A beautiful 1920s teak mansion set in lush tropical gardens with lotus ponds and a fan-shaped pool. Once home to the Governor of Kaya State, this boutique hotel in Yangon's Embassy Quarter offers tranquil colonial elegance with traditional Burmese touches.
Belmond Governor's Residence occupies a restored 1920s teak mansion on Taw Win Road in Dagon Township — Yangon's Embassy Quarter — a quiet, tree-lined neighbourhood where many foreign missions are located, approximately 4 kilometres north of the colonial waterfront. Shwedagon Pagoda lies just over 1 kilometre to the west and is reachable on foot in around 20 minutes or via the hotel's complimentary shuttle in 5 minutes. The colonial downtown core along Strand Road, including Sule Pagoda and Bogyoke Market, is a 10–15 minute drive.
The property was constructed in the 1920s as the official residence of the British Governor of Kaya State and later served as the Burmese state guesthouse. The Belmond group restored and reopened it as a hotel, preserving the original Burmese teak construction, wrap-around verandahs, lotus ponds, and a sweeping fan-shaped swimming pool set within manicured tropical gardens. Carved timber screens, traditional textiles, and handwoven lacquerware appear throughout the public spaces, balancing colonial formality with a Burmese sensibility.
Thirty-six rooms and suites are housed across the mansion and two garden wings. All feature teak floors, four-poster beds with canopies, period furniture, and private terraces or balconies overlooking the gardens or pool. Standard Rooms, Superior Rooms, and Executive Suites range from approximately 45 to 90 square metres.
The Residence Restaurant offers a menu combining classic Western dishes with Burmese and pan-Asian cooking, served in the original dining room or on the garden terrace. The bar serves cocktails beneath a painted ceiling in a colonial library setting. Buffet breakfast with fresh tropical fruit, eggs to order, and local dishes is included in most rate plans.
The on-site spa provides Burmese massage, herbal compress treatments, and aromatherapy. Dedicated concierge staff manage private driver hire, guided tours, and cultural visits. The property skews toward couples and honeymooners, though it handles small corporate groups as well.
Amenities
- outdoor pool
- spa
- restaurant
- bar
- garden
- free WiFi
- airport shuttle
Location
35 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar
16.8156, 96.1553 View on map
Highlights
- An authentic 1920s teak mansion — former home of the British Governor of Kaya State — set in tropical gardens with ornamental lotus ponds
- Fan-shaped swimming pool surrounded by century-old trees, one of Yangon's most distinctive hotel amenities
- Located in the Embassy Quarter just over 1 kilometre from Shwedagon Pagoda, with a complimentary shuttle to the pagoda
- Thirty-six teak-floored rooms and suites with four-poster beds, private verandahs, and garden or pool views
- The Residence Restaurant serves refined Burmese-Western cuisine in original colonial dining rooms and on the garden terrace
Tips for visiting
- Request a garden-view Superior Room or an Executive Suite for the most direct connection to the property's landmark gardens and lotus ponds
- The hotel's complimentary shuttle to Shwedagon Pagoda runs at set times in the morning and evening — check the current schedule at check-in to plan visits around sunset or dawn when crowds thin
- Afternoon tea on the verandah is available as a paid supplement and is one of the more atmospheric options in Yangon — book ahead as tables fill quickly
- The Embassy Quarter neighbourhood is pleasant to walk in the early morning before the city heat builds up, with bougainvillea-lined streets and colonial bungalows
- Tipping in Burmese kyat is appreciated by spa therapists and housekeeping staff; foreign currency is also accepted
When to visit
November to February (cool dry season)