Must-see nightlife in Myanmar (Burma)

  • Burbrit Taproom

    Yangon

    Sample some of Myanmar's first generation of craft beers at this taproom-cum-sports-bar in the leafy embassy district. Most ales are European-inspired but…

  • Cafe Salween

    Yangon

    A pioneer of Yangon's blossoming third-wave coffee-shop scene, Cafe Salween goes all out for hipster status, making drinks in a variety of methods with an…

  • Penthouse

    Yangon

    This sophisticated rooftop space draws the local elite. You'll have to cram into one small corner of its spacious outdoor area to get a view of Shwedagon…

  • Goffee Coffee

    Mandalay

    Easily mistaken as a Brooklyn cafe by way of Scandinavia (in terms of its minimalist decor), Goffee offers typically contemporary choices, from pour-over…

  • Blind Tiger

    Yangon

    Giant paintings of Myanmar girls, faces daubed in thanakha, dominate the walls of what is one of Yangon's top cocktail bars (cocktails from K6500)…

  • Cafe' Cafe'

    Myanmar (Burma)

    It's not just the tempting array of cakes and baked goods that draw in customers to this cafe so good they named it twice. The semi-outdoor seating area…

  • Ginki Mandalay

    Mandalay

    At Ginki, a branch of the same-named Yangon bar-restaurant, you can imbibe on the romantically lit terrace shaded by palm trees – a step up from drinking…

  • Min Thiha

    Mandalay

    Three trees grow through the roof of this archetypal, busy teahouse, its walls pasted with Buddhist aphorisms, bread pictures and English Premier League…

  • The Rock Gastro Bar

    Mandalay

    One of the city's few Western-style pub spots with live music and draught beer. The vibe aspires to a bit of rock meets biker bar, with the typical…

  • Burbrit Brewery

    Yangon

    Myanmar's first craft-beer brewery and tasting room has a great location beside the Pazundaung Creek. Most ales are European-inspired but some, such as…

  • Given Coffee

    Mandalay

    A recent entry to Mandalay's burgeoning speciality-coffee scene, Given is the most committed to the local authenticity of its product. It works with…

  • Winstar

    Yangon

    Very much a local party scene, Sanchaung St has beer stations and small bars, cafes and restaurants, all a short walk north of People's Park. Winstar is…

  • Pansodan Scene

    Yangon

    Cleaning up in the Instagram stakes is this rainbow-bright and roomy art cafe where hand-painted bamboo platters and papier mâché masks (all for sale)…

  • Roof Alchemy

    Yangon

    If you'd rather photograph your drinks than actually drink them, this is the place for you. A 'cocktail professor from Amsterdam' designed these crazy…

  • Yangon Yangon

    Yangon

    Its tag line is '250ft in the sky', and you'll certainly know it when you step out onto Sakura Tower's open rooftop with its powerhouse views across…

  • Red Dot Brewhouse

    Yangon

    This Yangon outpost of a Singaporean craft brewery offers a spacious semi-open space in which to enjoy cask ales, including a Czech-style pilsner, weizen,…

  • Royal Lake Cafe

    Mandalay

    This lakeside complex has a boardwalk seating area with stage for live music. What's more remarkable, however, is a gilded wooden 'royal barge' moored…

  • 50th Street Bar & Grill

    Yangon

    One of Yangon's longest-established Western-style bars, in a handsomely restored colonial building, 50th Street continues to draw in a largely expat crowd…

  • Hornbill Coffee Cafe

    Chin State

    This cosy little cafe, opened in early 2019, is one of the few spots to enjoy a frothy, high-quality cappuccino or strong espresso in all of Chin. The…

  • Atlas Rooftop Bar

    Yangon

    Regularly tipped as Yangon's best rooftop bar, Atlas occupies a lofty perch in laid-back Sanchaung. It's certainly very slickly designed with plenty of…

  • Sarkies Bar

    Yangon

    Named in honour of the four Armenian brothers who originally founded the Strand Hotel, this classic bar offers an impressive range of liquors, including…

  • Coffee Deja Brew

    Yangon

    The signature iced coffee flavoured with a twist of lime is a refreshing option at this pleasant, modern cafe and art space, where benches and tabletops…

  • Plant House Cafe

    Yangon

    About halfway down this street look for the profusion of greenery and you'll have located the Plant House Cafe. Living up to its name, the leafy theme is…

  • 7th Joint Bar & Grill

    Yangon

    The most popular of the handful of Yangon venues that stay open past midnight, 7th Joint gets so crowded at weekends that you can barely move. During the…

  • Kosan Double Happiness Bar

    Yangon

    At the quieter northern end of 19th St, the cheap beers and cocktails at this Western-style bar draw in both locals and travellers to create that double…

  • Uncle Chan Beer Station

    Mandalay

    A cut above most typical beer barns, Uncle Chan has a huge range of barbecue (from K200) on offer, as well as Burmese-Chinese dishes (mains K3000 to K5000…

  • BART

    Yangon

    This watering hole's name conflates 'bar' with 'art', a concept you'll get immediately on entering and clocking the giant paintings of Myanmar tribal…

  • Rih Lake Bar

    Chin State

    Join the locals who flock to this shaded, open-air bar right on the shore of Rih Lake on the weekends; it's open on Sundays. During the week, you'll have…

  • After 8

    Yangon

    Specialising in cocktails and shots, After 8 is about the most sophisticated of the five after-dark drinking-and-partying venues clustered around the 4th…

  • Chinatown 125 Cafe

    Yangon

    A great addition to the drinking and dining options along 19th St is this contemporary Chinese-themed cafe hung with red lanterns, images of Bruce Lee and…

  • A150 Chinatown Bistro

    Yangon

    Offering a stylish alternative to the no-frills outdoor tables of the beer and barbecue joints further down 19th St is this retro-meets-contemporary cafe…

  • Envoy

    Yangon

    Climb the stairs to find this spacious multilevel bar and restaurant that evokes a postcolonial, tropical atmosphere. Order a house-infused gin and tonic…

  • V Hangout

    Yangon

    While its sister business, the floating hotel Vintage Luxury Yacht, is no great shakes, there's little to fault V Hangout as a pleasant riverside bar –…

  • The Square BBQ & Restaurant

    Mandalay

    Has live music of the pop and rock variety every night, staged in a pleasant outdoor-garden space strung with lights at night. A good selection of beer…

  • Bar Boon

    Yangon

    Recharge at this contemporary-styled cafe serving excellent coffee, iced tea and Dutch beer along with tasty-but-pricey snacks and pastries. It's near the…

  • Level 2

    Yangon

    This small club, beneath Roof Alchemy, is currently one of Yangon's most progressive dance spots hosting DJs playing techno, EDM and hip-hop. Admission…

  • Social House

    Yangon

    One of the more appealing watering holes of the Yaw Min Gyi district is this modern bar with sports playing on three TV screens plus a projector. There's…

  • Vista Bar

    Yangon

    The knockout view of glowing, golden Shwedagon Paya by night is complemented by pretty good cocktails (from K6500) at this cafe with a rooftop terrace.

  • Dad's BBQ

    Mandalay

    Convivial semi-open-air beer-and-barbecue station, with a low-key, tourist-friendly food menu – pizza, burgers, wings and nachos – to boot.

  • Unique Mandalay Teashop

    Mandalay

    Upscale yet authentic version of a typical streetside teashop, especially good for breakfast and espressos for non-tea drinkers.

More destinations you need to see