Shopping

Penang

Penang was once the most popular duty free shopping destination in Malaysia before Langkawi took over its status. Today, it is still an attractive place for visitors and tourists to indulge in shopping adventures, both in traditional and modern forms. Shopping carnivals with great sales throughout Penang are held a few times a year in major shopping malls and some outlets. On the other hand, there are traditional places to shop in Chinatown, Little India and special places such as the Batu Ferringhi Night Market and Jalan Pintal Ali for antiques. If you're a visitor from a country with currency that has higher exchange rates, you're going to love the cheap bargains here!

Shopping Malls

Large malls, shopping complexes and department stores have paved the way for Penang to become a major shopping destination. International designer brands for clothing, fashion accessories, leather, shoes, bags, perfumes and much more can be found in the numerous stores in shopping malls. Electronics that include mobile phones, cameras, camcorders, notebooks and computers can also be bought with cheap prices.

Popular modern shopping places in Penang, located mostly in Georgetown City, include; KOMTAR, an established landmark building in the center of Georgetown that houses a shopping center famous for computer goods; Prangin Mall, located next to KOMTAR and destination for pirated or bootleg products, especially DVDs, music and PC software or games; Queensbay Mall in Georgetown, 5 minutes away from Penang Bridge, is the largest and most recent mall in town that has over 500 shops with JUSCO as its anchor department store tenant as well as cinemas, bowling alleys and a roller skating rink; Gurney Plaza, located in Gurney Drive, is an established but fairly classy shopping center with 300 outlets including many restaurants, cafes and beverage outlets; Bukit Jambul Complex; an established Malay oriented shopping mall 20 minutes away from the airport; Midlands One Stop in Pulau Tikus; Island Plaza in Tanjung Tokong; and hypermarkets such as Tesco and Giant.

Chinatown

Chinatown in Georgetown, Penang covers the areas of Weld Quay, Jalan Penang, Lebuh Stewart and Lebuh Muntri with its heart located in Campbell Street. This traditional shopping zone has a historical heritage as it was the settlement area of the first Chinese immigrants to Penang. Here, in Chinatown, pre-war shophouses with ancient stylings still survive along with colourful temples and clan houses.

Traditional Chinese trades still go on strong, passed on from generation to generation, such as lantern making, joss stick production and engraving signs in Chinese calligraphy or symbols. The traders speak coarse Hokkien, imbued with distinct Penang nuances and slangs. To shop in Chinatown, bargaining is an essential process so that you get a good price for what you buy. Since this is a cultural area, Chinese products such as bitter herbs, exotic medicines, trinkets, lanterns, traditional clothing and other stuff are freely available, with some of them making great souvenirs or handicrafts for tourists to bring home. Modern goods are also equally abundant, including shops that retail watches, electronics, bags and leather. Of special note is the fine jewellery sold here, especially those using jade, centered in the shops around Lebuh Campbell. During the Chinese New Year festival, lion and dragon dances are held in the street.

Batu Ferringhi Night Market

Night Market or Pasar Malam in Batu Ferringhi

The Batu Ferringhi Night Parket, also known as the Sidewalk Bazaar or Pasar Malam, is a prominent tourist attraction along the main road fronting this beautiful beach. The night market, more often referred to by locals as Pasar Malam, is a traditional form of Malaysian shopping, where traders set up make-shift stalls in a designated area during the night for one day in a week and ply their trade. However, the Night Market in Batu Ferringhi takes place daily to cater for visitors. It starts from early evening and ends late in the night. Good stuff to buy here include fake watches with famous brands, pirated movies on DVDs, souvenirs, handicrafts local food, fruits and other things.

Little India

Little India in Penang is located around the areas of Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia and Jalan Pasar in Georgetown, neighbouring Chinatown. This is a distinct Indian area, with specialised shops and many eating places. Some of the businesses run almost exclusively here by Indians include hair salons, fashion, florists, money changers, rice millers, herb dealers and restaurants. Historically, Little India was the settlement area of the first Indian immigrants in Penang, but it has remained a traditional area till today. For shopping, it's perfect for Indian products such as sarees, Tamil or Hindi music, Bollywood movies and food such as curry and banana leaf rice.

Chowrasta

Chowrasta is a famous wet market and bazaar housed in a shopping complex in Penang Road. Established since 1890, Chowrasta was originally a trading ground operated mostly by Indian Muslims from Southern India. Its name means 'crossroads' or the 'place where four different roads meet'. True to its name, Chowrasta is a constant flurry of activity through the day, with many different stalls and shops retailing mostly in meat, fish, seafood, fruits and vegetables. However, you can find some great traditional Chinese and Indian snacks here, including cakes and biscuits. Outside, along Jalan Penang, are some great shops for souvenirs and handicrafts.

Jalan Pintal Tali

Jalan Pintal Tali, which literally means 'Rope Walk', is a street in Georgetown that is most famous for its range of shops dealing with antiques and priceless junk. The street got its strange name originally from the first settlers in the are, who were mostly rope makers. For treasure hunters, Pintal Tali is a paradise for ancient jars, ceramic ware, coins, lamps, vases, porcelain, clocks and other items. Bargaining is essential here to get the best prices. Visitors and potential buyers should note that the local laws that govern the sale of antiques prohibit bringing out certified antiques without permission from the Museum Authorities of Malaysia.