Guan Seang Trading Cafe, Beach Street

Guan Seang Trading Cafe (6 October 2013)


Guan Seang Trading Cafe is a cafe in George Town, Penang. Located at the junction of Beach Street and Armenian Street, the cafe is housed in a beautiful shophouse with an arcade or five foot way wraps around the junction.

The Guan Seang Trading Cafe building was built in 1907, and compared to shophouses farther in on Armenian Street, has a wide sidewalk. This was set aside for an intended widening of Armenian Street that never materialize.

The upper floor of Guan Seang Trading Cafe has a series of full-length French windows with wooden jalousies under wooden grid transoms. These are framed by moulded architraves with ornamental keystones over them. Bordering the top of the building are moulded parapets. At the time I photographed this building (October 2013), it has not yet undergone exterior restoration.

The owner of Guan Seang Trading Cafe has commission a series of artwork by artist Lefty, who was one of the artists involved in the Marking George Town steel-rod art pieces. The artwork by Lefty are now displayed on the opening along the façade of the cafe facing Armenian Street, right behind the sculpture "Last Tree on Earth" by Low Chee Peng, and across the street from the highly acclaimed "Little Children on a Bicycle" by Ernest Zacharevic.

Getting there

From the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal, walk along Weld Quay heading south until you reach the junction with Armenian Street Ghaut. Go along Armenian Street Ghaut until you arrive at the intersection with Victoria Street, and you will see Guan Seang Trading Cafe on your left.

View Guan Seang Trading Cafe in a larger map

List of Restaurants in Penang and Restaurants in Malaysia