my honest review of penang 🥟✨
hellooo! i went on holiday to penang recently and here's my takeaway on some of the more well known places in georgetown~
📍clan jetties
worth to visit if you like natural scenery but the sun here is insaneeee like plspls put sunblock unless u want to get sunburnt 😵
we went to tan, lim and chew jetty but my personal fav is tan jetty (the one in the pic) bc it has the prettiest views imo!
📍hin bus depot
the weekend market had a lot of popup stalls selling handmade keychains, crochet items, clothes, and some street food etc ~ however if you're not interested in these you might want to reconsider going because there's not rly much to do there other than the art exhibit which took us 10 min to finish 😟
we had breakfast at the bistro next to the market and tried the french toast with ice cream and strawberry matcha latte which were quite bombz
📍tai tong restaurant
tbh the dimsum is abit overrated imo and the ordering system is a little confusing 😵💫 a tip would be to sit as innermost in the restaurant as possible because if you sit too far out the auntie pushing the dimsum cart might not come to you
📍armenian street
tourist trap HAHAHA but you should defo go to see the art installations and street art ⛱️🌈
we ate at the famous picco polo cafe and it was quite nice vibes, not a very long queue if you come at mid afternoon timing but the food takes quite long to come
📌 other useful tips
most eateries have this culture where if you don't order drinks you'll have to pay a small fee eg. 50 cents or even $1 RM and usually the first thing they ask is whether you want drinks
for street food, you often have to buy a drink or dessert from a certain stall to get a seat since the tables are "owned" by specific stall owners and if it starts raining they might be unwilling to open the umbrella for you unless you're their customer
if you've made it this far, thank you for reading!
#penangtravel #georgetown #malaysia #travelrecommendation #penangitinerary #penangmalaysia #traveltipsandtricks
If you're curious about the dining scene beyond the usual tourist spots, Picco Polo Cafe definitely deserves a mention. I found the vibe pretty chill and the queue manageable if you time your visit mid-afternoon. Though the food does take a bit to arrive, the atmosphere makes it worth the wait. For those interested in more unique finds, the weekend market at Hin Bus Depot had some charming crochet items and handmade keychains—perfect if you appreciate local crafts and want one-of-a-kind souvenirs. It’s a bit light on activities besides the market and a quick art exhibit, but the nearby bistro’s strawberry matcha latte and French toast with ice cream are tasty treats. Regarding local culture, I learned quickly that many eateries charge a small fee if you don't order drinks—usually around 50 cents to 1 Malaysian Ringgit. And for street food, a little tip is to buy a drink or dessert from the stall owning the table where you want to sit. Otherwise, they might not share their umbrellas if it rains! If you plan an outing to Batu Ferringhi, don’t miss trying Apam Balik—a popular local pancake that’s sweet and crispy. For something different, there are also opportunities to join golf outings or explore auto services like Heang Cheong Auto Service if you’re staying longer and want to experience daily life in Penang. Penang truly has a mix of vibrant street art, scrumptious food, and quirky markets – just be sure to come prepared for the tropical sun! This honest review hopefully helps you plan a balanced and fun itinerary.