Hotel Grand United (Chinatown)

Hotel Grand United looks a bit spiffier than most of the buildings around it, as much of Chinatown consists of crumbling old buildings that look like they've been around since colonial times. Housed in an eight-story office building, the hotel occupies the fourth floor and up. Guests are greeted in a small, functional reception area that consists of a wooden front desk, a pair of navy pleather armchairs, and curious wine-crate patterned wallpaper. Unlike it's larger sister property, the Hotel Grand United (Ahlone Branch), this property is quite compact and the only public space is its rooftop restaurant, a modest space awash in cream and gray colors. Delicate white curtains with subtle patterns shroud large windows that provide nice city views. Overall, this is a fairly no-frills choice in a bustling area that attracts tourists seeking proximity to the sights.

Situated right in the heart of Yangon's Chinatown, about a 10-minute walk to the city center. This is an old, crumbling, bustling, and chaotic part of town, with fascinating street life, market vendors, street food, and lots of congested traffic. It's a great spot to soak up the local atmosphere, but requires an early start to get to the airport, as the drive can take up to 90 minutes given the often appalling traffic in the area. For those looking to stay local and explore, the 19th Street night market is just around the corner. It's an atmospheric spot with dozens of food vendors setting up stalls each evening. There are also plenty of pagodas and temples in the immediate area, though expect a 10-minute drive to Shwedagon Pagoda, the top tourist and pilgrimage site in the city. While the hotel is slightly off of main Mahabandoola Road, it still picks up plenty of noise, though things mellow out quite a bit in the later evening hours.

Though the hotel's 24 rooms are nothing fancy, they are a step above most of the budget lodging in the immediate area, with a contemporary look that includes on-trend light wood-laminate floors plus subtle light wallpaper, and dark wood furniture. Large windows let in plenty of light, but that means that some rooms will also pick up street noise during the day and early morning. The higher-floor Deluxe Rooms and the rooftop Penthouse Suite are especially nice, as they look out towards Shwedagon Pagoda in the distance, and one can observe the chaotic street life in Chinatown below. The Penthouse Suite even has its own private balcony furnished with a couple of lounge chairs for taking in the view.

Standard features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, minibars, safes, and electric kettles for tea or coffee. Rooms also include small desks, though Superior Rooms are compact, which is expected given the densely packed setting. Deluxe Rooms add a good deal more space, with a proper sitting area composed of some mismatched chairs and a coffee table. The Penthouse Suite has two televisions and a distinct, though small, living area. Wet-room style bathrooms, are small but clean. Showers are equipped with two showerheads and there's a curtain to keep some of the bathroom from getting soaked, though floors will be wet after a shower.

As a small city hotel in cramped Chinatown, the Hotel Grand United doesn't offer too many features. Its lone facility is the rooftop Penthouse restaurant, which offers a free breakfast buffet with a wide selection of options, as well as Burmese curries and Western dishes available for lunch and dinner. There are excellent city views of Chinatown from here. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, though guests report a slow and spotty signal.