeside terrace outside. The menu
like pork filet mignon and steak tartare alongside salads features a mix of pasta, plus meat and fish mains
and baguettes ($6–8), and there are also a few Burmese (K26,000–36,000) along with cheaper pizzas (K12,000–
dishes and an incongruous but possibly welcome selection 17,000). It’s also a nice spot to have just a drink.
of tagines and couscous dishes. Daily 7am–9.30pm. Reservations recommended. Daily 11am–2pm &
★ Feel 124 Pyidaungzu Yeiktha St T09 7320 8132; 6–10.30pm.
map p.71. Plenty of Yangonites vote this the city’s best Mandalay Governor’s Residence, 35 Taw Win Rd
place to sample Burmese food, as proven by the dawn-to- T01 229860; map p.71. Set on the ground floor and
dusk hordes of diners who descend on the place. The terrace of the beautiful Governor’s Residence hotel (see
restaurant proper occupies an attractive bamboo-lined, p.91), this is one of the city’s most alluring, romantic and
jungle hut-style construction, with customers spilling out expensive places to eat, serving up quality international
on to the streetside tables outside, lined with additional dishes ranging from filet mignon to Chilean sea bass, along
cooking stations and merging with the adjacent Taste with the signature Ngapali lobster. Mains from $25. Noon–
Za-Lone teahouse – an enjoyably manic slice of traditional 2.30pm & 6–10.30pm.
Myanmar life. Food is laid out in a big buffet spread at the Padonmar 105/107 Kha Yae Bin Rd T01 538895,
back of the restaurant – the helpful, English-speaking staff Wmyanmar-restaurantpadonmar.com; map p.71.
will explain what’s on offer, typically including all sorts of Another of Yangon’s engagingly time-warped restaurants,
Burmese veg and meat curries. Expect to pay around K6000 set in an atmospheric old colonial house and serving a
for one dish plus vegetables, soup and rice. The main huge selection of Myanmar and Thai food (mains K6000–
restaurant closes at 8pm, although food is served at the 1000) including traditional dishes like banana-bud salad,
streetside tables until 11pm. Daily 6am–8pm. pork curry with pickled mangoes and so on, plus Myanmar
House of Memories 290 U Wisara Rd (on a small side set menus (around K6000). Handy for the National
road just past the Edo Zushi restaurant) T01 534242, Museum, but can get busy with tour parties so worth
Whouseofmemoriesmyanmar.com; map p.71. A real booking ahead. Daily 11am–11pm.

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