Mandalay is a town steeped in mystery and promise. When you arrive you see temples, busy traffic and mosquitoes from pretty canals and ponds.
The Mandalay Hill resort is one of the best places in town. An ex- Novotel establishment, now a stand alone brand.
The hotel is a 8 storey tower with a traditional hotel room layout above a pleasant marble lobby with Colonial touches and a general feeling of Myanmar grandeur.
Check in was handled efficiently by a fluent English speaking Myanmar desk clerk. The staff made an impression as attractive and well versed in fluent English.
We stayed on the 7th floor and enjoyed a fantastic view over the hotel pool and gardens onto Mandalay Hill and the mountains to the East revealing great morning sunrise vistas. The room was spacious and furnished in wooden furniture with plenty of storage. The lighting was a little dim at night and the shower over bath with shower curtain a bit of a battle, but otherwise the room was comfortable and well airconditioned.

The hotel grounds contained a pleasant garden with a garden bar and stage used for cultural shows. The pool was a feature with multicoloured LED lighting that changes colours at night. The pool is long enough for 25m lap swimming.

The hotel gym was reasonable for Myanmar with one decent elliptical trainer and one decent running machine that both tended to get crowded. The spa was set in a beautiful water garden setting.

The location of the hotel means that it is a slog into town to find other restaurants, so prepare to dine in house. The breakfast spread was one of the better ones we sampled in Myanmar, fresh and varied in food choices. The same restaurant offered lunch and dinner. Dinner was a’ la carte or a better value buffet menu. The wine list was expensive, but a reasonable international selection, but beware the wine is often oxidised due to lack of care with handling in transit. Stick to beer. Ming’ s Chinese restaurant offered us a variety of dishes that were disappointing compared to what we sampled in the Golden Duck in town by the moat.

The Kipling Bar is good for a cocktail in a faux colonial style setting. Staff are attentive and the atmosphere is fitting for the hotel. Beware the “martini” cocktails as they are filled with ice and fruit salad producing a compote rather than a clean cocktail. Try the Mandalay Sour or the Margaritas, but specify no ice.

Oh, and the place takes credit card but does not offer cash withdrawals.

The Mandalay Hill resort is top of the town in Mandalay. The Sedona is also nice on all accounts but the Mandalay Hill resort will not disappoint due to its combination of comfort and great location with spectacular views.