PUBLISHED March 23rd, 2018 07:00 am
When we left Singapore for Myanmar, we didn’t quite realise that we were going to be putting up in a home away from home, and in more ways than one. A tranquil lakeside retreat in the upscale Yankin Township, the five-star Sedona Hotel Yangon is run by Keppel Land Hospitality, a Singaporean company that manages hotels, serviced apartments, golf resorts and marinas in the Southeast Asia and China. Whether you’re headed to Yangon for business or to see its British colonial architecture and glided Buddhist pagodas, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more comfortable or modern rooms in the city.
Named after the pure white Dendrobium Sedona orchid, both gleaming wings of Sedona Yangon sits on eight acres of well-manicured gardens. The Garden Wing caters to those looking for rest and relaxation with rooms overlooking the peaceful Inya Lake and the gardens, while the relatively new Inya Wing (where we stayed) opened mid 2016 and caters more to the needs of business travellers with its well-appointed Executive Club Lounge. A luxury retail gallery connects guests to both wings, as well as to its five restaurants, fitness centre, and large free-form pool.
The interiors are very much inspired by the intricacies of local handicrafts. Those with a keen eye will notice the aesthetical twists on the traditional Burmese umbrella, in particular with the centre lighting piece and the fitted glass ceiling in the lobby of Inya Wing, while the structure of lacquered rice bowl is also incorporated in the lobby sculptures and the lamps in the guest rooms.
Speaking of guest rooms, our Premium Deluxe Room was a good size of 33 square metres (355 square feet). We never felt cramped over our three-night stay even with two pieces of check-in luggage and the ironing board out. Guests do get three complimentary pieces of laundry a day as part of the room’s amenities, as well as complimentary wifi, and complimentary mini-bar. The room also sported a view of the Inya Lake, all the more glorious around sunset, with the lake its surroundings bathed in a rosy glow. Do make a request for the lake view room, as there are rooms with city views and pool views in this category too.
The spacious bathroom comes with separate bath tub, shower stall, and the quintessential toiletries, though there was only one vanity. For a more comfortable sleep, the hotel also offers a small selection of pillows to choose from.
We had access to the Executive Club Lounge during our stay, which offers a quiet breakfast spot from 6.30am to 10am, non-alcoholic refreshments and snacks in the day, as well as evening cocktails 6pm to 8pm. Comfortable and not at all pretentious, it’s no surprise that the space is quite well-loved as a meeting spot for the business folks; and we suspect its spot on the 25th floor and the floor-to-ceiling windows don’t hurt either.
D’Cuisine is the other place to start your day right, where the extensive international buffet line-up awaits 5.30 to 10.30am every day. While nothing jumps out save the live fruit juice station, the quality is decent and will fill you up substantially for the day ahead. Another restaurant to try if you don’t feel like venturing out is Du Fu, which is purported to serve some of the best Chinese cuisine in the city. Named after a prominent poet from the Tang Dynasty, look forward to elaborate dishes like Szechuan Duck Smoked Over Camphor Wood and Tea Leaves (from US$10 for half a duck) as well as simple plates like Yang Chow Special Fried Rice (US$6).
Some might skip over the Sedona Hotel Yangon due to its mid-town location, as it takes about 10 minutes by car to the Shwedagon Pagoda and 20 minutes to the trendy spots downtown. However, it is also only 20 minutes to the airport and we actually like that it’s not bumper-to-bumper traffic most of the time outside the property. Plus, if you’re looking for nighttime haunts, Myanmar Plaza’s fourth story rooftop is home to a host of shisha bars and nightclubs catering to expats and the younger generation of affluent Burmese!
Located at 1 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Yankin Township, Yangon, Myanmar, p. +95 1 860 5377, Sedona Hotel Yangon is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Lifestyle Collection. Rates start from US$107 a night.
About Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts is the world’s largest independent hotel brand, representing more than 650 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 85 countries. Through its five global collections, Preferred Hotels & Resorts connects discerning travelers to the singular luxury hospitality experience that meets their life and style preferences for each occasion. The I Prefer™ hotel rewards program, Preferred Residences℠, Preferred Family℠, Preferred Pride℠, and Preferred Golf™ offer valuable benefits for travelers seeking a unique experience. For more information, visit PreferredHotels.com.