Georgetown Penang

As Penang’s capital city, Georgetown is a popular destination to splurge on ethnic Malaysian fabrics, chic apparel, handicrafts, homeware, textiles, food, jewellery and souvenirs. Flanked by tourists, shopaholics, fashionistas and foodies alike, here are the best places for shopping in Georgetown.

• Georgetown’s colourful markets are a must-visit for cheap shopping. Pick up beaded shoes, artworks, painted tiles, tainted glasses, hand-painted Batik, Kebaya, rattan baskets and woodwork from the Penang Road Market, Lorong Kulit Flea Market, and Little Penang Street Market.
• Shopping malls in Georgetown offer great deals on designer and boutique apparel, shoes, electronics, cosmetics, antiques, and much more. Make a stop at the impressive 65-storey Komtar Mall, 1st Avenue Mall, Gurney Plaza, Paragon Mall and Penang Times Square. They also house Walmarts, restaurants, cinemas, karaoke and bowling alleys.
• Georgetown’s Little India is spread across Chulia, Market and Queen Streets. You can find bustling shops selling clothes, Indian food and live performances here.
• At the Asian-themed Pulau Tikus Market, open kiosks sell Chinese curios, handbags, shoes, clothes and watches.

Packed with opportunities for clubbing, shopping, bar hopping, pub crawls, karaoke, live performances and night safaris, Georgetown's nightlife exposes this multi-ethnic city's colourful character. Most of Georgetown's nightlife centres around Upper Penang Road and Jalan Penang Road.

Here are the best ways to enjoy the nightlife in Georgetown -

• Join clubbers on neon-lit dance floors at popular nightclubs like Soju Room, Peace Club Penang, Out Of Nowhere, and MOIS Club.
• Georgetown's bars offer excellent live music, themed shows, sports and movie screenings. Try cocktails and cuisines at Manchu Bar, HiddenTiki, Mish Mash, Farquhar's Bar, Soho Freehouse and Penthouse.
• Stop by at gastropubs like Monkey Bar, The Beach Bar, Farquhar's Bar, Beer Mansion, and Hong Kong Bar.
• Gaze upon panoramic views of the Andaman Sea from dining lounges like the Three-Sixty Revolving Restaurant, Rooftop Bar, and Gravity Lounge atop G Hotel.
• Shop for homemade crafts like jewelled headbands, beaded shoes, artworks, painted crockery, hand-painted Batik, Kebaya, rattan baskets and woodwork at the vibrant Batu Ferringhi Night Market.

Founded in 1786 as the East India Company’s trading port, Georgetown was Southeast Asia’s first British settlement. Georgetown became a major administrative stronghold in 1914, causing the city to be repeatedly attacked during World War II and the Japanese Invasion. With the intermingling of a multi-ethnic populace, Georgetown acquired eclectic assortments of colonial, Chinese and Asian architectural styles and cuisine. Some famous historical monuments here are Blue Mansion, Fort Cornwallis, Town Hall, Hanjiang Temple, and St George’s Church.