Pasar Chowrasta Market

Pasar Chowrasta Market is a nice place to experience local Penang life. Usually, pasar can be very hot in the morning, but here I noticed there are fans installed along the outer walls of the building, which help keep the market more chill and not so hot. There are many stalls selling fresh vegetables, fruits, seafood, dried food and local snacks. The market is usually busy in the morning, with both locals and tourists coming to shop and walk around. There is also parking available above the market. It is not free, but very convenient. At the top level of the parking, you can enjoy a beautiful view and even see the Komtar Tower. We also ordered some food there. The prawn mee was really good and worth trying. The curry mee was okay and still decent. The char koay kak was also fine, but the chee cheong fun was not as good for us. The kopi was really good and very kaw. Upstairs, there are shops selling clothes, shoes and second hand books, which is interesting to browse. It can be crowded at times, but that is normal for a traditional market. Overall, it is a good place to visit if you want to see and feel the local culture in Penang.

Loved the vibe! Actually I noticed if you buy souvenirs here it's quite cheaper than other places I visited. I came across Uncle Jimmy's bookstore too.. It was a hidden gem for secondhand books and my daughter loved it there so much.

Chowrasta Market, first built in 1890, has been part of George Town’s heartbeat for over a century. Originally a single-storey market serving the local Tamil community, it was rebuilt in the 1960s into the multi-storey landmark we see today. Recently refurbished, it continues to thrive as a hub where small business owners sell everything from fresh produce to beloved Penang snacks. Living nearby means convenience at your doorstep, while tourists find it a lively spot to pick up local treats and souvenirs. With history etched into its walls and flavours at every corner, Chowrasta Market earns a solid four stars.

Pasar Chowrasta, once a traditional wet market, is now a lively hub similar to KL’s Central Market. Mornings are bustling with locals selling fresh fruits, food, and all kinds of goods. With multi-storey parking and rows of small traders, it’s both convenient and vibrant. Best to visit on weekends, especially Saturday and Sunday. A must-see for first-time visitors — and still enjoyable for us locals.

It is an old school market that brings back memories. I didnt visit the wet market portion but did go to the dried good area. I was astounded by the many stalls that were selling pickled fruits and the varieties it comes in. It can get quite warm as the day progresses although the liveliness picks up. It was a bit of a surprise to stumble upon the first floor having some clothings stores too. One thing though, I did freak out a bit seeing some of the stalls selling packed dried herbs having insects crawling inside the sealed packet. It is worth a visit to check out the market if you haven't been before.

The place is quite crowded but well-organized. There are many vendors selling various sweets and pickled fruits, making it a great spot to explore local snacks. It's also conveniently located near a bus stop, so getting there is easy.

Friendly people and delicious food — that’s the charm of Pasar Chowrasta Market! A perfect spot to taste local flavors and feel the warmth of Penang’s community. 🥢🌸

One of the more convenient places to park and can serve as a focal point if you want to have a good walk exploring the area. There is a wet market on the bottom floor and you can get raw ingredient as well as the variety of assam/jeruk products here. I usually go here for the cucur udang next door and the secondhand bookstores within the building. Some of the mamaks are really good at sourcing books and will give you good prices. They usually have old books but sometimes if you're lucky they have a pretty good selection of new ones. Not bad options if you only have budget to pay less than the retail price. I also had a good experience at one of the stores selling souvenirs that opened early morning even though the rest of the shops weren't open yet. We ended up buying a lot because the staff made us feel like VVIP with their good customer service. I don't know the name of the store but it's right next to the escalator with the hanging kaftans on the second floor. The local chinese gentleman was very fluent in Malay and was very friendly and attentive. He was happily promoting the goods without forcing us so shopping here was a pleasant experience. Recommended!