Kuah was formerly the main village in Langkawi. Over the years it gradually grew into the bustling town that it is today. The town flourished as it is the main gateway by sea from the mainland and elsewhere.

Kuah is the Malay word for gravy.Going by the colourful legend that depicted the battle of the titans Mat Chincang and Mat Raya following a misunderstanding at their children's wedding, pots and pans were smashed and flung all over the islands. A pot of gravy was spilled and the spot where this happened was named Kuah - a name that holds to this day.

This once rustic and sleepy settlement is now a thriving town with a population of around 12,000 people. Spared the overcrowding of larger cities, it still boasts many attractions and facilities, including duty-free shops, handicraft centres, restaurants and fast food outlets.

Being close to the ferry jetty, accommodation in Kuah is more of  'hotels' than 'resorts'. Still, the town has quite a selection that ranges from basic chalet style accomodation to luxurious hotels. Rates are competitive as most tourists would rather station themselves at the bustling beach areas of Pantai Chenang and Pantai Tengah. However, during peak seasons and public holidays expect even the humblest of accomodation in Kuah to be taken up. Never, ever come to the island without making advanced booking for accomodation during these times.

To most visitors Kuah town does not offer much in the way of excitement. However, if you care to just allow yourself some time to take in this rather quaint mini 'metropolis' (according to Langkawi standards), you will discover a spectrum of amazing colours reflected from the island-paced lifestyle. Just take a leisurely walk from the beachfront through the town centre. Stop at a 'warung' for a glass of local coffee, teh tarik or something to cool you down after being baked by the sometimes fiery Langkawi sun. Observe the town going through its paces; check out the shops for good bargains on duty-free items, especially at shops along Jalan Pandak Mayah.

If you crave for some continental cuisine (German, perhaps) but not willing to head for the high-end fusion restaurant at Langkawi Fair or the hotels, then just pop in to the comfortable ambiance of Domino, located on Jalan Pandak Mayah. This place has been around for quite some time.

The tallest building in Kuah, the City Bayview Hotel, overlooks the wide expanse of the harbour and Bass Straits. At street level, dawrfed by this high-rise edifice is a small cluster of the former Kuah bazaar, where you can browse for cheap garments, medicinal oils, fragrances and other oddities. The bazaar is next to a row of Malay food stalls (warungs) that face Jalan Pandak Mayah. The quiet Plaza Langkawi stands next to the City Bayview. The plaza houses several small shops ranging from tailors, photo service outlets, Internet centre and others.

In the evenings, especially during weekends (which, incidentally is Thursday and Friday in Langkawi), you will find that the town comes to life with several eating spots offering great local foods. If you prefer to go local, there are so many to chose from, but suffice for us to recommend the likes of Kak Yah Kondo opposite the Kondo Istana, which serves Roti Arab, the usual versions of roti canai, mixed rice and a variety of fast-fried Malay foods.

Just next to the bridge in the middle of the town is another place where hawkers would set up food stalls that do business till late night. These hawkers used to station themselves next to the Kuah taxi terminal by the beach. For a more bustling alfresco dining ambiance (Malay style) head for the food centre just before the Jetty Point Mall car park. They say at least two outlets there offer great tasting laksa kedah,  which is rice noodles in fish gravy.

'Boroi', located on Jalan Penarak serves mean curries and nasi kandar. For what many islanders claim is the best Malay-style chicken rice, head for Pak Ya Nasi Ayam, which is across the road from OIB (Ong Ikan Bilis) across the small tidal lagoon from Bella Vista Hotel.

Rest assured it is not all just Malay food in Kuah. There are many Chinese restaurants serving seafood as well. You just cant miss any of them while exploring the nooks and crannies of this town.

Langkawi is a duty-free shopping haven offering an attractive range of local and imported goods.
Most of the island's shopping establishments can be found in and around Kuah. A good place to start is the Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall, consisting of 100 retail lots housed in a 2-storey building. Its anchor tenant, the Billion Supermarket and Department Store, stocks a wide selection of items such as perfumes and fragrances, cosmetics, leather wear, sports gear, ladies' accessories, confectionery, liquor and cigarettes.

The are so many stores selling duty-free items. You can come across one on almost every corner of the town. Items on sale range from clothes, electronic products, fragrances to luggage, confectionery and other goods. Although duty-free, do shop around for bargains as competition is rather stiff and some outlets may give good discounts.  The Teow Soon Huat Langkawi Parade Mall in Pokok Assam is at the edge of town. Should you forget to get that something special for loved ones after leaving the town centre, just drop by at this place. At the rear of the mall near the back entrance to the Teoh Soon Huat Supermarket is a branch outlet of the 'Bread Story' bakery chain. Good breads can be bought here.

Another popular shopping stop, especially for visitors departing Langkawi by ferry, is the Jetty Point Mall, a 5-minutes taxi ride from Kuah town. Here, There is also an attractive range of duty free items including ladies and men's apparel, cameras, chocolates and other stuff. There is a Watson's store that sells a range of off-the shelf medicines, fragrances and toileteries. A Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet is located at the entrance facing the Starbucks Cafe, which offers among the few free wi-fi access in Langkawi - of course, preferably after purchasing your favourite brew!

Next to the Jetty Point Mall is the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club where you can have a drink or two at Charlie's Place. The Taman Legenda (Legends Park) that gives a deep insight into the colourful legends of the islands is not far from the jetty.

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