Rosewood Yangon, an in-depth review

Last year saw the soft opening of what was arguably the most exciting hotel development of the past decade: Rosewood Yangon. Although the grand opening has been overshadowed somewhat by the outbreak of Covid-19, this might just be the perfect elixir for when we can all start travelling again.

Who is it for?

Those looking for a grand historical stay without compromise.

Location

It may just be starting out life as a luxury hotel, but Rosewood Yangon has long occupied a large and prominent space on the prestigious Strand Road. Since narrowly avoiding the Japanese bombing raids of 1941—evidence of which still remains next door to this day—the building has been used as the headquarters of the Kempeitai and Ne Win’s Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), The Chamber of Nationalities, a police commissioner’s office, and finally, a court of law; the latter is where the building’s local name, The New Law Courts, derives.

On that note, after much legal dispute between the current owners and the Myanmar Lawyers’ Network—who were pushing for the building’s continued use as a court—permission was eventually granted for the development to proceed. If it were not for this much-needed injection of capital, the building would have surely been left to decay into further rack and ruin.

What Rosewood has accomplished is nothing short of a miracle. They’ve taken a building that was once strictly off-limits to the public and made it accessible. Even the owner, who we had the pleasure of meeting a few months back, said: “This project has been built out of love, especially for the Myanmar people, many of whom have never had the fortune of stepping foot inside this building. Now it’s theirs, and we hope it will help to inspire, elevate and provide a glimpse of the country’s inevitably bright future”.

Style and character

The landmark we see today was built between 1927 and 1931. Prior to this, another building stood, which dated back to the 1870s. The reason as to why this was demolished is unknown; being built on former marshland, were there structural issues, or was it simply that it wasn’t grand enough? If the latter’s true, there’s no denying that the new building—with its 10-metre-tall pillars and extra levels—would have rectified the matter.

There were even some big names behind the facelift too. Supporting the striking facade stands an enormous steel frame designed by Dorman Long, the same engineering firm responsible for the construction of Sydney’s iconic harbour bridge.

The impeccably restored, four-metre-tall entrance gates—accessible from the Bank Street-side entrance—will leave even the most well-heeled of travellers awe-struck. Look up to the ceiling as you step through and admire the original stuccowork, a Romanesque diptych that appears to convey the message, ‘knowledge is power’.

Once inside and having made your way up the maroon-carpeted marble stairway, you’ll have the fortune of entering the ritzy lobby area. With tall ceilings, elaborate beams and thoughtfully placed ornamental items, it might just be one of the world’s most exquisite entrance spaces.

Despite all of this luxury, it’s important to mention that, and true to the Rosewood brand, this is not a stuffy hotel. Whilst they maintain very high standards, it’s easy to relax and they readily make you feel like part of the family from the moment you arrive. For us, it’s the very definition of modern luxury.

Service and facilities

Anyone that’s ever had the privilege of staying at a Rosewood property will know the brand excels when it comes to service. Just imagine what happens when you take that winning formula and combine it with Myanmar’s unrivalled ‘from the heart’ hospitality – to put it simply, you get one of the world’s greatest hospitality experiences. Overseeing the implementation of this is Ed Brea, a veteran hotelier with close to 40-years’ worth of experience under his belt.

When it comes to facilities, the rooftop infinity pool by far steals the show – from here, you can privately spectate the refreshingly raucous nature of downtown life, whilst luxuriating on a cushioned Rosewood lounger.

Frolicking here from lunch until sunset comes highly recommended; this should give you more than enough time to work through the hotel’s light bites menu and signature cocktail list.

A well-equipped fitness studio’s available for those looking to burn off some energy, whereas the Sense® spa’s going to better suit those keen to rest and relax. If time permits, a combination of the two—or three if you count the pool—is a must!

Gentlemen looking to keep themselves immaculately groomed can make use of the soon-to-open barber shop on the ground floor. The boutique gift shop also promises to stock some of the most exquisite and sought-after Myanmar souvenir items money can buy.

Rooms

Each of the Rosewood’s 205 meticulously-crafted rooms are bright, spacious and elegantly appointed.

Some, take for example the Heritage Rooms, have Juliet balconies with partial views of Yangon River, whereas others, such as the Grand Heritage Rooms, have a semi-private terrace area, also with partial views of the river. Our favourite however is the Courtyard Room, which is the same size as the aforementioned rooms, with French doors that open out onto a secret garden. If budget can stretch, we’d recommend these as they offer that extra sense of privacy and seclusion.

If it’s an abundance of space you’re after, the suites—ranging from 70m² to 311m²—have you covered. You’ll need to splash a bit of cash on these before you’ll get access to secret gardens or terraces however.

Wanting to avoid a cookie-cutter feel, each room has been decorated with unique ornamental items, paintings and books – the Grand Heritage Room we stayed in even had a copy of the structural plans from Dorman Long.

Food and drink

At the time of reviewing, only a handful of Rosewood’s F&B options were accessible to the public: NOVA Brasserie, the Courtroom bar and The Living Room.

NOVA is Rosewood Yangon’s gastronomic showpiece – it wows in appearance just as much as it does in rich aromas. Headed by Vladimir Siljegovic, a creative, passionate and classically trained Executive Chef, here is where you’ll find hearty and refined European classics such as roasted porchetta with sautéed Swiss chard and beef cheeks with truffle potato purée. In ode to Myanmar, there’s also a selection of Burmese essentials including a sweet water prawn curry and pickled tea leaf salad.

Connected to this and the check-in lobby is The Living Room (pictured in the ‘style and character’ section), a homely space that’s likely to become the city’s number one option for high tea. With a bespoke selection of loose teas and a heavenly sweets counter, this is one of the best ways of experiencing Rosewood Yangon’s opulence without staying overnight.

Or, you could simply enjoy a drink at the Courtroom bar, which is set, as the name suggests, in one of the building’s old courtrooms. With live jazz music most evenings, and one of the finest selections of whiskies and cigars around, this might just be Yangon’s answer to the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok’s Bamboo Bar.

A special mention needs to go to Arkar, a supervisor of the Courtroom bar. People like this—and Rosewood Yangon has no shortage—are living, breathing examples of why travel to Myanmar’s the right thing to do right now. Under Rosewood’s expert tutelage, we suspect it won’t be long until the industry benefits from having many more connoisseurs like him.

Before the year ends, and depending on how the Covid-19 situation unfolds, the “Y” Bar will open, promising crafted cocktails and unrivalled panoramic views. For an alternate regional taste, the Chinese restaurant—also expected to open near the end of this year—will serve a range of authentic dishes in a contemporary casual interior.

Sustainability

With their own sustainability department and a dedicated section on their website, Rosewood’s no newcomer when it comes to implementing responsible policy.

Four examples of their genuine will to ‘do good’ that immediately stood out to us were:

• Their successful attempt at becoming the first hotel in Yangon to install an in-house water bottling plant, thus eliminating their reliance on single-use plastic bottles;
• Their decision to collaborate with Bokashi Myanmar to compost all food waste;
• Their partnership with Doh Eain, a placemaking social enterprise business, to sculpt the surrounding gardens and walkways;
• Their willingness to work closely with Yangon Heritage Trust to ensure that the history and integrity of the building was not compromised.

With the exception of Wa Ale in the Mergui Archipelago, no other five-star property in Myanmar comes close to rivalling Rosewood Yangon in this area.

Value for money

It’s not cheap, but it might just be one of the best experiential investments you’ll ever make. In years to come, people will be referring to Rosewood Yangon like they now do to Raffles Singapore or Peninsula Hong Kong.

Barrier-free access

With large rooms, wide corridors and elevator access at every level, Rosewood Yangon is one of the best barrier-free options around. There will also be a butler on standby, which will be sure to provide extra peace of mind to single travellers looking to stay with mobility issues.

Family-friendly

On the surface, Rosewood Yangon’s very much a grown-up’s hotel, but with openly marketed ‘family-friendly’ rooms, it’s definitely an option for those travelling with well-behaved children in tow. The Grand Executive Room offers a rollaway bed at an additional charge, or there’s a range of connecting room types including the Heritage and Grand Heritage Rooms.

Before you leave, and to whet the appetite further, we’d recommend taking a look at this exclusive Rosewood-produced video titled ‘When Past Meets Future’. It perfectly sums up what Yangon and Rosewood’s about…