Penang markets guide Malaysia
The markets are where to go for a bargain
The daily trip to the wet market is still the central social activity for many Penangites, and this traditional method of trade, barter and gossip is a world apart from sterile Western supermarkets and shopping malls.
Markets in Penang range from authentic Chinese and Indian affairs with odd medicines made from exotic animal parts to craft bazaars with the proud labours of struggling artists on offer at bargain prices.
Without doubt the best place to see real Malaysian life and pick up great value souvenirs, Penang markets are also a window into the past.
Penang Night Market
There are many stalls here stocking all manner of souvenirs and knock-offs from designer handbags, watches and sunglasses to wooden ornaments, batik and imported t-shirts.
This is the most tourist-orientated of all Penang markets, being situated in the middle of Batu Ferringhi beach resort. Everything varies in quality (even the fake watches depending greatly on the quality of mechanism) and hard bargaining is a must.
If you just want to wander around and perhaps pick up some obligatory gifts for people back home then this is not a bad place to head. Stalls start setting up 17:00 with things getting busy around 20:00 and winding down at 23:00. (On Batu Ferringhi beach road, 15kms from Georgetown. Take bus a/c 93 (not standard), U101 or U105 from Komtar terminal)
Little Penang Street Market
Dainty handicrafts at Little Penang Street Market
This market takes place on the last Sunday of the month and has become a major showcase for the island’s creativity and culture. There are around 70 craft stalls plus live performances in The Space, food, visual arts, hands-on demonstrations, games for kids and literary recitals. A gallery areas allows up-and-coming young artists from the area to display their latest creations while craft vendors are carefully screened by organisers to enure their wares demonstrate the heritage of the island.
Fantastic Malaysian food is served up and eco-friendly initiatives ensure that natural products such as soaps, herbal plants, and souvenirs made from recycled materials are promoted. (Upper Jalan Penang, last Sunday of month, 10:00 – 17:00, Tel: +60 (0)16 488 3632, littlepenang@gmail.com)
Chowrasta Market in Penang
Chowrasta Market is a popular community market in the centre of Georgetown. The name Pasar Chowrasta comes from Urdu for “four cross roads” as the marketplace is situated where some of the major city thoroughfares meet. The Chowrasta Market area has been where Tamils from Kadayanallur in South India have settled since the middle of the 19th century. That is why it’s sometimes referred to by the Hokkien name Kelinga Ban San which means South Indian Market.
The first market here was established in 1890 and remained until 1961 when this was demolished and a new structure built in its place at a cost of US$1,310,000 which is still there to this day. It was amongst the first Penang buildings to be equipped with escalators down to the wet market floor.
Market activities today spill out onto the neighbouring streets with a growing proliferation of Chinese stallholders rather than the original South Indian Tamils.
(Bordered by Jalan Chowrasta, Jalan Penang, Lebuh Tamil and Jalan Kuala Kangsar, take Rapid Penang Bus 10, 11, 101, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, U204 ocr U206 from Weld Quay Terminal to in front of Chowrasta Market, open daily)
Ayer Itam Market in Penang
One of Penang’s most popular markets which has been running ever since Ayer Itam was a mere rural village. Farmers bring fresh vegetables straight from hillside farms while weird and wonderful items such as snakes and reptiles are also exchanged. There are lots of hawker stalls selling food including Penang’s famous laksa curry noodle soup. (Jalan Air Itam and Jalan Pasar, Air Itam. Take Rapid Penang Bus 201, 202, 203, 204 and 206 from central Georgetown, open daily)
Campbell Street Market in Penang
Said to have been constructed on the site of an ancient Malay cemetery, Campbell Street Market was built around the beginning of the 20th century in the Victorian style and is probably the oldest in use in Georgetown today. The front side faces the the meeting of Lebuh Campbell, Lebuh Carnavon and Lebuh Buckingham. (Take Rapid Penang Bus 10, 301, 302, 307, 401 and U502 to Lebuh Carnavon and then walk until the junction with Lebuh Campbell, open daily)
Perak Road Market in Penang
This traditional oriental market is well served by the island’s Chinese community and is one of the oldest in Penang. The market building itself is on Jalan Slim, but stalls can be found on the side streets into Perak Road and Jalan Pasar. All manner of diverse wet goods can be found here as well as bargain clothing and great street food including duck eggs and roast pork. (Perak Road can be reached by Rapid Penang Bus 11 from central Penang, open daily)
