A two-year revamp has lifted Parkroyal Yangon into new realms of luxury in rapidly developing Myanmar, finds Marissa Carruthers
Location
The centrally located Parkroyal Yangon sits on the fringe of the city’s burgeoning CBD and is a short drive away from major attractions such as Shwedagon Pagoda and Yangon Central Railway Station. La Pyayt Wun Plaza shopping mall sits opposite the hotel, while Tatmadaw Convention Hall is a five-minute drive away.
Rooms
I stayed in a luxurious Orchid Club room on the topmost eighth floor. As part of the hotel’s staggered renovations, the Orchid Club rooms, Orchid Club Lounge and Premier rooms have all undergone a radical revamp to offer premium comfort to guests.
Upon arrival, I was welcomed with an impressive fruit platter and trays laden with cakes and sweet treats, as well as a personally-addressed welcome letter. The room featured intricately carved Burmese timber and furnishings, with views onto the outdoor pool and tennis court.
The 35m2 room comes with a king-sized bed, an en-suite marble bathroom with a spacious standalone shower, a work area complete with desk and ergonomic work chair, a 40-inch LCD TV with local and cable channels, a large wardrobe and a well-stocked minibar with complimentary tea and coffee.
Gone are the days of Internet dropping in and out in Myanmar because Parkroyal’s upgraded Wi-Fi is fast, reliable and available throughout the hotel.
Facilities
Staying in a Orchid Club room or suite gives access to Orchid Club privileges, which include daily access to the eighth-floor lounge where a buffet breakfast is served every morning. Throughout the day, complimentary snacks and soft drinks are served, with evening cocktails, drinks and a buffet from 18.00 to 20.00. The lounge is open until 23.00.
Additional benefits include personalised check-in and check-out for Club guests at their eighth-floor lobby, as well as access to meeting rooms.
Therapists at the spa are on hand to knead away the day’s stresses and strains, with a selection of treatments on offer, including traditional Burmese thanaka massage.
A fitness centre comes complete with a state-of-the-art gym and includes aerobics and yoga classes.
The flexible events and meeting space was part of the recent revamp, with the hotel boasting 10 meeting rooms and 763m2 of event space.
F&B
There are ample dining options to cater for a diverse range of tastes.
The new Si Chuan Dou Hua Chinese restaurant offers dim sum lunches, buffet dinners and live seafood in contemporary surroundings. Shiki-Tei gives a modern spin of traditional Japanese cuisine for the a la carte menu or buffet dinner, while the Spice Brasserie gives the option to graze on local and continental favourites indoors or al fresco all day.
The Lobby Bar is open from 08.00 to 01.00, with high tea served from 14.00 to 17.00 and happy hour from 16.00 to 19.00.
For guests wanting to keep going into the night, Club 5 offers live music and DJs until the early hours.
Service
Burmese people are renowned for their innate hospitality, and this is where Parkroyal Yangon excels. Always attentive, staff are on hand to cater for every single need, with all employees – including the door staff – remembering my name and greeting me with smiles and “mingalaba” and checking how my day is going.
Verdict
The hospitality is second to none, with modern decor perfectly complimenting traditional Burmese touches. Its central location makes it accessible, and the on-hand driver service makes those farther locations easy to get to.
No. of rooms 333
Rates From US$175
Contact details
Tel (95) 1 250 388
Email enquiry.prygn@parkroyalhotels.com
