The grey skies, rain, and wet, muddy pavements can easily get the best of us Yangon residents during monsoon season, but there are ways to resist. Here is a list of places and activities to beat the monsoon blues. Whether you’re a pop star diva at heart, an adventure junkie, or just a person with a competitive streak, we’ve got you covered.
Music Box Karaoke House is the place to get down and bring out your inner Whitney Houston with your friends and family. The spot offers various Asian foods and drinks of your choice in private rooms. The place is also well-known for hosting foreign DJs and private parties, especially on the weekends. With its neon lights, modern comfort furniture, and bar-like essentials, is the the perfect getaway from the hazy, grey Yangon city life.
Address: Yangon International Hotel Compound, No. 330, Ahlone Road
Opening hours: 10am-2am
The Beer Factory / The Attic, with its sports bar vibe, is the chosen hideaway of Yangon’s youth. A two-story, modern building with a clean, simple bar below and a neon-infused, sports-themed club on top, it is an ideal place for groups of friends to keep each other entertained during the rainy season. Darts, foosball tables, and beer pong also make it a great place to unwind with some friendly competition and a drink after a busy week.
Address: 10A, Golden Valley Street, Bahan Township
Opening hours: 4pm-1am
Breakout Yangon – Surreal Escape Experience is the ultimate way to escape reality and go on an thrilling, otherworldly adventure. Grab your friends, family, and colleagues and solve riddles, puzzles, and find clues to complete the mission of your choice. Pick a room, pick characters, and learn valuable team building skills. Either book online or on location, with 20 percent discounts for to students and a 30 percent-off monsoon special offer if you play all four rooms.
Address: 2nd floor, Myanmar Plaza, 192 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township
Opening hours: 9am-9pm
Alibaba Amusement is the go-to spot for old-school arcades and experiencing the latest virtual reality games. Laugh with loved ones or compete and connect with old friends with Alibaba’s wide range of games designed to keep people of all ages entertained for hours. Thrill-seekers can immerse themselves in virtual-reality horror games, while the more faint of heart can enjoy photo-booths and classics such as Dance Dance Revolution and F1 car racing. It’s an ideal place for teens, families, and young couples to splurge on fun.
Address: 2nd floor, Myanmar Plaza
Opening hours: 9am-9pm
Right Track Bowling has been around for ages, and it’s about time that people actually took advantage of it. The vintage interior design and human-powered ball-retrieval system will make you feel like you’re bowling in another decade, and you can ask the staff to play your own music to complete the illusion. Bowling is the perfect way to get active with a bunch of close friends and family on a dull, lazy monsoon weekend. Don’t forget to also grab a pint of Myanmar Beer while you’re at it.
Address: U Ba Kyaw St, Lay Daunk Kan Rd, Tamwe
Opening hours: 9am-10pm
Indoor Skydiving Yangon will definitely give you a heart-pumping, exhilarating experience like none other in Yangon. Safety is key, and no prior experience is required, as professional instructors are there to help you fly. Complete, head-to-toe skydiving gear is provided on site. Kids, adults, and skydiver wannabes of all skill levels are are welcome.
Address: 9 Mile, Taw Win Road, Mayangone (Opposite Feel & Taste Restaurant)
Opening hours: 9am-8pm
Pyinsa Rasa is a collective of artists and curators working to promote arts and creativity in Yangon. Not confined to a single space, the collective organizes events and exhibitions in pretty places throughout the city, including the iconic Secretariat Building. Rainy season is a time when it’s easy to become obsessed with the floods and filth that frequently get in the way of the lives we wish to live, but a daily dose of art can be a crucial reminder that we have neighbors working to make the world more beautiful and inspired.
Check out Pyinsa Rasa’s Facebook page to see a schedule of events and their locations.
