You’ll find Batu Ferringhi is quite small, and walking from one end to the other is not difficult so nowhere is really very far from anywhere. Before the pandemic there were trishaws circling around so if you got tired you could always (for a price of course) hop in one.

Malaysia does not have a “bar” culture. For half the population alcohol is forbidden and for the rest it’s just very expensive. Alcohol is heavily taxed so you’ll find places that sell food will also serve alcohol so the British notion of going out to a bar and sitting there for hours just drinking doesn’t exist.

In Batu Ferringhi two popular places to go in the evenings for a meal, a drink, and to watch the sunset are either Bora Bora or Frandys Beach Bar. Frandys is right up past the Bayview Hotel on the way towards Teluk Bahang. You probably wouldn’t want to walk there from the Golden Sands which is at the other end of Batu Ferringhi but it is doable.

The Holiday Inn closed down quite some time ago but for hotels more central to Batu Ferringhi have a look at the Parkroyal Hotel. You may find that unless you are travelling with children the Golden Sands can be a bit noisy. Malaysian and Singapore schools have their long 6 week holidays over the Christmas period and Batu Ferringhi is a popular destination for families.

@PSS what a shame they closed down. We stayed at the new wing and had great views of the ocean. Did they close because of the pandemic? Has another chain taken over?

It closed in June 2020 without a proper explanation from its parent based Hong Kong owners. Was it the pandemic? Maybe but it was quite early on if it was. However with the Holiday Inn in need of a major refurbishment, and with two brand new hotels about to open in Teluk Bahang, the writing may have been on the wall for older hotels.

It is still sitting empty with the odd rumour circulating that it might have been bought but no further information available.

PSS, your comments about no bar culture are completely false, there are bars everywhere where the non-Muslim folk hang out and drink 🍻.

@ Ashy So please tell me where in Batu Ferringhi they are - as that is the question here. Yes, there are some down in George Town and lots in KL as that's where a lot of the expats are, but the OP is interested in Batu Ferringhi.

PSS I am replying to this statement, referring to the whole of Malaysia:

"Malaysia does not have a “bar” culture. For half the population alcohol is forbidden and for the rest it’s just very expensive. Alcohol is heavily taxed so you’ll find places that sell food will also serve alcohol so the British notion of going out to a bar and sitting there for hours just drinking doesn’t exist."

You are simply wrong, bars are everywhere, not just the Western style ones in the tourist/Expat areas. You think the Chinese don't drink? 🙂

I've spent many hours in bars where I'm probably the only non-Malaysian to walk through the doors. They are everywhere.

It's not worth arguing this one, but I'm referring to the" no food" type bars that are common in the UK but not here.

PSS so am I.

Sorry but they are everywhere. Just because you are unaware of them doesn't mean they don't exist.

Then, why not answer the question PSS made in post #6?