Penang Insights

Penang is a small island, covering a mere 293 square kilometres. Although it is densely populated along the east and north coast, it remains relatively untouched along the west coast with lush rainforests thanks to its year round tropical climate.

Penang is world renowned for its exceptional street food. The diversity of its Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural backgrounds collides in a melting pot of tastes and flavours that stem back generations. In Penang you can experience the diversity of each of these cultures in their native culinary dishes as well as the distinctive “Peranakan” or “Nonya” dishes which are a fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines. There is an endless choice of food to experience and enjoy. From cheap eats starting at USD $1 street food to open-air and fine dining restaurants.

The arts and culture scene in Penang is alive and colourful thanks to its multicultural society of Malay, Chinese and Indians. There’s no shortage of religious festivals throughout the year and visitors will find mosques, Chinese and Indian temples living in harmony side-by-side in local neighbourhoods.

At Penang Insights, our arts and culture tour will take you on a trip through some of the local attractions including the historical precinct in the old part of George Town to further afield on the outskirts of the city, Penang has much to offer. 

Although Penang island is small, rapidly being developed and modernised, there are parts of the island that are still layback and untouched – quiet beaches, fishing villages, rice fields, fruit plantations, farms and food production companies belonging to the same family for generations.

Victor is passionate about Penang food and learned how to cook traditional Malaysian Nyonya (also known as Peranakan) style food from an early age. Growing up in the early 1960s in a pre-war terrace house in George Town, Victor would spend time with his mother in their home kitchen as she prepared Penang’s signature dishes using a traditional mortar and pestle for pounding homemade spice paste and a charcoal flame stove for cooking. Traditional Nyonya cuisine is a fusion of Chinese, Malay and Indian cooking styles and is an integral part of Penang culture.