Myanmar (Burma) - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 571

Peacock Lodge 61st St T 02 61429 or T 09 204 2059,
E [e-mail]; map p.570. You can be sure
of a warm welcome at this family-run guesthouse, located
away from the main backpacker zone. It's a popular place,
and they recently added five smart new rooms with
wooden floors and flat-screen TVs ($45) to the original
five. All rooms, old and n ew, have a/c. Lunch and dinner by
prior arrangement. $30
★

includes favourites such as bibimbap (rice topped with
beef, vegetables, egg and chilli paste, which you mix
together before eating) for K3000. Daily 9am-9pm.
Marie Min 27th St 74/75 T 02 36234; map p.572. Run by
an affable Tamil Catholic, Gilly Aung San, who has been
serving up great vegetarian grub (such as guacamole or
samosas, K2000) down a quiet alleyway since 1994.
There's an antique shop in the building and Gilly also runs
a small travel agency: he rents out motorbikes (K8000/
day) and sells tickets for transportation. The Rainforest
Restaurant opposite is owned by the same family and
serves Thai dishes such as chicken kaeng pa (jungle curry)
for K3500. Daily 9am-9pm.
Min Thi Ha Corner of 72nd and 28th St; map p.572. An
exceptionally popular teahouse, part of a small chain
known for its mutton curry puffs, where boys in claret
short-sleeved shirts tend to a constant flow of locals.
There's free wi-fi, or you could sit and ponder the quote
from Samuel Johnson on the wall: “Great works are
performed not by strength but by perseverance.” Daily
5am-4pm.
Rainbow 84th St 22/23; map p.572. Set over three floors,
the uppermost on the roof, this corner restaurant is a
popular spot for a draught Myanmar beer (K600). They
also have a menu of snacks and a few Chinese basics for
K3500. Daily 9am-10pm.
San Teashop (aka Usman Chapati) Corner of 82nd
and 28th St; map p.572. Every evening this teashop sets
up on the pavement and serves cheap grub to eager
patrons: biryani costs K1600 (chicken) or K1800 (beef ),
or for K1500 you can get a chicken curry, two chapatis
and some daal (lentils). Daily 4-11pm.
Smile All 81 81st St 24/25; map p.572. A fine place to
sit on the roadside and enjoy a beer (K600) - served in
chilled glasses - with barbecued fish (K1700), chicken
(K800) or fish balls (K400). The interior is a little less
appealing. Daily 8am-10pm.
Too Too Myanmar Cuisine 27th St 74/75; map p.572.
As the name suggests, this restaurant specializes in local
dishes, served in several different rooms - some open
and some with a/c. Locals attest to the quality and authen-
ticity of the curries, which start at around K2500. Daily
9am-9pm.

Rich Queen 87th St 26/27 T 02 60172 or T 09 9102
8348; map p.572. One of the best-value places you'll
find in downtown Mandalay, this new guesthouse has
helpful staff, clean rooms and wi-fi on the lower floors.
It's tucked a way on a side street - look out for the red
LED display. $25
Royal City Hotel 27th St 76/77 T 02 31805; map p.572.
All of the rooms in this affordable mid-range hotel have
a/c, plus free wi-fi. Even the standard rooms are large and
well-kept, but t he h ighlight is the rooftop where you can
have breakfast. $30
Royal Guest House 25th St 82/83 T 02 31400; map
p.572. A long-standing budget favourite that is a definite
step up from most of the nearby competition, with clean
and comfortable rooms at a fair price, plus staff who can
help with anything you need. The very cheapest rooms are
small and windowless, but you don't need to spend much
more to get som ethin g better. The only downside is that
it fills up quickly. $17

7

EATING AND DRINKING
One very cheap dinner option, popular with locals, is the
night market on 84th St, north of 29th St. There isn't much
nightlife to speak of in Mandalay, beyond the beer stations
and a handful of cultural performances put on for tourists
(see below).
Aye Myit Tar 81st St 29/30; map p.572. An old favourite
for Burmese food, which is still very popular with locals.
There's an English menu with pictures, although you'll
have to ask for the prices - expect to pay around K3000 for
a curry. Daily 10am-9pm.
Central Park 27th St 68/69; map p.570. Looking a bit
like a beach bar without the sand, this place draws a
crowd of young locals and expats. They tend to show up
in time for happy hour (6.30-7.30pm), when draught
beer is three-for-two and cocktails (such as margharitas
at K2800) are two-for-one. The soundtrack is Western
and chilled out, and the food includes burgers (K2000),
pizzas and barbecue. Daily 11am-11.30pm.
Golden Shan 84th St 22/23; map p.572. If you're feeling
hungry, try this barn-like Shan restaurant: from 11am they
have a buffet where you can take your pick from up to 35
dishes, including some veggie options, for a set price of
K3500. Daily 6am-9.30pm.
Korea House Restaurant 27th St 76/77; map p.572.
Good Korean dishes served in a plain setting. The menu

TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT
Mandalay is considered to be Myanmar's cultural capital,
and a handful of regular shows offer foreigners a glimpse
into traditional performing arts. Each of the following
takes place daily at 8.30pm and lasts for one hour.
Mandalay Marionettes 66th St 26/27 T 02 34446. The
performance starts with music and dancing, before telling
traditional stories using marionettes. It's an entertaining
show but without much explanation, so try to read the
programme before the lights go down. $8.