Tropicana 218 Macalister, Georgetown

Location of Tropicana 218 Macalister in relation to various places of interest.

Macalister Road is one of George Town’s main and longest thoroughfares, starting from Jalan Utama (Western Road) and ending just in front of the Komtar complex. It is named after Colonel Norman Macalister, a Scot who served as Lieutenant-Governor of then Prince of Wales Island from 1808 to 1810.

Among locals of a certain age, it is more popularly known as ‘Teong Lor’ in Hokkien, which simply translates to ‘middle road’ in reference to its central and strategic location. Most of it is still rather leafy today, lined by tall Angsana trees planted by Charles Curtis, a Penang Botanic Gardens curator in the late 19^th century.

But its most notable arboreal sentinel is the famous ‘reclining’ Baobab tree at the junction with Residency Road, believed to be the oldest planted tree in Malaysia having been sown in 1871 by a English explorer and adventurer, Captain Tristram Speedy.

While not as illustrious as Northam Road (also known as Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah) and its Millionaires’ Row, parts of Macalister Road is prestigious in its own right with numerous large mansions along it – the most notable being the official residence of the Penang Chief Minister, named Sri Teratai.

Traffic direction varies throughout the road, though for the stretch directly in front of the development – nestled between the junctions with Perak Road and Anson Road – it is fast-paced with four lanes heading one-way, eastward.

The shady stretch of Macalister Road where Tropicana 218 Macalister is located. Note the bus stop just in front of the project seen in the first photo.

Thus it is worth bearing in mind that some degree of traffic jams do occur during peak hours and holidays. Noise pollution could also be an issue, especially if you are living in the lower floors of the blocks.

  The development is just a few feet away from Macalister Road’s junction with Anson Road. The one way road heads eastward, and ends at Komtar (the tallest building in the background), just over a kilometer away.

Still, it is a desirable address, and several luxury high-rises like the Scott Residenes and 21 Residences have sprouted up along this stretch during recent years. Tropicana 218 Macalister is the latest, being just a few feet away from the Anson Road intersection, which is nearer the Komtar end. This is often considered the outer fringes of city’s core area.

As such, one is in close proximity to various amenities and places of interest. Head east past the junction, and the leafy surroundings give way to a more urban landscape with rows of pre-war shophouses and traditional coffee shops juxtaposed against modern hotels and buildings.

Here, one will find the ample hawker food options that have made Penand world-famous. There are several coffee shops or food courts around the Rangoon Road junction about a city block away, and also a bit further on at the popular New Lane – an open air hawker centre of sorts that pops up each night along the pavement and is jam packed with customers.

From Char Koay Teow to Laksa, Hokkien Mee, Chicken Rice or Ais Kacang, one can find almost every street delicacy imaginable, in these areas. Those after something more refined, are catered to with numerous cosy cafes and quaint restaurants on intersecting streets.

Google Earth view of Tropicana 218 Macalister’s central location, as well as various prominent locations in Penang. The whole of Macalister Road is marked in yellow.

At the eastern end of Macalister Road, just over 1km away from Tropicana 218 Macalister, is the aforementioned Komtar complex and its iconic tower, still the tallest building in Penang. The shopping complex housed within its podium, which thrived in the 1980s and 90s, is now mostly empty and decrepit, though there are plans afoot to revitalise it.

Today, all the shopping happens at the neighbouring 1^st Avenue Mall and Prangin Mall, the former catering to the middle to upper income markets, with the latter being more a venue for bargains, cheap goods and food. These attract much foot traffic, due to the central bus terminal being in Komtar.

A new arts and culture lifestyle mall, called M Mall, is slated to open in Penang Times Square at nearby Datuk Keramat, around Christmas. It will be distinct for having giant murals all over its walls, pillars and ceilings, alongside thematic areas that highlight architecture and elements of various cultures.

More shopping and F&B options are available at nearby Gurney Drive, approximately 10 minutes away – with Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon Mall still among the state’s most prominent malls, offering a myriad of lifestyle indulgences.

Pulau Tikus – located near the Western Road end of Macalister Road – is another mature neighbourhood with numerous establishments found at its many shophouses and commercial complexes. These range from F&B to banking, health and wellness, boutiques, hardware shops and more. On an average day, this area should be within 15 minutes’ drive away.

Closer to home, there is the famous Sisters’ Char Koay Teow stall within walking distance, while a Ghee Hiang outlet is right next door. Known for its Chinese pastries and sesame oil, it is highly convenient if you have relatives visiting from other states, as takeaways of these are almost a prerequisite when visiting the Pearl of the Orient.

If you have children, the education institutions in the vicinity is a boon. Behind the development, along Anson Road, are the Methodist Girls’ School and KDU College Penang. DISTED College, SMK Convent Datuk Keramat, St. George’s Girl School and the Methodist Boys’ School are a little further off, but still not too far.

 The Ghee Hiang outlet that is just next to the development

The Methodist Girls’ School, KDU College and TNB head office all located along the intersecting Anson Road.

Other notable amenities are the Loh Guan Lye Specialists’ Centre new block along the same stretch of Macalister Road, and its old wing on Logan Road that runs parallel to it. Spread out along Anson Road, all within 10 minutes’ walk away – are a wet market which can be your source of fresh produce daily, as well as the Tenaga Nasional Bhd head office and National Registration Department’s Penang office should you need to settle official matters.

Those who prefer public transport would be pleased to know there is a bus-stop right in front of the project. This is served by RapidPenang buses No. 101, 104 and 304, all Komtar-bound. From there, one can switch buses to connect to other destinations.

Though the location affords one easy accessibility to most places of interest in northeastern Penang, the flipside is that it is quite a distance away from the island’s southern corridor, something you might want to consider if you need to frequent those areas. The Penang Bridge or Penang International Airport are around 20 to 45 minutes away, depending on traffic conditions.