Known in Malay as Persiaran Gurney, Gurney Drive is one of the most popular night spots in Penang. It is also often referred to as “The New Esplanade” as the original Esplanade is located in Georgetown. Gurney Drive was named after Sir Henry Gurney who was the Malayan High Commissioner. He was killed by the guerrillas of the Malayan Communist Party in the early 1950s.

At night, Gurney Drive becomes alive with exciting restaurants and food stalls everywhere. Gurney Drive is a beautiful mix of the modern and traditional aesthetics. Not only it is a paradise that hosts many scrumptious local foods like Rojak Buah, Char Kuey Teow and Asam Laksa, it also houses many historical architecture and relics dating back to the 1800s. For shopaholics, fret not, there are also modern malls built especially to cater to the wants and needs of shoppers.

Once a sandy beach, Gurney Drive is now home to many prominent colonial bungalows, pre-war buildings and houses, as well as the College General Complex. The Complex was once used to train Catholic priests in India, China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Japan.