Penang's best bars

Sure, you have to fork out a little extra at this modish bar, but Mish Mash is never want for customers. Bartenders Ben and Simon know their stuff and the cocktails are good – as in good enough to never just have one!

As the sun sinks below the horizon, the view is illuminated by the twinkling lights of the heritage centre with its terracotta roofs and the sea in the distance. This rooftop bar revolves at six degrees per minute giving a 360-degree view of the entire island.

Whisk your hot date over to Muchacha, a bar built on stilts facing the Straits of Malacca. If you time your visit right, a spectacular sunset is in store; add a bottle of wine to the picture for an absolutely unforgettable time. Despite the spectacular view, Muchacha is generally quiet, but that means more privacy for you and your better half.

Indisputably one of our favourite bars in Penang, The Canteen At ChinaHouse presents nightly live acts playing a diverse selection of music from jazz and soul to R&B and indie, even popular show tunes. Dress down, get hyped up, and be ready to have a fantastic night out. We love the casual vibe and the fact that the bartenders are on a first-name basis with the regulars.

BED’s branch in Precinct 10 boasts of the island’s largest LED screen: six by 15 feet to be exact. Watch live games and matches here to catch every little detail in high definition – now you can be sure if that foul was called for! If you get peckish during half-time, order a hot dog topped with melted cheese and crispy nachos or the juicy skewers of chicken and pork satay – it’s all very much pub grub.

Doubling as a backpacker’s lodge, The Tipsy Tiger has achieved legendary status as a cheap party hub. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a cheaper bar in all of George Town. Besides serving cut-price drinks, The Tipsy Tiger throws mean parties seven nights a week. Taking a page from college parties, the bar hosts beer pong contests with cash prizes.