The Savoy

The Savoy was restored in the 1990s from an old historic mansion just off old Rangoon’s ‘millionaire row’ where you find quite a few interesting restaurants and shops. You can see the Shwedagon Pagoda from the hotel, and it is just a short drive to the main downtown area. The hotel surrounds a central swimming pool in the courtyard with a sundeck and lounge area, the perfect respite from a day exploring bustling Yangon. The Savoy has very much retained a colonial feel, from the perfectly polished teak hardwood floors, to the collection of local artefacts, antiques and artwork that can be found throughout the hotel. There are two room types, the Deluxe Rooms either look out to the gardens (complete with resident ducks!) or the swimming pool, complete with french balconies. The bathrooms feature rainforest showers (no bathtub) and Aigner bath products. The Executive Suites are larger, and do have a roll-top bathtub and more of a living area, complete with an inviting wicker chair. All rooms have WiFi, mini-bar, safe and a small writing desk. The rooms are comfortably furnished, but we wouldn’t consider them the height of luxury.

There are two excellent restaurants; Kipling’s which serves from Western and Asian cuisine, and Rossini which serves Italian fare. It is well worth stopping for a glass of this or that at the Captain’s Bar.