Gurney Drive

Penang's most famous food area was once known as North Beach but was later named for Sir Henry Gurney, a British High Commissioner who was assassinated by Malayan communist guerrillas in 1951. Today it's a mish-mash of the city's most modern high-rises and some of the grandest colonial mansions on the island. It's posh for a hawker area so the food is a bit more pricey here than elsewhere but it's worth that few extra ringgit to have a table facing the sea.

You'll find absolutely everything from Malay to Western food, and it's known for its laksa stalls and good people-watching. For the best rojak try the Penang-famous Aye Chye stall. The area around is also home to the Gurney Plaza shopping centre where you can grab a coffee at Coffee Bean or Starbucks (which will cost far more than your meal) or shop the night away.