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Little Penang Street Market

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The Little Penang Street Market is unique in its own kind. The market is a mix of stalls selling local stuff, food and art plus a mix of performances by locals and foreigners alike. Few island have such a broad mix of things to do as Penang and the market shows only the tip of the so called iceberg.

For sale at the Little Penangs' Cultural Market

Location and time at Upper Penang Road

The location of the market is convenient for locals and travelers alike: Upper Penang Road. Have a look at your map and locate for example the Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang. The market is located just opposite of this great hotel. And in the area you find the Cititel Hotel Penang, the Grand Continental Hotel Penang and the famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Penang all in walking distance.

The Little Penang Street Market is held every last Sunday of the month.

Left: Japanese kimono try
Right: Pottery demonstration at the stage

More details about the Penang Cultural Market

Lets have a look at the general program. I've been several times to the street market and every time the program was different but you can find similar things happening. There are always performances. This can be a group of local Indian dancers, local musicians but also, like on Sunday 28 June, a demonstration by locals how to wear a Japanese kimono. There was a pottery demonstration. Once there was a Silambam Nilaikalakki demonstration (see the video below), another time Johny Chee and his Nyonya dancers gave performance of Nyonya poetry and dancing.

Silambam Nilaikalakki demonstration

Nazlina Hussin will most of the time be here with a stall about her cooking class in the Tropical Spice Garden.

Cooking Class at the Tropical Spice Garden demonstration

The Little Penang Street Market is not an initiative from an official board like an official tourist organisation. It's all done by volunteers who, almost every time come up with an excellent program including something for everyone.

Nyonya dancers at the Little Penang Street Market

Local artists like Shamsul Bahari are sometimes at the market promoting their own work or giving classes. Galleries will show some of their work and there is of course the local handicrafts.

A good example of local businesses and handicrafts available at almost every market is Sentuhan, an organisation of single mothers who have a shop at No. 90, Armenian Street with handmade soaps in handmade packages, very stylish done.

Searching for antique bargains, books? The Little Penang Street Market might fulfill your wishes. And what would a market, especially in Penang, be without food. Try the local Po Piah, if you're lucky the seller does his singing trick (if not, go to the food stalls at the northern end of Gurney Drive where he sells his Po Piah every night). Other local dishes as chicken pie (which is highly recommended) and of course nasi lemak are available. Some days you will find ginseng tea and soybean drinks.

Chinese New Year at Little Penang: Chinese drumming performance

Children are not forgotten. It can be in performances by children and/or activities as drawing classes. Shamsul Bahari does kid drawing classes every once in a while, on Sunday 28th June there were mug painting, pottery try outs and origami activities.

Local artist Shamsul Bahari teaches painting to a young student at the Little Penang Street Market

All the more reasons if you are in town to visit the Little Penang Street Market.

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