In just a few years, Yangon’s café culture has expanded way beyond 3-in-1 coffee mix to include a multitude of ways to prepare, consume, and discuss coffee. With more places to enjoy coffee than ever before, it takes effort to stand out. Some cafés deserve recognition for their powerful Wi-Fi connections, but others cater to more specific segments of society, giving likeminded people a place to feel free and comfortable in public.
For all the people who want to combine coffee consumption with another hobby or way of life, here’s a list of Yangon’s best themed cafés.
Girls Yangon is a pink, “girly” wonderland with motifs of love, hearts, and flowers that will definitely cheer you up after a long, dull day. The vibe is Girls’ Kawaii-meets-Strawberry Shortcake, making this the perfect place for a catch-up with your girlfriends and sisters. Serving specialized drinks such as juices, sodas, and various types of iced tea, and toasted goods like fresh waffles, this café will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth in no time. The café even sells cute stationery and can be booked for private parties, giving you with the girliest birthday anyone could ask for.
Address: 18 Sint Oh Dan Street (Lower Block), Latha Township
Opening Hours: 11am-9pm
The theme of the Plant House Café is based on a Swedish lifestyle concept that emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between work and life. The café’s design encourages visitors to find peace and tranquility by immersing oneself in nature. This café provides fresh, brewed coffee and tea from Myanmar, along with healthy bite-sized snacks and freshly made traditional meals. The café sells potted plants and even packages of its signature coffee and tea. The ideal place for book and plant lovers, you can certainly find a peace of mind here. Just grab a book and a coffee, and you’re set for a relaxing few hours.
Address: 33 Nyaung Tone Street, Sanchaung Township
Opening Hours: 9am-9pm
The Moment Tea Room specializes in infusing drinks and baked goods with plants and flowers, making it the ultimate place to consume something both healthy and original. With its array of choices for meals, afternoon tea, and even a light snack, this café will make you want to stay forever while enjoying the serenity of Kandawgyi Lake. Its monthly selection of fruit specials means there’s always something new on offer, drawing visitors back to this picturesque café. It’s certainly another place to add to your list of Instagrammable places around Yangon.
Address: Kandawgyi Nature Park, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township
Opening Hours: 10am-9pm
Proudly known for being the first LGBT café in Myanmar, My Place Café & Restaurant creates a safe space for anyone and everyone in the community. This café also offers pamphlets and information about LGBT experiences to educate the general public about the topic. It also sells various pride-themed accessories such as beanies, handbags, keychains, jewelry, and printed T-shirts. Fifty percent of the profits from sales go toward the Khaing Hnin Wai volunteer foundation, established by a famous actress who has been a strong supporter of Myanmar’s LGBT community. Celebrating difference, diversity, and acceptance with Asian cuisine, tasty desserts, and sweet drinks of your choice, My Place offers a fun, educational way to support Yangon’s LGBT community.
Address: Dagon Thiri Street, Tamwe Township
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm
A café built within a Yangon bus may seem like a total tourist trap, but upon entering it, YGN Bus Café is a world of its own. With its vintage-inspired decor, warm lighting, and music played from vinyl records, it seems as though one’s been transported through time. The place is well-known among locals for its coffee, so an espresso, macchiato, americano, or cappuccino are all good choices. For non-coffee lovers, there are mint sodas made from a concoction of fresh fruits, mint, lemon, and brown sugar. The seats inside the bus fill up fast in the evenings, but there’s no need to worry because there’s more seating outside the bus, where you’ll get an excellent view of Kandawgyi Park to one side and the lake on the other — a win-win for everyone.
Address: Kandawgyi Nature Park, Hmaw Sin Kyun, Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township
Opening Hours: 9am-10pm
Looking for a an evening of board games, coffee, smoothies, and snack while storms rage across Yangon? Hit up your friends or family and invite them to House Rules Board Game Café. Following up on the worldwide trend of board game cafés, this café has introduced the concept to many Myanmar café and board game enthusiasts for the first time. From classics such as Monopoly, Uno, and Jenga to popular themed games like Battleship, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and even easy, fun games like Pictionary, there’s a game for anyone and everyone. Furthermore, the café’s new policy allowing customers to bring in their own food will definitely make you feel at home.
Address: Ga 34 Pearl Condo Building C, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township
Opening Hours: 1pm-9pm
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