I relocated to Yangon, Myanmar, recently to work for an International bank and so far it has been a fantastic experience. The city is filled with so much randomness, craziness and energy which makes every day an adventure. This is my first experience as an Expatriate (Ex-pat) which has definitely been an eye opener into long working hours and the lifestyle of Ex-pats. In my first few weeks I came across the hilarious term ''Sex-pat'' which I can now say for the majority of Ex-pats - is very much the case. In Yangon whether you are drinking in the high end bars or local karaoke bars you are likely to encounter working girls. I have been amazed at the level of prostitution in Yangon and to the stage that after 9pm (post curfew) it’s very likely that any local girls are either married and there with their husbands.... or more likely they are working girls.
As information on the underground nightlife in Yangon is not readily available, I wanted to make a guide to the pubs and clubs in Yangon that you will find many working girls and sex-pats:
(please note USD1 = 960 Kyat)
(1) Pioneer
Pioneer is a nightclub situated on the Ahlone road in the same complex as The Yangon International Hotel and Singapore Kitchen. The admission fee is USD5 and includes a drink. The club attracts tourists, ex-pats and locals. Many of the locals are working girls who hang around the bar and edge of the dance floor. Upon entrance you will usually be approached by a local girl by the time you reach the bar, who will want to accompany you to your seat in the hope you will take her home. The club is large by Myanmar standards, the music is loud & current and there is excellent lighting, making Pioneer one of the better nightclubs in Yangon.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 80,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning; depending on negotiation and how you get along with your girl.
Drinks Price range:
USD2 for a draught beer.
Pro: Large dance floor and good music.
Con: Not as discrete as other clubs
Overall rating: 8/10
(2) DJ Bar
DJ Bar is a nightclub situated beside Inya lake hotel and next door to GTR nightclub. Admission is usually free and this is a very popular club for locals and ex-pats due to its close proximity to GTR, which is the most popular local club. DJ Bar has two sections, one a large dance floor and the other a bar and seating area which commonly attracts working girls. After GTR and Pioneer, DJ Bar is probably the third best nightclub in Yangon and the dance floor is usually jam packed most of the night.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 80,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD2.50 for a can of Tiger
Pro: Good location next to GTR, so you can visit both clubs.
Con: Small dance floor and very loud.
Overall rating: 7/10
(3) The Music Club - Park Royal Hotel
This bar is situated in the basement of Park Royal Hotel and has an admission fee of USD10 for non residents of the Hotel and includes a drink. The music in the bar is quite loud and they frequently have a band playing. Working girls roam around the bar looking for eye contact and are very friendly. The girls are usually high end and usually more expensive than other establishments.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 120,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD4 for a draught beer.
Pro: Central location
Con: Expensive drinks
Overall rating: 5/10
(4) Powerlight
Powerlight is a brightly lit premises located near Kandaygyi Lake and is a restaurant and entertainment venue with no admission charge. There is a large stage and surrounding table and seated area, which is usually filled with locals. Upstairs there are discrete rooms that are blacked out for people to enjoy the show with some discretion – usually very wealthy locals. On any night of the week there are up to 30 beautiful girls singing and performing at Powerlight, some individually and at other times in a group with each girl singing for 30 seconds. You can buy Tinsel for any of the girls for 10,000 Kyat a piece, and after the song, the girl will join you for a drink before her next performance. At times it’s a bidding war for some girls with up to 1 million kyat (USD1,000) worth of tinsel being purchased for the pleasure of a drink with the most famous Powerlight girl, and usually negotiations for after the night has finished. These girls are all excellent singers and some of the most beautiful girls in Yangon. As tinsel clubs are unique to Myanmar, entertaining and very random, I would recommend a visit to Powerlight just for the entertainment value alone.
Girl Price range:
150,000 Kyat +
Drinks Price range:
USD1 for a draught beer
Pro: Beautiful girls, good food and excellent entertainment.
Con: Show usually ends at midnight.
Overall rating: 9/10
(5) JJ Entertainment centre - JJ's
JJ’s is located near Kandaygyi Lake and is a very well known establishment for working girls – probably the largest in Yangon. There is an admission charge of USD5 which includes a draught Dagon beer. When you enter the premises you may be approached by locals selling condoms and a bouncer, looking for a tip, will escort you to an elevator, and bring you to the 4th floor. JJ’s has a large dancefloor, great music, karaoke venues and lots of seating around the club. Once seated you will usually be approached by many beautiful local girls.
Girl Price range:
40,000 to 60,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD2.50 for a draught beer
Pro: Large number of girls to choose from.
Con: Parked taxi drivers will try to rip you off when you come out.
Overall rating: 8/10
(6) 50th Street bar
50th Street bar is located at the end of 50 Street near the stand road and port. This is the most popular bar in Yangon for ex-pats and tourists, and will have a crowd most nights of the week. Each Friday night a live band plays and the bar is usually jammed. Whether it’s an escape from hot season, the hustle & bustle of the streets or the monsoon rain; 50th Street bar offers a western escape and some excellent western cuisines. There is a popular pool table here which attracts many pool sharks, including some highly skilled local girls who are frequent patrons and hang around the pool table. During busy nights there are usually 3-5 girls working at this bar.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 80,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD2 / USD4 for a draught / bottle beer.
Pro: An escape to a western environment at times.
Con: Foreign prices
Overall rating: 8/10
(7) BME II
BME II is located next to the American Embassy at Inya lake and is a popular club for foreigners and locals to pick up working girls. Admission is free for foreigners but locals must pay. The club has a dance floor and seated area and the girls usually line up at the bar waiting to make eye contact with a punter. The girls here are very friendly and work most nights of the week.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 80,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD2 for a draught beer
Pro: Good location and large amount of girls
Con: Not as discrete as other clubs
Overall rating: 6/10
(8) Emperor
Emperor is located downtown on 25 street across from Lionsgate bar and only a short walking distance from Chinatown and the popular local drinking area on 19 street. Admission is USD5 and includes a drink. When you approach the premises you will be hassled to buy everything from chewing gum to condoms. Usually a bouncer will escort you to the elevator and you will go to the 5th floor where the Emperor club is located. Here you really feel like a pop star as all the girls will come running to you and escort you to your seat. Once seated, 10 to 15 girls will stand around you trying to get your attention until you pick what girl/girls you would like to talk to and potentially take home.
Girl Price range:
40,000 to 50,000 Kyat until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD2 for a can of tiger
Pro: Large amount of young girls.
Con: The club is very dark and some girls appear hotter inside.
Overall rating: 6/10
(9) Lionsgate
Like Emperor, Lionsgate is located downtown on 25 Street and you will hear the Karaoke style music all down the street. This is a tinsel club (like Powerlight) and admission is free. Local girls perform local songs on the stage either in a group performance or individually. If you like a girl you may purchase some tinsel for her, as a tip which usually costs 5,000 Kyat, and after the performance she will come and sit with you until her next performance. The girls are there to make money so if you like you can discuss arrangements for later that night.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 80,000 Kyat
Drinks Price range:
USD1.50 for a draught beer
Pro: Central location
Con: Bar is very open and not very discrete.
Overall rating: 4/10
(10) Mooney's Irish Pub - Sedona Hotel
This bar is situated in Sedona Hotel and has an admission fee of USD10 for non residents of the Hotel and includes a drink. A band from the Philippines regularly play here, it has good Irish beers on tap and is popular with local expats. The bar has regular working girls staying in the hotel and like to mix with the ex-pat crowd. The girls here are friendly and social.
Girl Price range:
50,000 to 100,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning, depending on negotiation and how you get along with your girl.
Drinks Price range:
USD2.50/USD4 for a draught/bottle of beer.
Pro: Good live music
Con: Expensive drinks
Overall rating: 6/10
(11) Late night Massage & Spa premises
Throughout Yangon there are late night Massage and Spa’s that many locals and foreigners enjoy for adult pleasures. A detailed listing of these venues will come at a later date.
Girl Price range:
25,000 to 40,000 Kyat for short stay.
Drinks Price range:
Green tea and coffee is provided for free.
Pro: Relaxing massage.
Con: Sometimes difficult to locate.
Overall rating: 5/10
(12) Karaoke bars
Throughout Yangon there are many Karaoke bars that mainly locals flock to at the weekends. In some rooms local girls, who work there, will accompany you and sing some songs during you stay at the karaoke venue. Many of these girls are actually working girls and there may be negotiations before you leave the premises.
50,000 to 100,000 Kyat for short stay or until morning.
Drinks Price range:
USD2 for a draught beer.
Pro: Great fun.
Con: You may have to attend the Karaoke bar a number of times before a girl will come home with you.
Overall rating: 6/10
Please feel free to email me at beanmyanmar@gmail.com if any of the information above has changed or you
would like to add additional information.
If you would like to include pictures
of your venue or advertise on this blog please feel free to contact me on the
above email.
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