Penang and food, perhaps these two words don’t mean much to you but they certainly mean a lot to a real gourmet as Penang has been regarded as the food capital of Malaysia for ages. The amount of food is literally bombarding you while you are taking a walk along the most famous Lebuh Chulia (Chulia street, George town), where on each side of the street there is nothing but restaurants in the amount that your imagination would struggle to make up.

There are two great things that you will be astounded to know about Penang food, first is that the quality of food is flawless and the second nice thing is its variety, including cooking styles. Actually Penang is always referred to as a Mecca for food lovers when people talk about Malaysia.

Whether you are craving for something really exotic or just dreaming about making your belly as happy as it can possibly be Penang will do the job no matter what. Another great thing to know about dining in Penang is, whether it is a really fancy restaurant or just a little food stall on the side of the street it will cost you absolutely nothing to have a brilliant meal.

Since eating out in Penang is considered as the most favourite pastime you would certainly guess that most of the places are open 24 hours and they are. Local spices as well as imported are truly impossible to resist. A lot of tourists can end up eating even when they are not hungry, while just passing a little restaurant, simply a scent of local cuisine may drag you in for a while.

Came to Penang to have a quiet holiday and got bored of being it too quiet? Time to go to the most famous George Town and get entertained. The number of disco clubs and randomly hiding Chinese parlors with extremely cute Asian girls is incredibly high.

Whether you are craving for a cold pint of draft beer and willing to sit by the streets to watch people go by or dreaming of dancing being surrounded by beautiful Chinese girls, your best shot is George Town, it is literally the place to look for everything.

There are very few bars where you have to pay to enter and it usually happens only at weekends, in some of the places you may be asked to prove that you are over 18 years of age but that is only required if you would like to go to a nightclub (where may be some ladies of ‘unusual’ interest). Most of the places offer a very nice and friendly atmosphere with a great choice of drinks and food.

There are plenty of disco clubs where you can dance to the loudest beats of excellent music performed by local as well as foreign DJs. In case if you don’t enjoy loud music and would like to sip you drink in a quiet place or listen to live bands there are quite a few.

The most common and easiest thing to do to relax is to go to any bar, order a drink and the friendliness of local people will inevitably lead to a conversation, this is how most of travellers prefer to spend their evenings in George Town.

Penang truly has something mysteriously beautiful about the night time, as soon as it gets dark and the traffic slowly disappears you instantly begin feeling relaxed even in the middle of town sitting outside the bar with your shiny cocktail.

Penang is a popular Asian destination and whilst not the cheapest it does offer a good selection of accommodations to suit all budgets and tastes. One of the most popular places to stay is of course the beach and Batu Feringghi which has many beach resorts right on the sands which offer food and nightlife attractions .

Although good value for money more budget locations are located in Georgetown. Here on the famous streets of Chulia and Muntri there are many to choose from. Guest houses which will be familiar to the Asian traveler offer rooms and dormitories some with separate or, the more usual, shared bathrooms. Some will offer only cold water and it is worth trying as a cold water shower becomes more refreshing after you get used to it and as the cold water closes the pores keeps you drier in a hot climate.

There are also reasonable colonial style small hotels in Georgetown and more and more are guest houses and hotels are (at last) offering TV and wifi.

Elsewhere on the island is the functional but very pleasant YMCA in a very old neighborhood it is within convienient distance to the city centre.

For those with a taste for luxury why not stay at Copthorne Orchid Hotel at Tanjung Beach?

A lovely multi story modern hotel offering breathtaking views of the seas and mountains on all sides.

Whichever type of accommodation you choose they all offer friendly and safe lodgings in this interesting and compact destination.

Just a short walk from the popular backpacker area of Chula Street is the Esplanade. This is a good place to wander as the fresh sea breezes here are refreshing in the heat of the day and there are a number of interesting attractions to discover.

Fort Cornwallis

This ancient fort was built by Francis Light, the founder of Penang. Fort Cornwallis was actually built on the site where he landed in 1786. It was initially constructed as a wooden bulwark by convicts, having concrete reinforcements added over time. Today, the fort has been converted into an open-air park, housing an amphitheatre, a history gallery, cafés and souvenir shops. There are also a few cannons sitting around, the most famous being Seri Rambai, which is said to have supernatural powers such as the ability to get infertile women pregnant.

City Hall

Built in 1903, the City Hall is a fine example of Victorian architecture and a reminder of the colonial era in Penang. The City Hall faces the historic field of Padang Kota, which is a setting for festivals and other large-scale events. Today, the hall is still used for period meetings with members of the Penang Municipal Council.

Clock Tower

The Clock Tower is a reminder from the colonial era of the British Empire in Penang. Built to honour the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, the Clock Tower was a gift to the British authorities from a local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok. Moorish style dominates the structure and from a distance as it looks remarkably like the minaret of a mosque.

Penang is extremely multi-cultural and visitors will find a number of different districts here, each offering different aspects and attracts.

The Colonial District:

This area is perhaps one of the main draws in Georgetown as it has sites that date back to the British settlement in 1786. Fort Cornwallis is where Francis Light stepped ashore and a good place to start exploring the colonial district. Other sites to see in the vicinity are the Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, which was donated to honour Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897; City Hall; the Sate Assembly building; Supreme Court; the island’s oldest Anglican church, which was built in 1818; the double-spire Cathedral of the Assumption and the Protestant Cemetery that holds the graves of Captain Francis Light and Thomas Leonowens, the young officer who married the school mistress of the King of Siam.

Chinatown:

This area is fascinating, not only because it has its own individual history and stores, but also because within the district and the immediate surrounding areas, pockets of Malay and Indian communities live. There are several heritage buildings that were once Chinese shop houses. Many of these have had the interiors converted to trendy restaurants while keeping the original exterior façade and maintaining the red tile roofing. Hawkers abound in this area and the market is certainly an experience.

Little India:

Known for the vibrant colours that deck the stalls selling saris, bangles, fabrics and all sorts of Indian trinkets. There are shops that sell spices, Indian restaurants, Indian pharmacies and ayuverdic shops. Temples are squeezed in between shops and at the corners of the main streets in this area. Little India bustles with life and excitement from 12:00 to 22:00.

Andaman daze

Soak up the culture on this island that blends ancient Malay, Asian colonial and Chinese immigrant influences in one fascinating destination. Penang is a favourite destination in Malaysia, combining tropical beaches with sophisticated hospitality and historic interest.

Soon you’ll be able to experience all this virtually before you come, this travel blog on Penang is the beta version of a full online travel guide that will include colour pics and hundreds of pages of tourist info on the island. Trust us we’re Asian travel specialists.

Penang has dozens of good excuses to attract you; be it great beaches, water sports, intriguing culture, multi-cultural cuisine, lush tropical hiking trails, botanical gardens, crumbling old architecture, colourful festivals and exotic temples. Experience it all here.

Shopping
Whether you need to pick up a few essentials or a seeking out that perfect engagement gift, we’ve got the inside story… more

Hospitality
Everything from cheap rooms in hostels to the best luxury hotels in town plus spas, restaurants and nightlife tips… more

What to see
All the top attractions listed in complete detail including city tours and highlights for those short on time… more

Malaysian Culture
This diverse and wondrous land is begging to be discovered by cultured visitors with time on their hands… more

Living here
Complete guide to everthing an expat is every going to need for long-term stays in Penang… more

What to do
Whether you want to browse for gifts, indulge in some pampering, play sport or see the sights… more

Peninsular Malaysia
Guide to areas of the countries which are an easy leap away from Penang for when the city gets too much… more

Getting here
All your transport needs taken care of in one simple section including plane, train or taxi… more

Before booking your flights and accommodation you should try to find discount vouchers online. There are several sites now offering this popular promotions tool for savings and bargains and one UK site we can recommend is discountvouchers.co.uk