Penang Bars: 11 Best Bars in George Town
Last updated: October 2026
George Town's bar scene has expanded steadily over the past decade. What was once a handful of backpacker beer joints along Chulia Street and Love Lane now includes revolving rooftop bars, award-winning speakeasies, space-themed cocktail lounges and convenience-store setups where you drink on plastic chairs for a fraction of the price.
Most Penang bars cluster in two zones: the heritage core around Chulia Street, Love Lane and Lebuh Bishop, and the Gurney Drive strip where hotel rooftop bars serve a more polished crowd. The two zones are about 15 minutes apart by Grab. This guide covers 11 bars across both areas, verified in October 2026, with addresses, hours, prices and what to expect.
Prices are in Malaysian Ringgit (RM) and are approximate. Most bars accept card payments, but carry cash for smaller spots like Antarabangsa Enterprise. Dress codes are relaxed, though rooftop hotel bars may turn away guests in flip-flops or swimwear.
Three Sixty Revolving Rooftop Bar
Three Sixty Revolving Rooftop Bar sits on top of the Bayview Hotel on Lebuh Farquhar and is one of the few revolving restaurant and bar platforms in Southeast Asia. The bar floor completes a full 360-degree rotation roughly every 45 minutes, so your view shifts continuously from the Straits of Malacca to Penang Hill and the George Town rooftops without you moving from your seat.
Drinks start at about RM25 for a beer and go up to RM50 for signature cocktails. The sunset window between 6 pm and 7:30 pm is the most popular slot and can fill up on weekends, so arriving at 5 pm secures a good seat. The bar extends to an open-air terrace where the breeze picks up after dark. No strict dress code, but shoes and covered attire are expected. Valet parking available at the hotel.
Backdoor Bodega
Backdoor Bodega is concealed behind what looks like an enamel pin shop on Jalan Gurdwara. Walk through the shop, push through the back, and you enter a narrow cocktail bar that won the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025. The current menu is designed as a literal guidebook to Penang, with each drink tied to a local ingredient or cultural reference — expect flavours like nutmeg, belacan, Penang soy sauce and kelapa (coconut).
Cocktails run RM35 to RM50. The space seats around 30 people and fills up by 10 pm on weekends, so arriving at 8 pm is the safest bet. Closed every Tuesday and Wednesday. Walk-ins only; no reservations. Card payments accepted.
Mish Mash
Mish Mash has occupied a double-storey shophouse on Muntri Street since 2014 and operates as a cocktail bar, whisky bar and smoke lounge rolled into one. The ground floor bar serves a tight cocktail list that changes seasonally, while upstairs offers a quieter lounge area with a broader whisky selection. Cocktails fall in the RM25 to RM45 range, with most signatures around RM35.
The interior is dark, moody and compact — seating fits roughly 40 across both levels. Weekday evenings are relaxed, while Friday and Saturday nights bring a louder crowd. Closed every Monday. No cover charge. The bartenders are happy to mix off-menu if you describe what you are in the mood for. Walk from Chulia Street or use the Sia Boey car park.
Gravity Rooftop Bar
Gravity is the rooftop bar at G Hotel Kelawai on the Gurney Drive strip, sitting 24 floors above street level. The view faces the coastline and Gurney Drive promenade, and on clear evenings you can see the mainland across the channel. Signature cocktails like the Gravity Sunset (RM26) and Pomegranate Mojito (RM38) are well-made without being overly complicated. The bar also carries a decent wine and spirits list.
Seating capacity is around 70 and the space is open to the public — tell the lobby staff you are heading to Gravity and take the lift to Level 24. No cover charge or minimum spend. The vibe is more polished than the heritage-zone bars, so this suits a date night or a drink before dinner on Gurney Drive. Wind can pick up at this height after 9 pm, so a light jacket is practical.
The Pokok All Day Bar
The Pokok takes its name from the Malay word for "tree," and the bar is literally built around a large old tree on Chulia Street. The open-air setup uses a raised terrace and ground-level tables spread across a courtyard, giving it a casual American beer-garden feel transplanted into a George Town backpacker lane.
Draught beer is the main draw — a glass of Tiger starts at RM10, Heineken and Guinness at RM13, with bucket deals available. Cocktails range from RM20 to RM35 and are straightforward rather than craft-focused. The bar is open daily from 6 pm until 3 am, making it one of the latest-closing spots on this stretch. It fills up after 10 pm on weekends with a mix of backpackers, locals and tourists. No reservations, no cover. Cash and card accepted.
Sphere Rooftop Bar
Sphere Rooftop Bar sits on top of Chulia Mansion and leans heavily into a space and cosmic theme — blue lighting, planet-shaped decor and cocktails served in globe-shaped glassware. The concept sounds gimmicky, but the drinks are genuinely well-crafted. Sphere's Oddity (RM48), a whiskey and plum wine mix with wasabi and yuzu, is the signature. A Wild Eclipse (RM45) uses vodka infused with wild mushrooms and thyme. Beyond Earth's Atmosphere (RM42) blends truffle-washed bourbon with caramel and chocolate notes.
The rooftop terrace gives a street-level view of the Chulia Street area rather than a high-rise panorama, keeping the atmosphere intimate. Open daily from 6 pm to 2 am. The bartenders can personalise cocktails to your taste. Seating is limited, so arriving before 8 pm on weekends secures a spot. Card payments accepted.
Golden Shower by ChinChin
Golden Shower by ChinChin — also operating under the name Beso Rosado — occupies a pink-painted heritage shophouse on Bishop Street. The bar section retains its playful cocktail identity with a menu that mixes Southeast Asian ingredients with Latin and Mediterranean influences. Cocktails run RM30 to RM45, while wine by the glass starts at about RM18 for a Prosecco.
The space doubles as a restaurant during dinner hours, serving Spanish-influenced small plates from 7 pm onward. The cocktail bar stays open until 2 am Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays. The pink interiors make this one of the more photographed bar spaces in George Town. Seating is split between the bar counter and a handful of tables. Walk-ins only; no reservations for the bar area.
Magazine 63
Magazine 63 is a speakeasy tucked inside a shophouse on Jalan Magazine, styled as an old Chinese inn. The interior uses exposed brick, dim lighting and traditional Chinese porcelain jars for serving select spirits. Look for the unmarked door and push through — finding the entrance is part of the experience. The cocktail menu draws on Chinese tea, herbal and spice flavours, blending them into drinks well beyond the typical bar lineup.
Cocktails cost RM30 to RM45. The space seats about 35 people across a ground floor bar and a mezzanine lounge. It opens daily at 8 pm, making it a later-start option on a bar crawl. The atmosphere is quiet and conversational rather than party-driven. Card and cash accepted.
Antarabangsa Enterprise
Antarabangsa Enterprise is not a bar in the conventional sense — it is a convenience store on Lorong Stewart that sells cold beer at some of the cheapest prices in George Town. Cans of beer start around RM6 to RM8, and bottles are only slightly more. You buy your drink from the shop counter, take a plastic chair on the five-foot way outside, and sit among a rotating cast of backpackers, expats and locals doing exactly the same thing.
There are no cocktails, no food menu and no air conditioning. The appeal is entirely in the price and the social atmosphere — it functions as an informal street gathering point where strangers end up sharing tables and conversations. Hours are roughly 5 pm to 2 am daily, though they can shift. Cash only is safest. The location on Lorong Stewart is walking distance from Love Lane and Chulia Street, so it slots naturally into any heritage-zone bar crawl.
Soho Free House
Soho Free House is a long-standing pub on Upper Penang Road that has been operating since the mid-2000s. The ground floor functions as a British-style pub with draught beer, spirits and a pub food menu. Upstairs — the Pent House section — hosts live bands on weekends. Beer starts at about RM15 for a draught pint, and spirits pour from RM16 for a standard measure. The bar runs an all-day happy hour, which keeps prices lower than the neighbourhood average.
The atmosphere is loud and social, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when the live band draws a mixed crowd. Dress code is casual. The kitchen serves Western pub food alongside some local options. Open every day from approximately 6 pm; weekend nights run until 3 am.
Sora Penang
Sora Penang occupies a waterfront spot on Pengkalan Weld, overlooking the jetties and the channel toward the mainland. The interior is modern and open, with a long bar counter and lounge-style seating. The cocktail list includes signature towers and individually mixed drinks in the RM25 to RM45 range. The bar also serves Italian and Chinese fusion food, so it works as a dinner-and-drinks destination.
Open from 7 pm (8 pm on Wednesdays) until 3 am, Sora is one of the latest-closing bars on this list. Closed every Tuesday. The waterfront location gives it a different feel from the heritage-zone bars — more spacious, more breeze and less backpacker-oriented. It draws a younger local crowd after 11 pm on weekends. Card payments accepted.
How to Plan a Penang Bar Crawl
George Town is compact enough that a walking bar crawl through the heritage zone is practical. Here are two routes depending on your preference and budget.
Heritage Zone Crawl (Chulia Street Area)
Start at The Pokok on Chulia Street around 7 pm for cheap draught beer under the tree. From there, walk south to Sphere Rooftop Bar on the same street for a cocktail with a view. Cross east to Lorong Stewart and grab a can from Antarabangsa Enterprise for an informal break. End the night at Backdoor Bodega on Jalan Gurdwara (opens at 8 pm) for a final craft cocktail. Total walking distance is under one kilometre, and the whole route keeps you within the UNESCO zone.
Cocktail-focused Crawl (Speakeasies and Rooftops)
Begin at Magazine 63 on Jalan Magazine at 8 pm for Chinese-inspired cocktails in a dim setting. Walk to Golden Shower by ChinChin on Bishop Street for something lighter. Finish at Mish Mash on Muntri Street for whisky or a seasonal cocktail. If you still have energy, Grab to Gravity at G Hotel Kelawai for a nightcap 24 floors above the city. Budget RM120 to RM180 per person for four to five drinks across this route.
Practical Tips
Bars in the heritage zone are all within walking distance of each other. Wear comfortable shoes — George Town pavements are uneven in places. Most bars open between 5 pm and 8 pm, so starting a crawl at 7 pm gives you the widest selection. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest nights. Grab rides back to hotels on Gurney Drive or Batu Ferringhi cost RM10 to RM25 after midnight.
Penang Bars: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooftop bars in Penang?
Three Sixty at Bayview Hotel offers a rotating platform with panoramic views. Gravity at G Hotel Kelawai sits on the 24th floor overlooking Gurney Drive. Sphere Rooftop Bar on Chulia Street is a space-themed rooftop with inventive cocktails. All three are open to non-hotel guests.
Where can I find cheap beer in Penang?
Antarabangsa Enterprise on Lorong Stewart sells cans from RM6 to RM8 — it is a convenience store with plastic chairs rather than a bar, but the prices draw a loyal crowd. The Pokok on Chulia Street offers Tiger Draught at RM10 per glass.
What time do Penang bars close?
Most Penang bars close between midnight and 2 am. Chulia Street and Love Lane bars tend to stay open until 2 am or 3 am on weekends. Hotel rooftop bars close at midnight on weekdays and 2 am on weekends. Sora Penang runs until 3 am. Check individual schedules before heading out, as hours can shift.
Are there speakeasy bars in Penang?
Yes. Backdoor Bodega on Jalan Gurdwara is concealed behind a pin shop and has appeared on Asia's 50 Best Bars list. Magazine 63 on Jalan Magazine is styled like an old Chinese inn with porcelain jar serves. Golden Shower by ChinChin on Bishop Street operates as a pink-themed cocktail bar. All three require you to find the entrance, which is part of the experience.
How much do cocktails cost in Penang?
Cocktail prices in Penang range from RM20 to RM50. Budget spots like The Pokok charge RM20 to RM35. Mid-range bars such as Mish Mash serve cocktails at RM25 to RM45. Speakeasies like Backdoor Bodega and themed bars like Sphere Rooftop charge RM35 to RM50. Hotel rooftop bars sit in the RM26 to RM42 range.
What is the best area for bar hopping in Penang?
The Chulia Street and Love Lane area has the highest concentration of bars within walking distance. Start at The Pokok, walk to Sphere Rooftop, then loop to Antarabangsa on Lorong Stewart. Upper Penang Road is another cluster with Soho Free House and live music venues. Both areas are flat and walkable.