Mojo Bar
Mojo Bar is one of the few venues in Yangon that puts live music at the center of the experience. Located in the Chinatown area near the 19th Street strip, the bar hosts local bands most evenings playing a mix of rock covers, blues, Burmese pop, and original material. The interior is compact, fitting about 50 people across bar seating and small tables arranged around a raised stage. The walls are covered with band posters, vinyl records, and framed photos of Myanmar musicians. Sound equipment is modest but adequate for the room size, and the bands play at a volume that allows conversation between sets. The beer selection covers local and imported options, and the bar stocks a reasonable range of spirits for cocktails. Myanmar's live music scene is small but passionate, and Mojo gives local musicians a regular platform. The crowd skews younger, with university students, aspiring musicians, and a handful of expats who follow the local music scene.
What to Expect
You'll walk into a dim room where a band is probably already setting up or midway through a set. The volume is present but not overwhelming. The vibe is more intimate music venue than nightclub. Between sets, conversation fills the room and the bartender has time to chat. It feels like a music bar in any small city, just transplanted to Yangon.
Intimate, music-focused, and warmly welcoming. The kind of bar where regulars know each other by name.
Live rock covers, blues, Burmese pop, and original material from local bands
Casual. Band t-shirts and jeans fit right in.
Music lovers, people who want a sit-down evening with live entertainment, and anyone curious about Myanmar's local music scene
Cash preferred (Myanmar kyat). Some cards accepted but don't rely on it.
Price Range
Draft beer 2,000-3,000 MMK, bottled imports 4,000-6,000 MMK, cocktails 5,000-8,000 MMK, no cover charge
Draft beer ~$0.60-0.85/~0.55-0.80 EUR, cocktails ~$1.40-2.30/~1.30-2.10 EUR
Hours
18:00-23:00 daily, live music typically starts at 20:00
Insider Tip
Arrive by 7:30 PM to get a table near the stage. Tuesday and Thursday usually have the best bands. Chat with the musicians during breaks; they're friendly and love talking about Myanmar's music scene.
Full Review
Mojo Bar fills a gap in Yangon's nightlife that nothing else really covers. The live music scene in Myanmar was growing before the coup, and while many venues closed, Mojo kept going. The quality of musicians varies night to night, but the best local bands are genuinely talented and play with an energy that makes the small room feel electric.
The physical space is simple. A stage at one end, a bar along the wall, tables filling the rest. Acoustics are decent for the size, though when the room fills up on a good night the sound can get muddy. Seating is first-come, first-served, and the tables closest to the stage go early.
The drink list is more extensive than you'd expect. Draft beer is the popular choice, but the bar stocks enough spirits to make proper cocktails. Prices sit between street-level beer stations and hotel bars, reflecting the indoor venue with live entertainment. No cover charge keeps the barrier to entry low.
The crowd is what makes Mojo special. Young Burmese who are genuinely into music mix with the small expat community and occasional tourists. Conversations cross cultural lines easily here, maybe because music serves as common ground. The musicians themselves are approachable and often join the crowd between sets.
Mojo doesn't try to be anything it's not. It's a small bar with live music in a country where that's become rare. That sincerity is its strongest quality.
The Neighborhood
Mojo Bar is located in the broader Chinatown area, within walking distance of 19th Street's beer stations. The surrounding blocks have street food options for before or after the music. It's a short walk from the more tourist-oriented spots on 19th Street.
Getting There
A short walk from the 19th Street beer station area. From Sule Pagoda, head west and south into the Chinatown grid. Taxis from other parts of Yangon cost 3,000-5,000 MMK.
Other Venues in Chinatown & 19th Street
Kosan
Popular backpacker bar on 19th Street with a rooftop terrace and mixed crowd of travelers and locals. One of the few spots with English-language staff.
Pioneer
Well-known beer station at the heart of 19th Street serving cheap draught Myanmar Beer alongside BBQ skewers. A Yangon institution.
50th Street Bar
Expat-friendly bar and restaurant in the Chinatown area serving craft beer, pub food, and hosting occasional trivia nights.
Feel Bar
Open-air beer bar on 19th Street with plastic furniture and a casual atmosphere. Draws a mostly local crowd with some of the cheapest draught beer in the area.