Exploring the Food and Art Scene of Penang

We stayed at Swing and Pillows @ 87 Muntri during our time in George Town, Penang. The hotel was clean, the staff were friendly, and even though the toilets were shared, they were always well-maintained and clean. The location is great- close to everything we needed and perfect for exploring the area. We actually ended up staying an extra day due to a flights, but we didn’t mind at all. We really liked the vibe of George Town, and it was a nice place to spend the extra time.

Day 1 – Exploring the Streets of George Town

We landed around 1:30 PM and took a Grab to our hotel. After checking in, we set out to explore the streets of George Town. Our first stop was the "Little Girl in Blue" mural, just a short walk from the hotel. From there, we went to the "Boy on Motorbike", passing plenty of other street art along the way. As we wandered through the city’s lanes, we also saw the Kapitan Keling Mosque, Armenian Street, Yap Kongsi, and other attractions.

After we visited the "I Want Bao" mural and picked up some Jia Zhen biscuits (kind of like fortune cookies, but with a peanut butter filling). Not far from there, we reached Chew Jetty and Tan Jetty, which gave us a glimpse of George Town’s waterfront communities.

For dinner, we went to the Jetty Food Court—noodles for me and fried chicken for Adam. The food was good, though a bit more expensive than other hawker centres we’ve been to in Malaysia.

After dinner, we walked toward Fort Cornwallis and stopped for the best ice cream at Dre Coklat Penang. We saw the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower and the outside of the fort, and we caught a great sunset. We ended the night at Speaker Square, where lights were strung through the trees.

Day 2 – History, Temples, and Hidden Gems

We started the day by heading to the Blue Mansion to get tickets for the 11 AM guided tour. at 10AM (sold out online but limited walk-in tickets available). Before the tour, we grabbed breakfast at Pinwheel Resto Café—avo toast, mushrooms, and a fried egg hit the spot.

The Blue Mansion tour was fascinating. The guide was great and we learned all about the unique fusion of Chinese and British heritage that defines this historic home.

Next, we headed to St. George’s Anglican Church, which was unfortunately closed for renovations, then walked down to the Goddess of Mercy Temple and had a look inside. We spent some time exploring Penang’s Little India, before grabbing drinks at Mixue to cool down. We also checked out the Owl Shop and the "Boy on Chair" mural—another great photo op!

Our next stop was the Hin Bus Depot. It was pretty quiet since it’s more active on weekends, but we still enjoyed the cool street art. On the way back, we browsed the shops at Prangin Mall before heading back to the hotel.

For dinner, we went to Tofu Village. They offer a mix of veggie and meaty dishes, and we really enjoyed the selection we ordered. After that, we decided on dessert at Reggae Caffe, where we shared the best salted caramel chocolate cake I’ve ever had.

Day 3 – Penang Hill and Kek Lok Si

We kicked off the day with breakfast at JOJA Bagels—honestly, the bagels were incredible and absolutely worth the hype! We then caught a local bus to the base of Penang Hill (RM4 per person, cash only—make sure to bring the exact amount). At the hill station, bought return train tickets (RM60 for two), and waited for the funicular. The ride up was steep but quick, with stunning views along the way.

At the summit, the panoramic views of Penang were breath-taking, though it was pretty crowded. The area caters mostly to tourists, with attractions like exotic pet photos, lock bridges, and bubble photo ops. There are also some family-friendly museums, a mosque, and a temple.

After heading back down the hill by train, we walked to Kek Lok Si Temple. Instead of taking the lift, we walked up to the first temple and were rewarded with beautiful courtyards and stunning architecture. Higher up, we took the lift (RM12 for two) to reach the giant bronze Guanyin statue. You can walk it, but we opted for the lift due to the heat.

We spent time exploring the temple complex and taking photos. While the temple itself was beautiful, the number of souvenir stalls gave it a bit of a tourist-trap vibe.

We got a Grab back to George Town, where Adam got a full-service haircut—which turned into a whole two hour-long experience!

That evening, we had an Indian dinner at D’Sakra, which was absolutely delicious. For dessert, we returned to Reggae Café for more cake. This time, we tried the chocolate layer cheesecake (unreal!) and the triple chocolate cake (a bit underwhelming, but still enjoyable). They even gave us a bonus mint chocolate muffin for leaving a review!

Day 4 – Chilling, Planning, and One Last Foodie Fix

The next morning, we finished off the leftover cakes (the chocolate cake was even better, the muffin not so much) and spent a few hours planning for our next destination.

For lunch, we returned to Mugshot Café for another round of bagels. The fillings weren’t quite as good this time, but the bagel itself was still top-notch. We also dropped off our laundry at 123 Laundry on Lebuh Buckingham. The friendly lady there washed, dried, and neatly folded everything for us.

That evening, we checked out Red Garden Food Paradise. We started with spring rolls and followed up with noodles—mine was a tofu dish that didn’t really hit the mark, but Adam enjoyed his chicken noodles. We also tried a Chinese pancake. At first, it tasted bland, but it kind of grew on us. The stall owner was incredibly kind and welcoming.

After picking up our laundry, we returned to Red Garden for a few beers and some live music—a perfect, laid-back end to our time in George Town.