Penang's Hidden Bars: A Night at Magazine 63, a Chinese Bar Tucked Off the Street

There is more to a Penang night than sea breeze and night markets. That evening we walked into a Chinese-style bar with a real swagger to it: Magazine 63. Neon light washes over what looks like an old roadside inn, and the glasses are filled with cocktails that come with a story.

In this post we take you inside this bar hidden away off the street, walk you through the atmosphere, and point you at the signature drinks worth ordering.

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▎ The space: an old inn, red neon, and a bit of swagger

My first impression of Magazine 63 was that I had wandered onto the set of a martial arts film.

➜ The entrance: a roadside inn with no signboard

From the outside there is barely any signage. If you have not looked up the location beforehand you will walk straight past it. Push the door open and you get that small jolt of "oh, so this is it".

➜ Ground floor: Chinese decor and red neon

The open seating area starts right at the door. The whole fit-out is Chinese in style and calls to mind an old wayside inn. The lighting is mostly red-leaning neon, which drops a warm red filter over the room. It is a little theatrical, and it gives the bar that outlaw-tavern feel.

➜ Live music and atmosphere

The resident singer performs on the second floor. There is no seating up there, but the music gives the room depth. The mood is slow and relaxed overall, which suits two people having a quiet drink and a chat.

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▎ Tasting notes: the signature Nu Er Hong

Every hidden bar has the one drink you start with. At Magazine 63, our vote goes to the Nu Er Hong.

➜ 🍷 Nu Er Hong (Chinese rice wine) — the signature cocktail

• Price: RM98

• Our take: the Nu Er Hong is the bar's calling card. There is a light sweetness to it, it goes down smoothly, and it does not burn the throat. You can taste the alcohol, but it never overpowers the flavour, which makes it a good pick if you want a mild buzz rather than to be knocked flat. The colour is a warm red and it photographs beautifully — set it against the Chinese decor and the red neon and the shot does the rest.

➜ Who is it for?

If you do not usually drink much, or you only want a mild buzz, the Nu Er Hong is a friendly choice.

It strikes a good balance between sweetness and alcohol, so it never feels cloying or too sharp.

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▎ Final thoughts

For us, Magazine 63 is more than another tick on the hidden-bar checklist. It is a room where you can step out of Penang's everyday rhythm for a while, a small bar that blends Chinese aesthetics with speakeasy atmosphere without any of it feeling forced. To sum it up in a few lines:

Here for the photos? Red neon plus Chinese decor makes for very good mood shots. Here to talk? The music sits at a sensible volume, fine for two people or a small group. Here for the drinks? Nothing on the list is difficult or obscure — this is the kind of bar that is easy to drink at, easy to photograph and easy to talk in.

#"The comments above reflect our own taste rather than any universal standard. Go and try it yourself — the experience is yours to make."

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▎ Visiting guide

Venue name (Location Name): 天下第一客棧 Magazine 63

Address (Location): 63, Jalan Magazine, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Tip: street parking is difficult here. There is an open-air car park just ahead, or it is easier to take a Grab.

Opening Hours:

8:00 PM – 2:00 AM (Google Map)

The bar's location and nearby parking

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