3 reviewed party hostels · from €1.94/night · Hostelworld rated
Penang’s nightlife doesn’t just happen in clubs: it spills onto the streets of George Town, where backpackers gather at hostels with bars built into the lobby. Chulia Street is the epicentre: a narrow strip of budget stays, street art, and late-night kedai kopi that turn into impromptu drinking spots after dark. Most party hostels here keep their doors open until 2 or 3 am, so the crowd migrates from dorm common rooms to nearby bars without ever needing a Grab ride. Sleep Box Penang, for example, sits right on Chulia Street, putting you a two-minute walk from Reggae Bar and a five-minute stumble from the speakeasies tucked behind Love Lane.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
EZ Social Hostel is a fantastic party hostel in Penang, offering a cool and sociable atmosphere with a lively bar lounge. With its blend of modern amenities and historic charm, it's the perfect spot to socialise, unwind, and explore the city's vibrant party scene.
Great social hostel with a cosy interior and original design. A vibrant on-site bar is a nice spot where you can join other travellers in fun drinking games. There also have plenty of board games if you rather like to stay in a hostel in the evening. Free tea and coffee available, and free breakfast.
Rope Walk Guest House is a fantastic party hostel in Georgetown, Penang. With its central location near lively nightlife spots, recently renovated facilities, and an extended dormitorio and cafe for socialising, it offers a vibrant and welcoming environment for party-loving travellers.
Organised nights out with a local guide
A weekly crawl that hits four bars in three hours: Reggae Bar, Slippery Senoritas, Soho Free House, and The Canteen. Includes one free shot at each stop, a welcome drink, and a group photo. Hosts hand out drink vouchers for the next bar, so you’re never waiting in line.
A smaller, guided tour of George Town’s hidden cocktail bars: Chez Chez, Biso, and two unmarked spots. Groups are capped at 12 people. Includes one signature cocktail at each bar and a Polaroid souvenir. The guide shares stories about Penang’s colonial-era smugglers who inspired the speakeasy culture.
How Penang's nightlife zones break down
The backbone of George Town’s backpacker scene. Hostels, hawker stalls, and bars line the street, with street art on every other wall. The night market sets up at 6 pm, selling everything from durian crepes to fake Ray-Bans. Most pub crawls start here at Reggae Bar or Sleep Box Penang.
A narrow alley packed with speakeasies, boutique hostels, and mural-covered shophouses. By day, it’s quiet: just cats napping in doorways. By night, the bars spill onto the pavement, and the music from Soho Mustard shakes the cobblestones. Five minutes’ walk from Chulia Street.
A beachfront strip 25 minutes from George Town. Nightlife here is more resort-style: beach clubs, seafood restaurants, and fire dancers on the sand. The night market runs from 6 pm to midnight, selling batik shirts and coconut ice cream. Grab a RM15 beer at Bora Bora and watch the sunset.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
A backpacker institution on Chulia Street. Expect cheap rum buckets, pool tables, and a crowd that’s 90% travellers. The front bar opens at 6 pm; the back garden fills up by 11 pm with fire dancers on Fridays. Entry is free, but shots climb from RM5 to RM12 after midnight.
A speakeasy tucked behind a vintage record shop on Love Lane. The menu fits on a postcard: five cocktails, all RM25. Dim lighting, vinyl spinning on a turntable, and a strict no-phone policy. Gets busy after 10 pm: arrive early to snag the velvet sofa.
A tiny bar on Muntri Street run by a former graphic designer. Each drink comes with a hand-drawn coaster: ask for the ‘Penang Sour’ (local calamansi and gin). Happy hour 5–7 pm: RM15 for any cocktail. Max capacity 20 people, so it’s standing-room only by 9 pm.
A two-storey gastropub on Kimberley Street with 12 craft beers on tap. Burgers and loaded fries are RM18–25. The roof terrace fills up on Thursdays for ‘Ladies’ Night’: free prosecco until 10 pm. Cover charge RM10 after 11 pm on weekends.
A tequila bar on Lebuh Pantai that runs a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal until 9 pm. The crowd is a mix of expats and backpackers. Karaoke starts at 10:30 pm: sign up early or you’ll be watching until midnight. Entry RM5, includes one shot.
A courtyard bar inside a restored shophouse on Lebuh Pantai. Live jazz every Tuesday and Sunday from 8 pm. Cocktails RM28–35, but the happy hour 4–6 pm knocks them down to RM18. Seating is first-come, so grab a cushion on the floor if the tables are full.
A basement club on Love Lane that plays house and techno until 3 am. Entry RM20 after 11 pm, includes one drink. The sound system is loud enough to rattle your ribs: bring earplugs if you’re sensitive. Dress code: no flip-flops or tank tops.
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