Golden Hill Night Market: A Foodie’s Guide
Golden Hill Night Market is the ultimate foodie’s paradise. It’s impossible to visit it without getting tempted to taste one of its delicious offerings and purchase its interesting products.
Why do we say this? Well, it’s because it’s lined with countless hawker stalls that serve some of Malaysia’s best street foods and it would be a shame to visit it without trying them out for yourself.
If you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered! We’ve created the ultimate traveller’s guide below, which consists of tips as well as the best places to stay, eat and shop.
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit Golden Hill Night Market is in the evening every Friday and Saturday, as more stalls will be open, giving you more variety. Plus, the atmosphere will be much livelier, which makes for a more memorable experience.
However, keep in mind that more people will visit the market at this specific timeframe as well, making it a bit more crowded. If you want, you can avoid the crowds by visiting at around 6:00 PM to experience a lively atmosphere and less overwhelming crowds.
Meanwhile, if you really want to avoid crowds, you can either visit at around 5:00 PM or 8:30 PM, which are before and after the rush hours, respectively. Visiting earlier than others will also give you the benefit of a wider selection, as the shelves of the stalls will be freshly stocked.
On the other hand, visiting late at night is that some vendors tend to offer their food and products at great discounts to get rid of them. So if you’re feeling frugal, do keep this tip in mind.
Things to Know
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
(Check the current exchange rate)
Language: Malay, English
Calling Code: +60
Website: https://www.cameronhighland.net/night-market.htm
Address: Jalan Sungai Ruil, Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang, Cameron Highlands
Opening hours: Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Do’s and Don’ts When Visiting Golden Hill Night Market
Do:
- Wear layers, as it can get cold, especially come nightfall.
- Bring enough cash to go shopping and buy street food, as not all stalls accept cards.
- Dress comfortably to avoid feeling fatigued after walking for several hours.
- Bring an umbrella, as rainfall can occur at any moment while you’re shopping.
Don’t:
- Settle for the first price offered by the merchants. As much as possible, try haggling for lower prices.
- Visit during the rush hours (6:30 to 8:00 PM) to avoid super dense crowds.
- Drive here, as parking can be limited. Instead, you can leave your rental car at your hotel’s parking lot.
How to Get There
Buses: Riding the bus is the best way to go if your number one priority is saving money. If you’re coming from Kuala Lumpur, the ride will take around 3 to 4 hours but you will be spending a lot less money (RM35 to 40) as opposed to let’s say renting a car or riding a taxi.
Some terminals in Kuala Lumpur that offer rides directly to Cameron Highlands include Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) and Puduraya Bus Terminal. Furthermore, some rides will have a direct route to the highlands while others will stop at different towns.
Trains: If you want a faster way of getting to Golden Hill Night Market, we recommend taking the train.
More specifically, we’re talking about the KTM ETS train from KL Sentral, which will take you to Tapah Road station. From there, all you have to do is hail a taxi to go to Golden Hill Night Market.
Taxis: Meanwhile, if you want the fastest mode of transportation, we recommend taking a private taxi. Convenience will be on your side for this one, as you won’t have to worry about switching to another mode of transportation and you’ll get to enjoy more space for yourself.
However, keep in mind that this option will also be the most expensive mode of public transportation. Arranging a private taxi ride from KL to Cameron Highlands can easily cost up to RM400.
Car rental: If you prefer to be in charge of the trip, then renting a car will be one of the best decisions you can make. With this, you’ll have the convenience, privacy and comfortability of the entire cabin—perfect if you’re travelling in groups or with your family.
Where to Stay
Cameron Highlands Resort
Address: By The Golf Course, Cameron Highlands Golf Course, Brinchang, 39000 Tanah Rata, Pahang, Malaysia
Phone: +60 5-491 1100
Pricing: $$$
Cameron Highlands Resort is a 5-star hotel that’s arguably the best place to stay in the highlands because of its lavish rooms and premium amenities. Staying here during your visit to the Golden Hill Night Market will feel like a vacation, as you’ll get to enjoy amazing facilities.
Among these facilities, our favourite one is the spa village where you can kiss all your stress goodbye through a series of massages and treatments. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to wind down, we recommend checking out the tea room where you can admire stunning views.
Strawberry Park Resort
Address: Lot 195 & 196, Jalan Strawberry Park, Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang, Malaysia
Phone: +60 5-491 1166
Pricing: $$
If you want to be treated to majestic views, world-class rooms and outstanding facilities, look no further than Strawberry Park Resort. The rooms here are extra luxurious, as they’re designed elegantly and don’t fall short on amenities like bathtubs, hot water, huge TVs and more.
As for its facilities, we love the Wild Orchidaceae Spa, as it offers Balinese-style massages, which are sure to remove the built-up stress in your body. Aside from that, they also have an indoor swimming pool that features room-temperature waters—perfect for the cold weather!
Kea Garden Rest House
Address: Kea Garden, 39000 Brinchang, Pahang, Malaysia
Phone: +605-496 1472
Pricing: $
Meanwhile, you can stay at Kea Garden Rest House if you’re travelling on a budget. Here, you’ll get to stay in one of their chalets that feature impressive amenities, providing you and your loved ones with a cosy homestay—now that’s a steal!
The biggest highlight of staying here, however, is the location. This is because it’s near other attractions in the highlands like the Cameron Flora Park, Sheep Sanctuary, Time Tunnel Museum and more.
Notable Dishes to Try
Satay
— From: njajan.tulungagung
Skewered and succulent meat grilled to perfection—this pretty much sums up what you’ll be getting when you order satay. The meat featured in this dish can either be chicken, beef or mutton but regardless of which you choose, your tastebuds will be blown away!
Plus, what makes this dish extra special is the secret peanut sauce that this street food is always drenched in. This peanut taste paired with the smokiness from the charcoal, makes satay even more delightful.
Ice Cendol
— From: daleroxxu
If you’re looking for something sweeter, we recommend trying out a nice cup of ice cendol during your visit to this night market. Tons of stalls serve them and we’re not surprised as it’s one of Malaysia’s best sweets!
A lot is going on with this classic dessert, as it’s made up of different ingredients like green rice flour jelly, palm sugar, coconut milk and more. All these sweet and colourful ingredients are mixed with shaved ice, creating a perfect dessert that will cool you down while shopping.
Lok-lok
— From juslovelicious
Lok-lok is the perfect street food to try if you prefer a more personalised dining experience. Here, you’ll get to choose from a wide variety of meat, seafood and vegetables that you can skewer and dip in your sauce of choice.
If you’ve ever tried eating at a steamboat restaurant, this is sort of like that but in mobile form, which is why you’ll find these in various night markets.
Steamed Sweet Potatoes
— From: foodpsabah
Steamed sweet potatoes are perfect for snacking while browsing the shelves of different stores at the night market. These delicious treats are served in a plastic bag and you’re given a stick so you can easily skewer them.
Apps to Download for a Trip to Golden Hill Night Market
Travel Malaysia: A pocket travel guide to Malaysia
Maps.me: Offline map of the world
XE Currency App: Real-time currency exchange rate app
Grab: Ride-hailing app of Southeast Asia
Google Translate: word translation with offline capabilities
CatchThatBus: Bus ticket booking app