Bo Aung Kyaw Street in downtown Yangon has a lot going for it.
The architecture dates back to the colonial era, the restaurants have something for everybody, and the sidewalks make for nice, lazy strolling.
But there isn’t much in the way of nightlife.
That’s slowly changing with the opening about a week ago of Father’s Office, a spare but sleek bar and restaurant between Mahabandoolah and Anawratha.
Without saying so explicitly, the name is a nod to the colonial-era Secretariat across the street, which was renamed the Ministers Office after independence in 1948.
But don’t expect the grandeur of the Secretariat, with its ornate hand railings twisting up winding staircases.
Father’s Office is, at the end of the day, a bar, and one with potential.
The space is small but cozy, with wooden tables placed in the open areas. Nicotine fiends will be happy to know that you can smoke inside.
The cocktails, or as they are called on the menu, “Fancy Drinks,” are, at 6,000 kyats ($5), on the pricey side. But the happy hour is every day from 5pm to 8pm, and it’s 2 for 1 excluding wine and beer.
With negronis, martinis, espresso martinis and mojitos, Father’s Office is serving up more than simple gin and tonics.
There is food of the hot dogs and fish and chips variety, priced at around 6,000 kyats, but the servings look plentiful.
All in all, Father’s Office has yet to earn its lovely name, but so far it’s doing very well.
We’ll be back to do more “research” (have a few more drinks).
Father’s Office is open daily at 291 Bo Aung Kyaw Street
Photo / Coconuts Yangon
