Must-see hotels in Mandalay

  • Hotel by the Red Canal

    Mandalay

    This intimate gem feels like a cosy Southeast Asia–chic palace. Gleaming teak floorboards, toiletries in potion bottles, tasteful Asian knick-knacks and…

  • Peacock Lodge

    Mandalay

    The main 1960s house of this lovely homestyle inn is set in a tree-shaded yard complete with fairy lights, parasol seating and an old horse cart. Dated if…

  • Bagan King Hotel

    Mandalay

    A no-brainer for midrange travellers in Mandalay, the high-rise brick Bagan King is ideally situated, with restaurants, cafes, shops and spas all a short…

  • Ostello Bello

    Mandalay

    The best hostel in Mandalay by some distance. Comfy dorms with their own bathrooms, free pasta snacks, a rooftop terrace, a busy bar, communal area and…

  • Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort

    Mandalay

    In 2018 Accor took over this high-rise, crescent-shaped property, uniquely situated at the foot of Mandalay Hill, and renovated most of the 208 rooms in a…

  • Rupar Mandalar

    Mandalay

    This lovely all-teak, low-rise complex is set in tropical foliage, melding timeless neo-traditional features with modern design flair and lashings of…

  • Kyi Tin Hotel

    Mandalay

    Kyi Tin's defining feature is its series of aging balcony-fronted bungalows set in a large yet central lawn-and-fountain courtyard. The whole space has a…

  • Hilton Mandalay

    Mandalay

    Stroll across ponds through a temple-style gateway to a grand, airy lobby overlooking a large open-air swimming pool in a lush semi-jungle setting. Rooms…

  • Hotel Yadanarbon

    Mandalay

    All rooms have crisp linen, bed sashes, parquet floors and vaguely colonial-style bathroom doors. Even the cheapest 'standard' rooms are fair-sized, with…

  • Mandalay City Hotel

    Mandalay

    Walking past, you’d never guess this newly renovated, palm-shaded oasis lay just behind all the dreary buildings on 26th St. The airy, tiled lobby is…

  • Sanctuary Hotel

    Mandalay

    This recently opened, contemporary-style hotel is within a block of gold-pounding workshops; fortunately, they can't be heard from the well-kept, simply…

  • Golden City Light Hotel

    Mandalay

    This friendly spot is located near some cool outdoor food markets and the city's largest mall. It offers reasonably handsome rooms, chilly air…

  • Mansion Hostel

    Mandalay

    On a busy, traffic-choked stretch along the southern length of the Mandalay Palace moat is this traveller-friendly hostel. The vibe is social on the…

  • Hotel Shwe Pyi Thar

    Mandalay

    All the carvings, marble, polished parquet, greenery, views and black-lacquered bedsteads don't necessarily compensate for the isolated out-of-town…

  • Yadanarpon Dynasty Hotel

    Mandalay

    Despite its relatively central location, this is a quiet oasis set back from the road, noteworthy for its pleasant garden and resort-like feel. Rooms…

  • Hotel 8

    Mandalay

    This multistorey glass tower is good value for money. Staff are smiley and helpful, the location is central, the rooms are clean and comfortable, with…

  • Nan Bwe-The Vibe Hostel

    Mandalay

    The pool, unusual for this price point, makes up for Nan Bwe's less-than-central location. There is a free morning shuttle to downtown. Despite balconies,…

  • The Home Hotel

    Mandalay

    One of downtown's group-tour-oriented high-rises, the Home Hotel offers comfortable and spacious rooms with touches of local style.

  • Ayarwaddy River View Hotel

    Mandalay

    On a map, the location looks promising. However, it overlooks a riverside shanty town and fairly seedy street where drugs are sold at night. It's a large,…

  • Gold Yadanar

    Mandalay

    We won't bury the lede. The Gold Yadanar has two 'speciality' suites that will forever haunt our dreams: one is fully decked out in Hello Kitty…

  • Golden Mandalay

    Mandalay

    Set amid palms with a small dining terrace perched above a canal, this 10-room family-run fuddy-duddy is a cluster of simple bungalow-style rooms…

  • Hotel Emperor

    Mandalay

    Lashings of wood panelling, pretty foliage and the odd carving can only do so much to enliven this dimly lit family-style hotel. Rooms aren't big and some…

  • Smart Hotel

    Mandalay

    This seven-storey tower is hit or miss, depending on your room. Some are very small, so if you need space to stretch out, this may not be the right spot…

  • 79 Living Hotel

    Mandalay

    This sensibly priced, relatively cheerful hotel is handily placed behind the train station. Rooms come with TV, fridge and safe, and have gleamingly clean…

  • Shwe Ingyinn Hotel

    Mandalay

    Shwe Ingyinn, a group-oriented behemoth, has little character, but does boast a near geographically precise central location. A carved wooden reception …

  • My World Hotel

    Mandalay

    The fairly unattractive facade conceals rooms with a few boutique-like design elements, and the little 5th-floor roof 'garden' has nice views down busy…

  • Ned Kelly Hotel & Bar

    Mandalay

    This is a mixed bag. Ned Kelly's dimly lit, bare-bones rooms won't encourage you to linger, and the furnishings in the common areas on each floor could…

  • Hotel Queen

    Mandalay

    Good value among similar midrange towers; even the smaller rooms have sitting areas. Superior rooms are more spacious. The foyer is attractive, staff are…

  • Royal City Hotel

    Mandalay

    This long-lasting, traveller-oriented, lower-midrange hotel has a lovely roof garden, helpful staff, good location and decent rooms – nothing too…

  • Nylon Hotel

    Mandalay

    There are two annexes at this longstanding backpacker classic; go for the newer one, which has reasonably sized, light rooms with modern bathrooms, even…

  • AD1 Hotel

    Mandalay

    One of the cheapest deals in town for hardcore solo backpackers, AD 1 offers basic, ramschackle, functional rooms. It's just off vibrant ‘onion market…