Leith Street, George Town, PenangLeith Street, George Town, Penang (15 December 2012)


Leith Street (Malay: Lebuh Leith; Penang Hokkien: Lien3 Hua3 Ho2 ), or Lebuh Leith in Malay, is a minor street in George Town, Penang. It is one of the early streets of the city. Named after George Leith, the Lieutenant Governor of Penang from 1800-1803, Leith Street was created at the turn of the 19th century. At that time, Penang Road includes the whole stretch of what is known today at Northam Road.

In its earliest incarnation, Leith Street was lined with coconut trees - there must have been a fork coconut tree there which gave the road its Malay nickname of Nyior Cabang. The street was inhabited by the peoples of the Indian subcontinent - the Benggalis, the Biharis, and so on, spilling over from neighbouring Chulia Street and Penang Road. Many of the Indian Muslims left their mark in this area, such as the Benggali Mosque here.

In late 2018, a road was created tracing the route of the former Martina's Lane, between Farquhar Street and North Beach. It was named Gat Lebuh Leith even though it does not meet Leith Street at an intersection.

Map of Lebuh Leith, Penang

Hotels on Leith Street

  1. Modern Hotel (GPS: 5.42069, 100.33365)
  2. Oriental Hotel (GPS: 5.42026, 100.33286)
  3. Red Inn Cabana
  4. The Blue Mansion by Samadhi
  5. The Edison George Town (GPS: 5.4207, 100.33491)
  6. Wil House
  7. Waldorf Hotel (GPS: 5.4209, 100.33511)

Sights along Leith Street

  1. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (GPS: 5.42153, 100.33478)
  2. Benggali Mosque (GPS: 5.42021, 100.33356)
  3. Leong Fee Mansion(Equator Academy of Art, Leith Street Campus) (GPS: 5.42108, 100.33561)

Street Art on Leith Street

  1. "Jimmy Choo" Steel-rod Sculpture (GPS: 5.42065, 100.33416)
  2. "Pau Seller" mural (GPS: 5.42032, 10.33312)

Eateries on Leith Street

  1. Lum Fong Cafe
  2. Red Garden Food Paradise (GPS: 5.42113, 100.33437)

Businesses along Leith Street


Leith Street became gentrified towards the end of the 19th century, and by the turn of the 20th century, it has become an affluent enclave of rich Hakkas. Among the Hakkas who made their home at Leith Street included Leong Fee (the father of Leong Yin Kean), Tye Kee Yoon, and most famous of them all, Cheong Fatt Tze. Outside Cheng Fatt Tze's fabulous mansion was a lotus pond from which was derived the Hokkien name for Leith Street, Lian3 Hua3 Ho2 (Lotus Pond).

By the mid 20th century, Leith Street had lost its lustre. All the early century millionaires have passed on, and their mansions have fallen into disrepair. Eventually each was given a new lease of life, as hotels and hawker centres. Leong Fee's mansion became a learning institution, the Akademi Seni Equator. Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion was restored in a project that won a prestigious Unesco award, and today serves as a boutique hotel.

Leith Street, George Town, PenangPre-war shophouses along Leith Street. (15 December 2012)


Leith Street, George Town, PenangPre-war shophouses along Leith Street. (15 December 2012)


Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on Leith StreetCheong Fatt Tze Mansion on Leith Street (11 February 2013)


Leith Street, George Town, PenangOriental Hotel building, at the junction of Penang Road with Leith Street. (15 December 2012)


Leith Street history plaqueLeith Street history plaque (24 November 2008)

Leith Street on Google Maps Street View

Getting to Leith Street

Take the Free Rapid Penang Shuttle Bus to Station No. 17 (Lebuh Muntri). Walk from Penang Road through Muntri Street to reach Leith Street.

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

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 New Properties in Penang

Looking to buy property in Penang? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

  1. Anggun Residences E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  2. Aston Acacia E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  3. Beacon Executive Suites E-Brochure, George Town
  4. Beverly Heights @ Bukit Gambir E-Brochure, Gelugor
  5. BM Highland E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  6. Cypress Villa E-Brochure, Sungai Ara
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  9. Ferringhi Residence 2 E-Brochure, Batu Ferringhi
  10. GEM Residences E-Brochure, Prai
  11. Golden Triangle 2 E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  12. Grace Residence E-Brochure, Jelutong
  13. Granito @ Permai E-Brochure, Tanjong Bungah
  14. Green City Residence E-Brochure, Jelutong
  15. Havana Beach Residences E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  16. Imperial Residences E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  17. Imperial Grande E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  18. Lucerne Residence E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  19. Mezzo @ The Light City E-Brochure, Gelugor
  20. Middleton E-Brochure, Gelugor
  21. Orchard Villa 3 E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  22. Primero Heights E-Brochure, Permatang Pauh
  23. Queens Waterfront Q2 E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  24. Royale Heights @ Tambun Royale City E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  25. Royale Infinity @ Tambun Royale City E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  26. Rubica @ Harbour Place E-Brochure, Butterworth
  27. Sensasi Commercial Suites E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  28. Setia Sky Ville E-Brochure, Jelutong
  29. Setia Sky Vista E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  30. Setia V Residence E-Brochure, Gurney Drive
  31. Sinaran Residence E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  32. Sky @ TriPark E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  33. Skyridge Garden E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  34. Starhill Luxury Residences E-Brochure, Gelugor
  35. Straits Residences E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  36. Taman Nuri Emas E-Brochure, Nibong Tebal
  37. The Light Collection IV E-Brochure, Gelugor
  38. The Loft @ Southbay E-Brochure, Batu Maung
  39. The Terraces Condominium E-Brochure, Bukit Jambul
  40. Trehaus Condo Villas E-Brochure, Bukit Jambul
  41. Triuni Residences E-Brochure, Batu Uban
  42. Urban Suites E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  43. Valencia Residence E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  44. Vertu Resort E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  45. Vivo Executive Apartment E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  46. Viluxe E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  47. Waterside Residence E-Brochure, Gelugor

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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