Page 97 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE Yangon and around 95
drInKIng and nIgHTLIFE 1
There’s a distinct lack of Western-style pubs and bars in Yangon, and although there are a fair number of local cafés-cum-
beer stations they tend to get packed, and aren’t always the nicest places for a quiet tipple. If you want to drink with
off-duty Yangonites the best plan is to head out to 19th Street in Chinatown, lined with cafés and food stalls all serving
up cheap beer, and with a permanent party atmosphere. Yangon’s nightlife is getting livelier, but still has a long way to go
before it’s anything close to that of somewhere like Bangkok. Check Wmyanmore.com and Wyangonite.com for events
listings. With a few exceptions, nightclubs in Yangon tend to involve little dancing; many have nightly “fashion shows” (in
which fully clothed young women walk up and down on a stage) or karaoke. You may encounter sexpat-oriented
prostitution in some places, but it’s low-key compared to many other large cities in Southeast Asia.

BARS somnolent verging on moribund some evenings, except
7th Joint Bar & Grill Mahabandoola Rd, near the during the weekly two-for-one happy hour (Fri 5–9pm),
corner of 47th St (around the side of the YKKO a popular social event among local expats – although even
restaurant) T09 260 600 552; map p.62. Lively reggae then drinks remain pricey, with a small glass of beer costing
bar-cum-restaurant with a party atmosphere most around K2500. Daily 9am–midnight.
evenings and regular live music. Drinks are reasonably Takafuji 176 Sule Pagoda Rd T09 7303 6638; map
priced (a big bottle of Myanmar beer costs K4000) and p.64. Lively little place, with seating either in the small
there’s also a decent menu of grilled meats (including the interior or on the pavement outside, attracting an eclectic
inevitable jerk chicken) and burgers. Daily 5pm–1am. mix of local boozers and foreign travellers. It’s nominally
50th Street 50th St T01 397060, W50thstreetyangon a restaurant (with Chinese and Burmese mains for K3500–
.com; map p.62. This cool US-style bar makes a nice 4000), but most people come for the beer, with a big bottle
change from the Burmese norm, with a big if rather pricey of Myanmar costing K2000. Daily 9am–11pm.
drinks list (half price during the Mon–Fri 6–8pm happy Thiripyitsaya Sky Bistro 20th floor, Sakura Tower,
hour, plus various weekend deals), pool table and regular corner of Sule Paya and Bogyoke roads T01 255277;
live music. A big bottle of Myanmar Beer costs K5000. map p.64. This bistro bar atop the Sakura Tower has all
Decent but expensive food, too (see p.91). Daily the atmosphere of an airport lounge but compensates
9am–midnight. with fine city views through wraparound floor-to-
Captain’s Bar Savoy Hotel, 129 Dhammazedi Rd ceiling windows, with the Shwedagon Pagoda
T01 526289; map p.71. Yangon’s nicest colonial-style magnificently floodlit after dark. Prices are predictably
bar, in its most characterful old hotel, with an extensive steep, with a minimum spend of K7000 per person after
drinks list and live piano music on Mon, Wed and Fri 7pm, although the 5–7pm happy hour keep prices
(7–9pm). Daily 10am–1am. sensible, with two draught beers for K3000 and
Gallery Bar Sule Shangri-La Hotel, 223 Sule Pagoda discounted cocktails. Daily 10am–10pm.
Rd T01 242828; map p.64. A pleasant retreat in the Toddy Bar Upstairs inside the Rangoon Tea House, 77
heart of Yangon – lacking any particular character Pansodan St T09 979 078 681; map p.64. Stylish little
besides the usual five-star bland, admittedly, but does bolthole on the upper floor of the enjoyable Rangoon Tea
the job after a hard day pounding pavements and House (see p.93), serving up a great selection of Asian-style
pagodas, with a pool table, live sports on TV and a daily cocktails, alongside a good range of wines and beers. Daily
two-for-one happy hour (7–8pm), during which drinks 8am–10pm.
become reasonably affordable (two large glasses of beer Union Bar and Grill 42 Strand Rd T09 3101
for $4, for example). They also offer a short selection of 8272, Wunionyangon.com and Wfacebook.com
Asian-style tapas ($6–15) if you’re in for the long haul. /UnionBarAndGrill; map p.64. This busy modern
There’s a small upstairs pool bar if the Gallery doesn’t restaurant (see p.94) is also a decent place for a drink,
appeal. Daily 1pm–1am. especially during daily happy hour (5am–7pm), when
Kosan 108 19th St T01 503232; map p.62. This popular cocktails are $4. At other times a big bottle of Myanmar will
little Chinatown restaurant (see p.92) is also a good place set you back around K5000. Regular live music and other
for a drink, serving up inexpensive beer (big bottle of events – check their Facebook page for forthcoming
Myanmar for K1900) alongside cheap mojitos and events. Daily 10am–midnight.
caipirinhos (K900) and other cocktails (K2000). Daily
4pm–midnight. NIGHTCLUBS
Sarkies Bar Strand Hotel, 92 Strand Rd; map p.64. GTR Club 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, in the Inya Lake
Renovations have robbed the old Strand Hotel bar of much Hotel complex T09 513 5061, Wfacebook.com
of its musty old colonial character, but it remains a /GTRClub; map p.60. Aimed mainly at well-heeled locals,
pleasant, if slightly anonymous, place for a drink. It can be this is one of the most fashionable clubs in the city, playing

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