PENANG -- area code (60-4)

Penang Island, with its UNESCO World Heritage treasure trove of George Town, the gold sand beaches of Batu Ferringhi, and the nearby town of Butterworth on the mainland, has everything that gay and lesbian travelers love: exquisite food including Nyonya Baba indigenous fusion cuisine; architectural treasures including the stupendous colonial mansions of Asia's formerly rich and famous tycoons; sun and fun on tropical beaches; shady hikes through botanical spice gardens and jungle forests; multi-ethnic neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming places to explore on foot, bike, or pedi-cab; fascinating shrines, temples and mosques built over generations by the port's prosperous merchants and fortune-seekers from as far away as Arabia and Armenia; shops, malls and museums filled with beautiful bargains; and more than a bit of gay scene and nightlife for holiday fun and frolic.

All this, yet Penang is so quiet, so cheap, so uncrowded, so easy to access, so friendly, and so rich in cultural treasures that you'll wonder why its not on every tourist's map of must-see cities in Asia.

The population of Penang is over 1.5 million (that's about 60,000 Utopians).

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• Penang Gay Scene Updates message forum
• Men in Penang message forum

The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to Malaysia surveys the gay and lesbian scene in 17 cities. Listings include gay scene maps, organizations, bars, discos, spas, accommodations, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Click here to order

Click here for Penang hotels and accommodations.

Comments from Utopians:

"If you want to take an inexpensive short half or full day break from George Town, head over to Balik Palau on the far side of Penang Island. Balik Palau is more Malay-influenced with many interesting things to do, good food and a beautiful trip through lush countryside. Take the frequent Rapid Penang Bus #401/401E from Georgetown, R$3 each way for the 40-minute ride to the central bus station in Balik Palau. Before you go, get a copy of the excellent 'Discover Balik Palau' Penang Heritage Trail Guide. It guides you on a walking tour to; a spice farm, great Laksa, a silversmith, historic buildings, herb garden, batik and cosmetic businesses and more. The big bonus is the very cute and friendly Malay men all along the street". -- only010, Nov 25, 2008

• Bagan Lounge (mixed)
  Bagan, 18 Jln Bagan Jermal, 226-4977. The lounge at the Bagan dining and entertainment complex is Penang's closest brush with fabulousness yet, thanks to the owner of Thirty Two (see listing below under Restaurants). Live jazzpop band featuring soulful Malay trans-diva, Roz. One wall has a gigantic framed mirror, elsewhere are framed portraits of yachts and toreadors, chic Thai silkworm cocoon lamps, overstuffed lounge chairs, and an op-art grill of fairy lights hung under a conservatory canopy. The crowd is trendy 30-somethings who arrive after 10pm when the band kicks in. Bar and pool room. Excellent service from ambisextrous staffers.
• Beach Blanket Babylon (mixed)
  The Garage, Upper Penang Rd (opp the E&O Hotel). Same owner as Bagan and Thirty Two at the Mansion. Swanky design (yes, with his trademark giant mirror) on two levels. Good snacks and desserts. Gents Night every Sun with special pricing on standard pouring brands beers.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "New gay pub open: Color pub and lounge. Area: Royal Hotel. No cover charge. Got ah kua (trans) shows." -- xtatus, May 30, 2009

Click here for Penang fitness centers for men.

Click here for Penang massage and spas.

BUKIT MERTAJAM
• The garden on the hill inside Taman Bukit Indah (beside St. Annes). A nice place to meet at night.
• Taman Hwa Seng (just opposite Wonderful Mini Market beside Jln Rozhan, around the Alma, Bukit Mertajam area). There is a river beside a playground. You can find the Taman signboard beside the road. Go to the playground to look for the same species, mostly after 8pm. You may find young PLU sitting alone. If you click, just walk down to the quiet river bank.

  
  BUTTERWORTH

• Ampang Jajar Garden near Permatang Pauh, noon-5pm. Young Malay and Chinese guys.
• Park in Butterworth between the old British Fortress and city hall. After 10pm. At your own risk. Beware hustlers and police decoys.
• Swimming pool in Seberang Jaya, Butterworth. On Sat and Sun, you can see lots of PLUs (all races) hunting in the facilities.

  
  HISTORIC GEORGE TOWN / PENANG ISLAND

• Beaches:
  • Batu Feringhi beach area near the international hotels.

    Comments from Utopians:

    "The beach at the back of Ship restaurant in Batu Feringhi is very cruisy after 4pm most days. Always good looking guys there. Lots of caucasians." -- bidstonfish, Mar 16, 2009

  • Tanjung Bunga beach, between Paradise hotel/International School and at the rocks at the end. Especially afternoons and early evenings.

    Comments from Utopians:

    "Come to the beach at Tanjung Bungah near Hotel Paradise and Dalas School, near the rocks, in the afternoon." -- henrysz, Mar 15, 2009

    "Paradise beach has some action late afternoon weekdays, have to go right down as far as you can to the rocks." -- bidstonfish, Oct 9, 2008

• Penang Youth Park
  Facilities near the shop and area behind shops with tables to play checkers. Afternoons from 2-5pm.
• Shopping Malls:
  • Starbucks at Gurney Plaza.
  • Midlands Park shopping center (formerly called, and still known as, One-Stop), including G/F and 2/F facilities. Sit outside at KFC to catch passersby.
• The small trail off the road, just past the Moon Gate as you head towards the Botanical Gardens. Popular with joggers in the daytime. You'll need to walk thru the bushes to discover this place with lot of activity, especially weekends (early morning 6-7am to late night past 11pm) and weekdays (after 5pm till midnight). Lots of joggers and hikers. Beware of decoys. At your own risk (take along a local friend if you can).
• Swimming Pools:
  • Permata swimming pool at Farlim, Air Hitam after 5pm. A nice place to meet others, 4pm onwards.

Penang is one of Asia's culinary treasure troves. Chinese, Muslim, Indian, Malay, European, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese, Japanese, Armenian, and Filipino immigrants have all pitched their recipes and ingredients into Penang's melting pot. Nyonya Baba (the Straits Chinese) fused some of the city's earliest flavors into their own unique style that spread up and down peninsular Asia from Phuket to Singapore. Corner coffee shops are still a haven for community life and an oasis of fresh plate meals, local libations and a rainbow of sweets. Street hawkers spread the wealth to hungry passersby. Below please find a sampling from the huge variety of sit-down eateries available, but be sure to graze your way across the city during your daytime explorations!

BUTTERWORTH

• Penang Nyonya Delights (Peranakan cuisine)
  22 Jln Perai Jaya 2, Bandar Penas, Butterworth (behind Pacific Megamall, near Penang Bridge and not far from Unique 2 sauna), 399-3668. Gay-owned.

  HISTORIC GEORGE TOWN / PENANG ISLAND

• Bagan (see listing under Bars & Clubs)
• Eastern and Oriental Hotel
  10 Farquhar St. Enjoy a classic high tea on Sun afternoon at one of Asia's grandest old British-colonial hotels. Perfect finger sandwiches (salmon, beef and cucumber), proper scones with clotted cream and fig jam, cakes and tarts. Would you care for more, sir? No skimping here. Bring your guidebook to Penang (and your iPod stocked with songs by onetime guest Noel Coward) and spend a proper afternoon at leisure.
• Kedai Makanar Song River (Song River Café)
  In the middle of Gurney Drive. This seaside hawker center is crowded with diners in the evening - always a good sign. Here you will find a dozen kiosks under one roof, dishing up excellent local food including char koay teow, otak-otak, fried oysters and satay sticks.
• kissA Koyotei
  148 Jln Hutton, 226-6272. The aliens from Planet Japan have landed in Penang. Orange Christmas trees and "gothic-loli" (gothic Lolita) waitresses in OTT lacey French maid outfits. Now serving Penangites a Hello Kitti combo of "Japanese cuisine, espresso, liquor, and sweets." Yaranaika?
• Northam Beach Café
  Near Gurny Drive. Reported to have gay customers week nights after 7pm. Good food, clean facilities.
• Nyonya Baba Cuisine (Peranakan cuisine)
  44 Nagore Rd, 227-8035. Famous locally for its authentic nyonya baba ethnic dishes. The owner cooks with the freshest ingredients at hand and her Auntie helps with service to the four big round tables in the front room of this classic old Penang home. They'll be happy to recommend favorites from the menu, but be sure to try the "Capitan chicken curry" with its surprising crunchy texture from fried shallots and otak-otak banana-leaf steamed savory seafood soufflé.
• Opera (Asian fusion)
  3-E Upper Penang Rd (opp Momo and the Garage complex), reservations: 263-2893. Super stylish restaurant in the trendy nightlife area attracts a hip, urban crowd (a beauty queen and a gay Malasian pop singer were both dining the night we were here). The black and silver interior glows with theatrical lighting touches in the evenings. Shop on 2/F sells Asian home decor.
• Perut Rumah (Peranakan cuisine)
  17 Jln Kelawei, 227-9917. In a restored 100-year-old mansion not far from Gurney. Gay-owned and specializing in nyonya baba specialties, all prepared the old fashioned way. Items do run out as nothing is made in mass quatitities. Some dishes are begun the night before while others take several days to complete. 70 dishes to select from including Kari Kapitan (chicken curry), otak-otak (seafood soufflé), perut ikan (fish maw stewed in tamarind juice), roti baba (fried pork sandwich) and bee koh moy (black glutinous rice with coconut milk). Open 11am-10:30pm.

  Thirty Two at the Mansion 32 Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, 262-2232. This casual fine dining and bar environment is a completely modern surprise considering the gorgeous heritage mansion exterior. Don't expect anything stuffy. It's all contemporary, upbeat, and very, very over the rainbow thanks to the verve and style of the owner (see Bagan Lounge listing under Bars & Clubs). The food is fabulous, from the foie gras to the beautifully textured crab laksa. The staff are friendly and elegant. There's the trademark humongous mirror in the bathroom foyer. The ocean laps just beyond the terrace and there's outdoor seating for cooler weather. The main dining room has a live jazz combo in the evenings and the gallery dining area is inventively mirrored for more viewing pleasure (yourself or the other tables).

Click here for Penang saunas for men.

• Diversity Shoppe
  33-1-80 Prangin Mall, Jln Dr. Lim Chwee Leong, email. Men's and women's clothing, accessories (retail and wholesale), plus PLU gifts and souvenirs)! Utopia Member Discount