Yangon Walking Tours (Orwell Literary Walking Tour)

Telephone number: +95 9 254 008 272

Book lovers, don’t miss the three-hour Orwell Literary Walking Tour, conducted by a well-known local writer and poet.

Few authors in Myanmar have chosen to write in English—San Lin Tun is one of them. “But not many [of these local authors] are recognised,” he concedes. “I aim to follow in the footsteps of those famous writers.”

Through his works, San Lin Tun hopes to give foreigners a rare insight into Myanmar’s history and culture.

“I thought, I must do it so that English readers can learn about our colonial heritage; the buildings and the way of life of Myanmar people from a bygone era.”

The Orwell Literary Walking Tour, which San Lin Tun leads, is yet another way for him to give others a glimpse into Myanmar’s past.

This carefully curated tour takes you through Yangon’s city streets and colonial buildings, allowing participants to see what Yangon life might’ve been like from Orwell’s perspective. Key landmarks include the Pegu Club in downtown Yangon, a recently restored establishment which Orwell frequented. Once the most prestigious gentlemen’s club in Yangon, the club was mentioned in Orwell’s Burmese Days, where he bears testament to the colonialist mindsets that were still prevalent in the 1920s:

“[N]atives are getting into all the Clubs nowadays. Even the Pegu Club, I’m told. Way this country’s going, you know. We’re about the last Club in Burma to hold out against ’em.”

You’ll also hear stories about other great writers who lived in Yangon, including Pablo Neruda, Somerset Maugham, Noël Coward, and Rudyard Kipling.

But wait, there’s more. Did you know that there was a Burmese version of Sherlock Holmes? Let San Lin Tun tell you all about the writer Shwe U-Daung, who adapted Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series for a Burmese audience in the 1920s and 1930s. You’ll also get a chance to visit Yangon’s “Baker Street” and put your sleuthing skills to the test!

Travel Tip: Fans of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda should take a walk on Bogalay Zay Street, the place where he spent much of his time during his diplomatic posting in Yangon. To see his workplace—the Chilean consulate—look for the H.A. Soorty Mansions near the junction of Bogalay Zay and Maha Bandula Road. After which, replenish your energy with coffee and books at Pansuriya Cafe. Alternatively, savour a meal at Yangon’s “best vegetarian spot”—Paribawga Cafe, which also doubles up as a contemporary furniture gallery. Both cafes are along Bogalay Zay Street.

Buy Tickets (Orwell Literary Walking Tour)

Yangon Book Plaza

Address: Than Zay Market (5th floor), Lamadaw Street, Yangon 095

Telephone number: +95 9 767 019926

Opening hours: 9:00am to 7:00pm daily

Yangon Weekend Book Street

Address: Thein Phyu Road (in front of The Secretariat), Yangon, Myanmar

Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Saturdays and Sundays till the wet season begins, typically in May)

Innwa Books & Cafe

Address: 206D 2nd Floor, Myanmar Plaza, 192 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar

Telephone number: +95 9 263 684 558

Opening hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm daily

Opened in 2017, Yangon Book Plaza has everything for your bibliophile needs—two big bookshops, vintage book stalls, a coffee shop, an entertainment space, and even a playground to keep your children busy while you’re browsing.

“The Yangon Book Plaza is the first of its kind, not only in Myanmar, but also in Southeast Asia. It will serve as a place not only to sell publications but to provide other services, including recreation areas where books can be read free of charge,” says owner Myay Hmon Lwin. “We will even keep books on shelves in the restroom. The idea was initiated by [a local writer] who wanted to open a ‘book supermarket.’ His dream has now come true.”

If you prefer an open-air experience, head to the Yangon Weekend Book Street. Organised by Yangon’s Ministry of Information, this seasonal book event currently features 80 book stalls, many with English book selections, both new and secondhand. It should run till end-April, or until the rainy season begins.

To hole up in a cozy bookshop, make a beeline for Innwa Books & Cafe at Myanmar Plaza. Be prepared to while away the hours as you browse their selection of fiction and non-fiction titles, as well as textbooks and magazines—all in English. (They have a separate Burmese section too.)

Travel Tip: If you're looking for things to do in Yangon at night, Myanmar Plaza (where Innwa Books & Cafe is located) has several options for you, all under one roof. Electronic dance music lovers can head to Fuse to get their fix, while those who just want to chill out can head to the rooftop bars Eclipse Bar & Restaurant and Blow Hookah Lounge & Grill. Hard Rock Cafe Yangon, Harry’s, and After 8 also open till late.

Get directions to Than Zay Market (Yangon Book Plaza)

Get directions to Yangon Weekend Book Street

Get directions to Myanmar Plaza (Innwa Books & Cafe)

Are you wondering where Yangon’s wordsmiths love to gather? Not in fancy restaurants and cafes, but in the humble tea shop, it seems. For an interesting literary adventure, head to the yellow two-storey colonial-era building known only as 491-501 Merchant Road, at the junction of Merchant Road and 40th Street.

Look for the “Aung” tea shop at No. 491. This tea shop is run by a Hindu family who has lived there for decades. It is an informal gathering place for Yangon’s creative circle—writers, editors, publishers, illustrators, and more—and you might have a chance of running into them on Friday mornings. (Writer San Lin Tun, mentioned above, brings tourists here as part of his tour.)

The building that the tea shop is housed in has its own story to tell. In 2016, a non-profit organisation named Turquoise Mountain trained about 250 workers to restore the building, as part of a conservation project. It is here that 12 families from different ethnic groups have built their lives and livelihoods, forging strong bonds with one another and the building.

“Around here, people treat each other equally, whether you are educated or uneducated, rich or poor,” says one of the residents. “It’s not the same as other neighbourhoods, our neighbourhood feels like family.”

Travel Tip: Wine lovers, you’re in luck. Also in the building is Marco’s Cellar (No. 499), which opened last year to good reviews. It is touted as an affordable, no-frills establishment that offers a selection of close to 100 wine varieties. And should hunger pangs strike, they serve full meals too. “We try to incorporate fusion into our food; for instance, we have pork with mango pickles native to Mandalay. We ensure the freshness of our food by [using] only local ingredients if possible,” says owner Marco Teo, an F&B veteran from Singapore. “We are also very careful with the taste of our food as spices could potentially spoil the palates for our drinkers.”

Get directions to 491 Merchant Road

Welcome to Yangon! Looking for more Yangon travel advice? Read our Destination Insights. And don’t forget to book a room at PARKROYAL Yangon, where you can unwind in peaceful comfort, while knowing that the city’s biggest attractions are a stone’s throw away. Contact our friendly team today to find out more.