Shwe Sa Bwe, Yangon

SHWE SA BWE, YANGON

Located on the north side of Inya Lake, just off Parami Road, Shwe Sa Bwe is the perfect dining option for anyone looking to get a taste of Yangon’s fine dining scene in a not so pretentious environment.

Founded by Francois Stoupan in early 2013, Shwe Sa Bwe is a hotel and restaurant training center which aims to provide training to financially disadvantaged Myanmar youth looking to pursue a career in the country’s hospitality industry. As the country opens up and international companies look to invest, positions in this lucrative industry are only going to increase. Rather than outsourcing to experienced international candidates, it would be ideal if these roles could be filled by locals – not only would this mean a lot for the person working in question, but it would be a massive help to Myanmar’s economy. Whilst small in number, social businesses such as Shwe Sa Bwe, Yangon Bakehouse and Pomelo are slowly but surely making this happen and Tour Mandalay can only recommend that you check them out for yourself on your next visit.

Social business or not, Shwe Sa Bwe is quite simply leagues above the majority of fine restaurants dining establishments in Yangon. The restaurant setting is small and intimate, the service first-class and all of the ingredients used are of the freshest and finest quality. Better yet, the set menu is extremely good value – at the time of eating for example, two sets cost $27, whilst three would set you back a mere $3 extra. For those with a larger appetite, Shwe Sa Bwe also offer a cheese plate in-between the main course and desert for an extra $10.

After much deliberation, Tour Mandalay opted for the following:

Starter: Scallops carpaccio served with tobiko, Granny Smith apple, beetroot coulis and yes vinaigrette

Main: Veal tenderloin with Parmesan soft plant, sautéed straw mushrooms, seasoned with salsa verde

Cheese plate – we couldn’t resist!

Desert: Chocolate fondant with mint chantilly cream

It really is remarkable to think that the above dishes were all cooked, prepared and served by trainees. The care and attention to detail was simply incredible and we would like to take our hats off to those involved in the creation. If you ask us, the whole experience was worthy of a Michelin star (the most prestigious and sought-after culinary accolade).

For those looking for a memorable dining experience in Yangon, look no further than Shwe Sa Bwe. Whilst it may label itself as a training centre, Tour Mandalay can assure you that there is absolutely no compromise.

If you already have your Yangon dates to hand, why not call ahead on +95 (0) 9 42100 5085 and book your table now?