Penang Isle: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

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Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a historical and cultural rich building located along Leith Street in George Town, Penang. A winner of multiple historical and heritage awards including the ‘Most Excellent project’ Award at the UNESCO Heritage Awards 2000, the blue mansion is one of the most visited and a definite tourist destination in Penang. The mansion is said to be one of the two of its kind outside China which also features architecture design of both Chinese and Western influences. The mansion was built by a famous Chinese merchant in 1880s named Cheong Fatt Tze and it has 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases with 220 vernacular timber louvre windows.

The mansion now serves as both a museum (with guided group tours) and a boutique hotel at the heart of Penang’s heritage zone. There is a daily guided heritage tours of the house in English (11am / 1.30pm / 3pm) with an admission fee RM 12 per person. For more information, please visit its official page HERE.

Green Hall Street: Kaffa Espresso Bar


A newly established cafe at Green Hall Street, Kaffa Espresso Bar joins a myriad of such similar cafes which are opening all over George Town in recent years. Kaffa Espresso Bar provides a retro-like and cozy ambiance while serving nice food (such as Big Bites All-Day Long Breakfast Platter) and coffee. The cafe’s official website is http://www.mykaffa.com/ and the cafe opens 8am – 10pm from Monday to Sunday.

Note: Kaffa Espresso Bar is not to be confused with the Kaffa Kafe at Straits Quay or China Street.

China House

China House, a popular dining and lifestyle place located right at the heart of George Town, is a convergence of a fantastic restaurant/cafe, an art house and a lively night bar. The place is actually made up of 3 colonial era buildings linked via an open courtyard in the middle. The restaurant entrance of China House faces the Beach Street while the entrance to the bar (called the Canteen) is located at the other end, Victoria Street.

For more information, please take a web stroll at its official website; http://www.chinahouse.com.my/.