Yangon

The city is reaping the benefits of Myanmar’s political and commercial liberalisation, with new shops, bars and restaurants springing up everywhere.

Luxury Yangon hotels

Luxury hotels in Yangon were once in short supply and even today are not exactly commonplace. However, in our inexhaustible pursuit for excellence, we have sampled a wide variety of Yangon hotels, narrowing our selection to just a couple of belters. Granted they are not the cheapest, but hey, luxury hotels never were. It’s the unique hotel experience you are paying for. But if your budget doesn’t quite have the elasticity to stretch that far, we can recommend plenty of other places to stay in Yangon.

Yangon is also the cradle of Buddhism in Myanmar, a country where pious monks are more revered than rock stars.

Spiritual Yangon

Yangon is also the cradle of Buddhism in Myanmar, a country where pious monks are more revered than rock stars.

The Shwedagon Pagoda is the most revered site in Myanmar, around which everything else in Yangon revolves. It is genuinely stunning: A golden dome topped with a 76 carat diamond and 2,317 rubies and rising 110 meters into the air. It has been standing, on a relic of Buddha’s hair, for over 2,500 years.

Unforgettable sights

There are other unforgettable sights. Early morning Tai Chi in front of the Sule Pagoda – sorry slugabeds, you’ll have to set your alarm for before sunrise – is mesmerising. As is the never-ending maze of alleyways which form Scott’s market, an enduring commercial hot spot from the British era. It has more than 2,000 shops with handicrafts and souvenirs ranging from lacquerware and Shan shoulder bags to puppets and jewellery. You could pick up some nice slippers here (convenient for all the on-and-off shoe shuffle demanded by local protocol) or even a longyi, the ubiquitous sarong-style lower garment should your man want to try dressing a la David Beckham. Suits you, Sir!

And we haven’t even touched upon the expressive modern art scene which was a vent for public feeling during the days before democracy returned.

Out and about

Yangon is the commercial hub of Myanmar. And it’s a city that is changing daily. New infrastructure is being built by the Chinese and the tentacles of Western culture – including cinema, music and fast food – are starting to take hold. But at its core, Myanmar and Yangon in particular, remains a deeply spiritual place with Buddhism at its centre.  You’ll see barefooted monks carrying their tiffin boxes, using mobile phones or hailing a taxi on their way to the plethora of shrines around the city.

If you want to see a different side of Yangon, dig out the art scene. Previously an underground movement, Yangon’s artists are now flourishing, with new exhibitions popping up every month.  A favourite of ours is Gallery 65 on Yaw Min Gyi Street. It’s small but always buzzing with people and the ever changing displays make it an exciting visit.

Eating and drinking

If you desire something a little more refined than a bubbling wok and couple of plastic chairs on the pavement, the foodie scene in Yangon is exploding.  A couple of years ago there was nothing. Today, you can get anything from Italian to Thai, from Greek to Japanese, with a whole load of other cuisines thrown in. It’s generally good, albeit a little pricy, and the eateries are well frequented.

There is also an evolution in the bar scene. A host of new venues are emerging, most created by Western expats, who seem to know a thing or two about having a good time. It’s extraordinary but true that some of the newer bars and restaurants in Yangon wouldn’t look out of place in London or Paris.