Belmond Governor's Residence
The Governor's Residence, surrounded by manicured lawns, is in the elegant embassy quarter of Yangon.
A member of the Belmond Hotels group, the 49 room hotel harks back to a bygone era thanks to wooden roof fans and teak armchairs, but has all the comfort of a modern and refurbished hotel. All the spacious rooms are luxuriously decorated with teak furniture covered in cool cottons and silks, and have handmade free-form baths. Elsewhere there is elegant furniture, intricate woodwork carving and local works of art on display.
Top quality Burmese cuisine and western favourites are on offer at the Mandalay Restaurant, while the open-air Mindon Lounge and the stylish Kipling Bar are the perfect places to relax after a day's sightseeing with a long, cold cocktail.
Why We Love It
No prizes for guessing that this beautifully restored teak mansion was once the colonial residence of the British Governor of Burma. Interestingly, Burma was originally designated a province of the British Raj in India rather than as a separate country.
The Strand Hotel, Yangon
'Timeless elegance with a colonial twist', is perhaps the best way to sum up the feel of The Strand Hotel, and this is made particularly evident by the stunning Victorian colonnades that sweep the entrance.
Built in 1901, The Strand is one of the most elegant hotels in Yangon. Teak wood floors and hand carved furnishings adorn all of the 31 rooms, and each has an en suite bathroom as well as top spec mod cons to make a stay as restful and hassle-free as possible.
The Strand Grill is the place to dine, under a vaulted ceiling dotted with chandeliers. Though if this is all a bit too formal, sit in the Strand Cafe under whirling fans gazing out across the street for a touch of people watching. The culinary delights on offer range from Mediterranean to traditional Burmese, with many Western influences thrown in as well.
The Strand is located in an ideal position from which to explore Yangon. While it can be a little overwhelming for the first time visitor, there are a vast number of temples and museums dotted throughout the city which provide a little respite from the bustle outside. Should more relaxation be in order, a great array of therapeutic treatments are on offer at the hotel's spa.
Why We Love It
This historic hotel was named 'the finest hostelry East of Suez' by John Murray in his early 20th century travel notes and The Strand remains one of the finest colonial hotels in Southeast Asia today.