Hotel 51

Hotel 51 has a pleasant appearance from the outside, especially given the rather worn neighborhood in which it's located. While most buildings lining the side streets in this part of downtown are old -- often looking like crumbling tenements -- things looked set for change when we visited in 2016, and Hotel 51 is certainly leading the way. It's a seven-story affair painted a bright cream color that makes for a good first impression. 

The lobby isn't much to speak of in terms of size or space, as most of it is taken up by the hotel's restaurant. Guests can sit here throughout the day, as there are ample tables set across the white-tiled floor. Those who are checking in can also opt for the comfy white couch and padded easy chair that are against the wall by the reception. With nowhere else for guests to gather, this simple value hotel is modern, but has almost no social vibe. Most guests are either out sightseeing or heading up to the privacy of their rooms to relax. 

Hotel 51 is located on the east side of downtown Yangon. It sits on a small side street, sandwiched in between two busy traffic-filled arteries, so it's a good escape from the main roads. There are plenty of street vendors and local restaurants just outside the door, and quality Indian and Burmese restaurants right up the street. Additionally, the happening 50th Street Bar is right around the corner. The neighborhood might feel a bit gritty to some, with lots of tenement-like housing, dirty streets, and none of the greenery that can be found around the hotels along Kandawgyi Lake or Inya Lake. Still, for those wanting a taste of Burmese city life, it's a fine home base. It's a decent location for accessing the center of the old town, though 20-minute walks there in Yangon's heat may make a taxi a better option. Shwedagon Pagoda, the city's main tourist attraction, is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Expect a 40-minute drive to the airport, though with traffic this can be substantially longer.

There are 42 rooms at Hotel 51, and almost all of them are identical, save for a bit more space in the Deluxe Rooms over the entry-level Superior Rooms. As the hotel was built in 2014, rooms are in good shape and have modern appeal. Decor includes laminated wood floors, contemporary wood furniture with a dark veneer, and small table-and-chair sets. Silk flowers brighten things up and gold-pattern bed runners add a bit of shimmer, but otherwise -- save the back-lit blue hue that emanates from behind the headboards -- the look is simple and straightforward. 

All rooms have modern amenities including free Wi-Fi, large flat-screen TVs with cable channels, electronic safes, minibars, electric hot water kettles, and free Nescafe and tea bags. The bathrooms are spotless and have rainfall showerheads, although they are wet rooms and lack any stall around the shower (in other words, the entire bathroom gets wet when one showers). Toiletries and flip-flops are provided. 

While the rooms have long windows and get plenty of light, they don't have any views, as the hotel is hemmed in on both sides by neighboring buildings. Additional woes include cigarette smells -- despite the hotel's no-smoking policy -- and potential noise issues from both inside and outside of the hotel. We heard barking dogs during our stay, and it can be particularly bad on the back side of the building.

As this is a small city center hotel, there isn't much room at the Hotel 51 for facilities. The hotel does have a small restaurant located in the lobby, where free breakfasts are served for guests in the morning. Options include Western and Asian dishes plus eggs and fresh fruit. A small menu of snacks like sandwiches and Burmese dishes are available for the rest of the day, although the food is rather bland and overpriced. The hotel does have an elevator, which might not seem like anything special, but many of the buildings in downtown Yangon don't have them. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.