THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 142

Sky Bistro 20th floor, Sakura Tower, 339 Bogyoke Aung San Rd 01 255277; map . This
bistrobaratoptheSakuraTowerhasalltheatmosphere ofanairportloungebutcompensates
with stunning city views through wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, with the Shwed-
agon Pagoda magnificently floodlit after dark. There's an extensive but expensive drinks list
(draught beer K2500, glass of wine K5000) with prices slightly discounted during the daily
6-9pm happy hour. Daily 9am-10.30pm.
StrandBar Strand Hotel, 92Strand Rd; map . Renovations have robbed the old Strand Hotel
bar of much of its musty old colonial character, but it remains a pleasant, if slightly anonym-
ous,placeforadrink.Itcanbesomnolentvergingonmoribundsomeeveningsexceptduring
the weekly two-for-one happy hour (Fri 5-11pm), a popular social event among local expats.
Drinksincludedraughtbeer(K3000),cocktails(fromK7000)andasignaturerangeofsingle-
malt whiskies (K9000-12,000). Daily 10am-11pm.
Takafuji 176SulePagodaRd 0973036638; map . Livelylittleplace,withseatingeitherin
the small, smoky interior or on the pavement outside, attracting an unusually eclectic mix of
local boozers and foreign backpackers. It's nominally a restaurant (with oil-soaked Chinese
and Burmese mains for K3000-4000) but most people come for the beer, sold in consider-
able quantities at rock-bottom prices, with glasses of draught beer for under K1000. Daily
10am-midnight.
Union Bar and Grill 42 Strand Rd 09 3101 8272, unionyangon.com ; map . This
busy new restaurant is also a decent place for a drink, especially during daily happy hour
(5am-7pm, featuring $3 cocktails). At other times a big bottle of Myanmar Beer will
set you back K4500. Regular live DJs also spin their stuff - check facebook.com/
UnionBarAndGrill for forthcoming events. Daily 10am-midnight.
NIGHTCLUBS
Café Liberal Natmauk Rd (next to the Chatrium Hotel), Bahan 09 642 0930; map . Long-
running Yangon club on the north side of Kandawgyi Lake with good-sized large dance floor
plus chill-out area. Fri & Sat 11pm-5am.
Flamingo Bar Yangon International Hotel Compound, 330 Ahlone Rd (downstairs from
MBOX) 09 7304 8544, facebook.com/flamingobaryangon ; map . Yangon's biggest
danceclub,thisbig,barewarehouse-likevenuehostsresidentandvisitingDJs(mainlyofthe
houseandhip-hoppersuasion)mostweekends.Aimedmoreathardcoreclubbersthancasual
drinkers.
GTR Club 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd, in the Inya Lake Hotel complex 09 7309 0680,
facebook.com/GTRClub ; map . Aimed mainly at well-heeled locals, this is one of the most
fashionable clubs in the city, playing mostly electro house. Entry is free, but even soft drinks
cost K3000. Daily 9pm-3am.