Never Enough of Armenian Street

Welcome to the streets of George Town. Every issue, we bring you on a vicarious tour of the heritage trails of Penang highlighting their history, attractions and more!

Sandwiched between the greater downtown area and Chew Jetty, Armenian Street is now the hub for a burgeoning art scene, boutique cafés and restaurants, museums and pop up galleries. Armenian Street, previously known as Malay Lane due to the Malay brazier making copper and brass products, and later dominated by Hokkien traders and religious charity, has now been revived from what used to be a quiet and precarious part of town to a bustling district of charm and discovery.

Armenians came to Penang in the early days when it served as an important trading port connecting the East and the West. Arratoon Anthony and the Sarkies brothers were among the few Armenians who played an integral role in establishing the economic, social and civic life in Penang. After the death of the Acheen Street Mosque’s founder – Tengku Syed Hussain – many of his properties surrounding the building were either left to religious charities or bought over by Hokkien traders. These traders, namely Straits Chinese were members to some of the most prominent Hokkien clans (the Cheah, the Khoo, the Yeoh, the Tan and the Lim) on the island. The area soon saw the Penang Riot of 1867 between secret societies (Hokkien-dominated Khian Teik Red Flag and Ghee Hin White Flag) fighting for the control of George Town.

While its old architectural charm still remain, café and restaurants are mushrooming at every opportune corner providing tourists and strollers alike from the heat of the day, while pop up shops present an array of galleries next to family-run businesses and boutique hotels.

Take an evening stroll after dinner and be prepared to walk straight into nostalgia of time stood still. Casted shadows from street lamps and closed shop houses are visited by a more relaxed crowd hoping to see the last of the action just after sundown.

One of the most striking attractions at Armenian Street would definitely be the old colonial houses dotted along the street around this UNESCO World Heritage site. The designs mark influences predominantly from Chinese architecture, as well as the European and Dutch. Admire the intricate wooden detailing the frames and shutters on the doors and windows. And if there’s ever a chance of being in a town house check out the courtyard and air well leading from the front parlour; Sun Yat Sen Museum and China House are just a few that embody this character.

At the far end of Armenian, one of the more recent project, saw the conversion of an abandoned construction site to a spruced up Armenian Park and a basketball court. A mini siesta at the park goes well with local-made ice sticks and cold beverages.

Armenian Street leads to other areas and places of interest including Chew Jetty, Little India, Masjid Kapitan Keling and Kuan Yin Temple. Enjoy a slower pace by sipping coffee at Kopi Loewak and ‘people watch’ on the shaded five-foot way.