What’s the first thing that we consider upon waking up in a new city? Where’s the biggest and best cultural experience around here? Where’s your biggest temple? It’s neither of those two things. No matter where we are, the only question that really matters is, where do we get a decent coffee around here?

Visiting Myanmar? Read my guide on what to expect here.

Yangon isn’t really known for having a specialty coffee scene. In fact, prior to the lessening of the military junta, I doubt whether espresso coffee was even on offer here. Yet, in the past few years as the tourist industry has gradually increased, so too has the range of cafes and bars that can serve up a decent coffee, most of which seem to be specifically catering to westerners with money to burn. However, don’t let that dissuade you - read on for our list of the best spots in Yangon for a decent coffee.

RANGOON TEA HOUSE

77-79 Pansodan St, Yangon. Open Sun-Thu 8am – 10pm, Fri-Sat 8am – 12am.

Inspired by the omnipresent tea-shop culture of Yangon, Rangoon Tea House is an absolute must visit for anyone in Yangon. Located on the second level of one of the newer buildings in town, Rangoon Tea House serves up impressive coffee and seriously good food. They have a large menu of Burmese tea beverages, an excellent tea leaf salad, noodle salads, samosas, and the pau (steamed bun). From memory, this place was fast becoming an institution in town all the way back in 2016.

easy cafe

30A Bo Yar Nyunt St, Yangon. Open daily 8am – 8pm.

We stumbled upon easy cafe by accident. Heads thronging with caffeine deprivation, very sweaty and hot form the relentless sun outside, and in desperate need for reprieve from the endless traffic on the bus streets of Yangon, we came upon Easy Cafe as if it were a mirage. Was it real? Could it exist? Exist it does, and despite a serious commitment to jazz music, they serve up very decent coffee. For an Australian, it was a beautiful thing to see a ‘flat-white’ on the menu, but they also have long-blacks, espresso based coffee, and I hear that they are now offering filters as of 2019.

Craft Cafe

33 Nawaday St, Yangon. Open daily 7am – 11pm.

In a city known for internet drop-outs and very slow wi-fi, Craft should be on your list for no other reason than for the speed of the (free) wi-fi. Craft served us very well whilst we were in town - the joint occupies two floors of communal and single tables. The coffee is dependable, quite tasty, and they have some good burgers on the menu from memory.

BAR BOON

Bogyoke Aung San Rd, FMI Centre, Yangon. Open daily 8am – 9pm.

Expensive, yes. Tasty, also yes. Worth a visit? Absolutely. Bar Boon, originally a venture from the Netherlands is located right next to Bogyoke Market. The coffee here, whilst perhaps not as good as Cafe Easy or Craft, is certainly European standards, and they serve up some excellent panini's and wraps should you grow weary of tea-leaf salad or curry at any point during your stay in Yangon.

sANTINO CAFE

18A-1 Bo Yar Nyunt St, Yangon. Open daily 7.30am – 10pm.

Santino Cafe is getting thrown on this list as a gesture of goodwill. The place isn’t bad, and serves up a fairly respectable coffee. However, the prices here are outlandishly large, and each bill has an extra 15 or 20% service fee added at the end. All in all, I’d strongly advise you to skip it unless you’re extremely keen for some European food. However, the employees were lovely, and there is air conditioning all year long, which is a bonus…

What have we forgotten? Let us know your top pick for cafes in Yangon down below? Visiting Yangon? Ask any questions you might have down in the comments!