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Macalister Road (Jalan Macalister), George Town

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Timothy Tye Macalister Road, George Town, Penang (7 December 2009)


Macalister Road, or Jalan Macalister (Traditional/Simplified Chinese: 中路, Penang Hokkien: Teong3 Lor33), is one of the main thoroughfares radiating out of George Town, Penang. It was named after Colonel Norman Macalister. A confidante to Captain Francis Light, Colonel Macalister served as Governor of Penang from 1807 to 1811.

Macalister Road was built in stages to eventually achieve its present length. For much of the first hundred years of its existence, it was a dirt track out of George Town. It starts at Magazine Circus, the six-point junction (with Gladstone Road removed, now there's only five points to the junction) in front of present-day Komtar, and ends at Jalan Utama.

As with all main roads in Penang, Macalister Road follows a complicated traffic flow. From Komtar to Anson Road, traffic flows both ways. From Anson Road to Perak Road, it flows eastward. From Perak Road to Residency Road, it flows westward while from Residency Road to Western Road, it again flows eastward.

The character of Macalister Road is as diverse as its traffic flow. From Komtar to Anson Road, it is a concrete jungle with trees and built-up area close to the road. Within this section is the former King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the Menara JKP and the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. Roads branching out on both sides on the stretch are Macalister Lane, New Lane, Kinta Lane, Madras Lane, Kek Chuan Road, Jalan Zainul Abidin, Lorong Susu, Lorong Selamat, Rangoon Road, Naning Street, Aboo Sittee Lane and Krian Road.

Macalister Road becomes increasingly leafy beyond the Anson Road junction. Tall Angsana trees (Pterocarpus indicus), a Penang living heritage, were planted along Macalister Road by Charles Curtis, curator of the Penang Botanic Gardens in the late 19th century. The famous Sisters Char Koay Teow is located near the junction with Perak Road.

Macalister Road is a thoroughfare between Perak Road and Residency Road. YMCA and Island Hospital are located on this stretch. Roads branching from Macalister Road on this stretch include Halaman Macalister, Jalan Barnett and Jalan Adams. The famous Baobab Tree tree planted by Captain Speedy is at the junction of Residency Road.

The final stretch of Macalister Road is also a fast-speed thoroughfare, but runs in oppose direction from the earlier stretch. The official residence of the Penang Chief Minister, Sri Teratai, is located here, as is the St George's Girls School. Two Buddhist welfare associations, Tzu Chi and Che Hoon Khor, are also found along this stretch.

Map of Jalan Macalister

Condominiums along Macalister Road

  1. 22 Macalisterz (GPS: 5.41732, 100.32136)
  2. Greencity Residence (GPS: 5.41833, 100.31874)
  3. Scott Residences (GPS: 5.419, 100.31923)
  4. Residences 21 (GPS: 5.41794, 100.31973)
  5. Tropicana 218 Macalister (GPS: 5.41806, 100.32102)

Petrol stations along Macalister Road

  1. Petron Jalan Macalister (5.41616, 100.32357)

Hotels along Macalister Road

  1. 118 Hotel Macalister (GPS: 5.41811, 100.31938)
  2. Courtyard by Marriott (GPS: 5.41806, 100.32102)
  3. G-Inn (GPS: 5.41811, 100.31938)
  4. Travelodge Georgetown (GPS: 5.41663, 100.32295)
  5. Grand Inn (GPS: 5.41875, 100.31825)
  6. Macalister Mansion (GPS: 5.41917, 100.31872)
  7. Old Budget Hotel (GPS: 5.41472, 100.32772)
  8. Red Rock Hotel (GPS: 5.41695, 100.32326)

Sights along Macalister Road

Between Komtar and Anson Road

  1. Kek Lok Hiang Temple (Da Yuen Fo Tang) (GPS: 5.41734, 100.32229)
  2. Menara UMNO (GPS: 5.41606, 100.32517)
  3. Penang Hokkien Association (GPS: 5.41592, 100.32396)
  4. Penang Museum at Macalister originally the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (GPS: 5.41514, 100.32553)
  5. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Centre (Penang Philomatic Union) (GPS: 5.41563, 100.32424)
Between Anson Road and Residency Road

  1. 22 Macalisterz(GPS: 5.41732, 100.32136)
  2. Baobab Tree(GPS: 5.42205, 100.31236)
  3. Little Heritage House(GPS: 5.41857, 100.31872)
  4. Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre(GPS: 5.41971, 100.31811)
  5. YMCA Penang (GPS: 5.421, 100.31435)
Between Residency Road and Western Road

  1. Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society(GPS: 5.42289, 100.31147)
  2. Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society (GPS: 5.42328, 100.30471)
  3. DISTED College(GPS: 5.4236, 100.30763)
  4. Indian Heritage Museum / Penang Hindu Endowments Board (GPS: 5.4213, 100.30417)
  5. Sri Teratai(GPS: 5.42332, 100.30936)

Eateries along Macalister Road

  1. Craven Cafe (GPS: 5.41414, 100.32838)
  2. De Wok & Pan Cafe (GPS: 5.41908, 100.31768)
  3. DeHappy Seafood Restaurant (GPS: 5.415, 100.32719)
  4. Hin Leong Coffee Shop
  5. Hong Kong Tea Garden (GPS: 5.41644, 100.32391)
  6. Hwa Wei Cafe (GPS: 5.41685, 100.32245)
  7. Kafe Dalong (GPS: 5.41498, 100.32629)
  8. Kedai Kopi Tien Lai (GPS: 5.41649, 100.32383)
  9. Kedai Makanan Sin Nam Huat (GPS: 5.41906, 100.31795)
  10. Kiah Hong Coffee Garden
  11. Lam Heng Cafe (Sisters Char Koay Teow)
  12. LK Western & Fruit Tea Cafe (GPS: 5.41625, 100.32433)
  13. Luk Yea Yan Vegetarian Restaurant
  14. Mahkota Padang (Yang Sheng Cafe)
  15. New Lane Hawker Centre (GPS: 5.41488, 100.32662)
  16. Pelita Nasi Kandar, Macalister Branch (GPS: 5.41618, 100.32452)
  17. Pinang Delicious Food Court (GPS: 5.4168, 100.32265)
  18. Restoran Sup Hameed (GPS: 5.41428, 100.32802)
  19. Restoran Xiang Peng Peng (GPS: 5.417, 100.32273)
  20. Restoran Zim Sum (GPS: 5.41508, 100.32707)
  21. Seahorse Cafeteria (GPS: 5.41662, 100.32359)
  22. Sin Kim Sun Coffee Centre (GPS: 5.41656, 100.3238)
  23. Sin Yin Nam Cafe (GPS: 5.41492, 100.32638)
  24. Sri Ananda Bahwan (GPS: 5.41492, 100.32638)
  25. Sri Moorthy Restaurant (nasi kandar)
  26. Town Steamboat Restaurant (GPS: 5.41577, 100.32483)
  27. Yi Garden Cafe (GPS: 5.41632, 100.32416)
  28. Yi Xiang Bak Kut Teh (GPS: 5.41517, 100.32674)
  29. Yummy Cottage (GPS: 5.41659, 100.32307)
  30. ZEST Bar Cafe

Banks along Macalister Road

  1. Bank Simpanan Nasional (GPS: 5.4144, 100.32774)
  2. Public Bank (GPS: 5.41553, 100.32611)

Hospitals along Macalister Road

  1. Island Hospital (GPS: 5.42175, 100.31393)

Schools along Macalister Road

  1. Odyssey Macalister (GPS: 5.42378, 100.30547)
  2. St Christopher's International School (GPS: 5.42398, 100.30614)
  3. St George's Girls' School (GPS: 5.42273, 100.30811)

Mosques along Macalister Road

  1. Masjid Jamek Simpang Enam (GPS: 5.41454, 100.32811 )
  2. Masjid Pakistan (GPS: 5.41559, 100.32512)

Churches along Macalister Road

  1. Cantonese Methodist Church (GPS: 5.42084, 100.31466)
  2. Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (GPS: 5.41423, 100.32679)
  3. Penang Baptist Church (GPS: 5.41879, 100.31946)
  4. Penang First Assembly of God (GPS: 5.42047, 100.31649)
  5. St Paul's Church (GPS: 5.41492, 100.3274)

Clinics on Macalister Road

  1. Klinik Seow
  2. Klinik Kesihatan Jalan Macalister (GPS: 5.41423, 100.32679)

Organisations on Macalister Road

  1. Catholic Diocesan Centre (GPS: 5.42105, 100.31563)
  2. Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Office (GPS: 5.41864, 100.31853)

Commercial Properties along Macalister Road

  1. Bangunan Persatuan Melayu Pulau Pinang (GPS: 5.41713, 100.32172)
  2. EcoWorld Gallery @ Macalister (GPS: 5.41732, 100.32136)
  3. Persatuan Un Khuay Building (GPS: 5.42041, 100.31544)
  4. Wisma Central (GPS: 5.41466, 100.32678)
  5. Wisma Lister Garden (GPS: 5.4175, 100.32063)

Government Properties along Macalister Road

  1. Pusat Kegiatan Guru Kelawai (GPS: 5.41604, 100.32377)

Schools along Macalister Road

  1. Heng Ee Primary School (GPS: 5.41436, 100.3272)

Apartments along Macalister Road

  1. Noble Villa (GPS: 5.41858, 100.32007)

Businesses along Macalister Road

  1. 7 Eleven Macalister Road (GPS: 5.41612, 100.32462)
  2. Aegean Flowers & Gifts
  3. Affin Bank
  4. Aspial Wedding
  5. Avion Holidays (travel agency)
  6. Ban Heang Biscuit Shop (GPS: 5.4167, 100.32342)
  7. Bank Simpanan Nasional
  8. Choo Dental Surgery
  9. Crystal Brides
  10. Filtered Water Car Wash
  11. Ghee Hiang (local pastries) (GPS: 5.41784, 100.32164)
  12. Guang Ming Daily (GPS: 5.41581, 100.32408)
  13. Happy Mart
  14. Jigsaw Hair Salon
  15. K-9 Pets (GPS: 5.41968, 100.3176)
  16. La Berry Wedding & Decoration (GPS: 5.41715, 100.32187)
  17. Lite-Glow (lighting store)
  18. Men's Tailor
  19. Neighbourhood Pharmacy (GPS: 5.41648, 100.32333)
  20. Nutrimed Pharmacy
  21. Passion School of Hair Design
  22. Pusat Cuci Kereta Automatik (GPS: 5.41594, 100.32534)
  23. Red Knot Wedding (bridal house)
  24. Sam Ah Chow & Co.
  25. Sin Chew Daily (GPS: 5.41592, 100.32396)
  26. Sin-Pen Travel (GPS: 5.4171, 100.32192)
  27. Techcom Solutions

Macalister Road, PenangMacalister Road, Penang (23 January 2019)


Macalister Road, George TownMacalister Road, George Town (30 June 2018)

Updates on Macalister Road

13 June, 2013: A severe thunderstorm caused the spire (lightning arrestor) of Menara UMNO to fall off and crash onto Macalister Road. It killed a lorry attendant Jahir Hussain Sulaiman, 46, and a hawker, Lim Chin Aik, 44, whose car was forced six meters into the ground.

Getting there

Due to its length, several buses pass through Macalister Road. Check the Rapid Penang Bus Routes to determine the right bus to go to specific stretch of the road. Buses 10, 101, 104 and 304 pass through Macalister Road.

Coffee shop along Macalister Road, at the junction with Jalan Zainul Abidin (25 November 2012)


Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre (8 December 2009)


King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Building on Macalister Road, today part of the Penang State Museum (3 August 2008)

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About this website



Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

While I try my best to provide you information as accurate as I can get it to be, I do apologize for any errors and for outdated information which I am unaware. Nevertheless, I hope that what I have described here will be useful to you.

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