PENANG -- area code (60-4)

Penang Island, with its 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 1.2 million (that's about 50,000 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.

• 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 genuinely soulful Malay diva, Roz. One wall is a gigantic framed mirror, with classical European portraits hung Haunted Mansion style, chic Thai silkworm cocoon lamp bobbing in the breeze of the ceiling fan, overstuffed lounge chairs, and an op-art grill of fairy lights hung under the conservatory canopy. The crowd is trendy 30-somethings and arrive after 10pm when the band kicks in. Adjacent restaurant, bar, and pool room.
• 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. Snacks and desserts. Gay night on Sun.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Sun Gentlemen's Night at Beach Blanket Babylon starts this April 1st. Happy hour drinks all night long for men -- half price on standard pouring brands and special price on beers." -- riverrobles, Apr 6, 2007

• Momo (mixed)
  Upper Penang Rd. Located in a Heritage mansion (opposite Opera and just beside The Garage complex) now fitted out with enormous color-changing flood lights. Not a gay club, but certainly the coolest.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Waste of time! Very straight." -- BrianF, Aug 3, 2008

  "Great place, fully packed with a mixed crowd." -- swissbear, May 21, 2007

• Evergreen Laurel Hotel Gym
  Lots of gay regular members and hotel guests. They also accept non-members who pay per entry. Reported to be happening.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Fitness Club of The Traders Hotel is now a great place to meet up with PLU, especially after work. I met three handsome guys there." -- austin, Jul 26, 2007

Click here for Penang massage and spas.

• Ampang Jajar Garden near Permatang Pauh, noon-5pm. Young Malay and Chinese guys.
• Bathu Feringhi beach area near the international hotels.
• Esplanade in Padang Kota Lama.
• Fitness center in Island Plaza is a good place to meet PLUs, escpecially inside the sauna and steam room.
• Fitness First, especially in the sauna.
• The garden on the hill inside Taman Bukit Indah (beside St. Annes), BM. A nice place to meet at night.
• Midlands Park shopping center (formerly called, and still known as, One-Stop), including G/F and 2/F facilities.
• 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).
• Park in Butterworth between the old British Fortress and city hall. After 10pm. At your own risk. Beware hustlers and police decoys.
• Permata swimming pool at Farlim, Air Hitam after 5pm. A nice place to meet others.
• Pertama swimming pool, 4pm onwards.
• Swimming pool in Seberang Jaya, Butterworth. On Sat and Sun, you can see lots of PLUs (all races) hunting in the facilities.
• 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 auiet river bank.
• Tanjung Bunga beach, between Paradise hotel/International School and at the rocks at the end. Especially afternoons and early evenings.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Paradise beach has lots of action 3pm weekdays, have to go right down as far as you can to the rocks." -- bidstonfish, Oct 9, 2008

Without debate, 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!
• Bagan (see under Bars)
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

  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).

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Northern Beach Café near Gurny Drive has lots of gay guys week nights after 7pm. Great food, clean toilets." -- bidstonfish, Jan 19, 2008

  "I want to recommend the No Eye Deer restaurant at Prima Tanjung opp. Island Plaza Shopping Centre. It has great food and very gay/lesbian friendly. My partner and I had many delightful evenings at this restaurant and have no hesitation in recommending it." -- sghotbtm, Oct 5, 2007

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