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Penang Cafes

Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang Jun 18, 2016

Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang

Location: Penang, Malaysia

Spanning a Broad Coffee Spectrum
Complementing Penang's compelling food scene is an emergent cafe culture characterized by chic European-styled cafes with art-deco themes fused into the mainstream, adding color, dimension and energy to Penang's already vibrant cityscape. This simply broadens the cafe spectrum ranging from the traditional and iconic street teh tarik (MYR 1.50) to the cosmopolitan latté topped with an illustrated la-artsy frothed cream (~MYR 12.00).

Cafes

Penang cafes
Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang
joining the lovely Fanny for a caffeine fix

Ending Thoughts
Penang's coffee scene reminds me of Vietnam's intense and pervasive cafe culture where cafes are lined up one after another in a never ending array of caffeine matrix. Penang isn't quite there yet but it's certainly on its way to making its mark as a serious destination for coffee lovers. Combined with its gastronomic offering, its street art and now its cafe culture, Penang is penciled-in as an essential travel stop.

--- TheLoneRider

some pictures lifted from the cafe's Facebook page
The Alley | 5 Stewart Lane, Georgetown, Penang Hammock Cafe | No. 86B & 86C, Lorong Macalister, George Town, Penang PLUZ CAFE | 34, Lorong Baru (Newlane), George Town Constant Gardener Coffee | 9 Lebuh Light, Chinese Chambers of Commerce Building, George Town
Budan's Brew Coffeebar | 2, Lorong Argus, Pinang George Town Pit Stop | 12, Lorong Chulia, Georgetown Penang best sourdough foccacia sandwich at Yin's Sourdough Pizza | Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, Gat Lebuh China, Pinang George Town evening tea with Diane at this cafe with four 41-foot long single wooden beams put together to be a table
Coffee Lane is perhaps the most hardcore cafe in town having its own roaster. Coffee Lane | No 5, Gat Lebuh China, 10300, Georgetown Penang Coffee Lane is equipped with just about every brewing device in its spacious cafe. Coffee Lane | No 5, Gat Lebuh China, 10300, Georgetown Penang high loft ceilings | Yin's Sourdough Pizza | Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, Gat Lebuh China, Pinang George Town Wheeler's Coffee | 67 Jalan Love Lane, Chinatown, Georgetown, Penang
newly opened L'amitie Cafe | No.65 Love Lane 10200, Georgetown, Penang The Daily Dose Cafe | 36, Lorong Stewart, George Town, Penang Monkeycup Cafe | 36C, Jalan Chow Thye, 10050 Georgetown, Penang Coffee Addict | 209, Hutton Lane, George Town, Penang
Macallum Connoisseurs | 1 Gat Lebuh Macallum, George Town, Penang DCOVA | Logan Heritage No. 4 Lebuh Bishop, George Town, Penang Brown Pocket | 163D-6-11 Gurney Paragon, Persiaran Gurney, Penang Kantan Kafe | 4 Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang
The Fat Duck Cafe | 9 & 9A, Kinta Lane, George Town, Penang Laviino Antique Cafe | 37, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, Penang Farm House Cafe' | 617F Jalan Balik Pulau 11500 Pinang, Ayer Itam Rainhill Cafe | 61, Lebuh Presgrave. Georgetown, Penang
Coffee on the Table | 164, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang The Big Beans | 52, Lorong Madras, George Town, Penang Tin83 Cafe | 39C-G Jalan Cantonment, Pulau Tikus, Penang Myarte Cafe | 75, Lebuh Bishop, George Town, Penang
CLASH on CAFE| No.9, Lorong Abu Siti, Georgetown, Penang Soul Cafe | 12, Jalan Kek Chuan, George Town, Penang    
Google Map

Google Map Penang, Malaysia



tourist attractions in Penang tourist attractions
  • Batu Ferringhi in Penang Batu Ferringhi - beach resort town 30 minutes from Georgetown
  • Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) in Penang Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) at the National Park (Taman Negara) - free admission, beach, camping, trekking and maybe you get to see a turtle lay eggs
  • Penang Hill in Penang Penang Hill - panoramic view of Penang from 830 meters above sea level
    Hours: 6:30am–10:30pm, Phone: +60 19-750 2139
  • Botanical Gardens Penang Botanical Gardens - developed in 1884, the garden is 29 hectares of prime evergreen tropical rain forests just on the outskirt of Georgetown
    10470 George Town, Penang | 5am–9pm | +60 4-227 0428
  • Botanical Gardens Penang Penang National Park - with 2,562 hectares, the park is home to 46 species of birds such as the stork-billed kingfishers, white-breasted waterhens and great egrets. The sandy beach of Pantai Kerachut is also a nesting place of Green turtles from April to August
  • 
Pinang Peranakan Mansion Pinang Peranakan Mansion - a stately home has been renovated to back to its former glory to showcase the opulence, lifestyle and times of the Peranakan a century ago. Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Admission: MYR20.00
  • 
Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum - modern interactive 3D art Museum with the "Glow in the Dark" theme | 145, Lebuh Kimberley, 10100 Georgetown, Penang | Adult MYR 18, kids MYR 10 | Mon-Fri: 10:00 - 18:30, Sat-Sun: 10:00 - 21:30
hotels in Penang - hotel
  • Le Dream Boutique Hotel Le Dream Boutique Hotel - central location, fitness gym, jacuzzi, compli wine hour, all day treats, movie nights
    139, Jalan Pintai Tali, Georgetown - 5°24'55.9"N 100°19'58.4"E
  • Just Inn Hotel Just Inn - central location, clean, affordable, helpful and friendly staff
    155,157,159, Carnarvon Street, 10100 George Town, Malaysia - 5°24'53.8"N 100°20'05.3"E
restaurant in Penang - restaurant
  • My Voice - Big Bowl Ramen My Voice - Big Bowl Ramen - 2 locations to serve you, biggest ramen bowl for everyone to join
    1. C-5-1, Lorong Bayan Indah 3 Bay Avenue, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, George Town
    2. big bowl ramen, Penang Penang Chew Jetty
Penang FYI / Tips
  • the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is in Georgetown's Old City (the UNESCO Heritage Site area). Any lodging in Old City puts you in the heart of things
  • getting around Penang by bus is convenient as there are many buses to several destinations. However, the bus takes the longest and circuitous route so be prepared for a long ride. For more information about Penang buses, go to Rapid Penang

How to Get to Penang (Georgetown) from Kuala Lumpur

  1. train - with the modern ETS fast train, the travel time has been reduced to 3 hours 50 minutes. It's not necessary to take the sleeping train or bus anymore. And you can buy train tickets online at the KTMB website **. Go to KL Sentral and buy your ticket at the KTM InterCity office on the 2nd level, B79. Wait in the waiting area until the train comes and the staff opens up the gate to let you down to board the train - 3 hours, 50 minutes. ETS train schedule
  2. ferry - from the train station, it is a 5-min walk to the ferry station (Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal) to board the ferry for Georgetown - 20 minutes, MYR 1.20. Ferry leaves every 40 mins. First ferry from Georgetown departs 5:40 a.m. and last ferry departs 1:00 a.m. From Butterworth, first ferry departs 5:20 a.m. and last ferry departs 12:40 a.m.
  3. bus - from the Jetty (Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal, aka - Jetty), walk to the bus terminal in Georgetown for a trip to the city center. There is a free bus - Free Cat, which takes you around the Old City of Georgetown, where most of the backpacker hostels are located. The free bus departs every 15 minutes. The free Jetty-Georgetown bus takes a different route from the Georgetown-Jetty free bus
** I initially booked the train ticket with Easybook.com. They confirmed it by email and charged me for it. They said a 2nd email will come with my seat number. The 2nd email never came. When I had the confirmation email checked at the KTMB office on my departure, they said my purchase was not on their system. I had to buy another ticket. I later complained to Easybook.com and requested them to reverse the charge. They arrogantly said they don't do refunds. You'd been warned!

Things to do, Places to go in Penang

  1. food - needless to say, there is no bad food in Penang. Every local has a recommendation on the must-haves, the food bloggers all have their opinion on where to eat and what to eat. But again, you don't have to search far and wide - the eating stall across you is probably a good bet already
  2. street art - in Georgetown, there are numerous street art adorning the walls. Walk around and be surprised. There is even a Penang street map devoted to street art - ask for one from your hotel concierge
  3. Batu Ferringhi Batu Ferringhi - beach resort town 30 minutes from Georgetown, MYR 2.70 by 101 Rapid Penang Bus
  4. Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) Turtle Beach (Pantai Kerachut) at the National Park (Taman Negara) - free admission, beach, camping, trekking and maybe you get to see a turtle lay eggs, MYR 4 by 101 Rapid Penang Bus, 1.5 hours, 22 kms
  5. Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) - 6 kms, bus 204, 1 hour, MYR2 from Comtar to Penang Hill. Penang Hill rises 833 meters up a tram system. It covers several hills and could take a whole day to explore on foot. Tram fee MYR30 round trip
  6. Botanical Gardens in Penang Botanical Gardens - developed in 1884, the garden is 29 hectares of prime evergreen tropical rain forests just on the outskirt of Georgetown. 10470 George Town, Penang | 5am–9pm | +60 4-227 0428
  7. Penang National Park Penang National Park - with 2,562 hectares, the park is home to 46 species of birds such as the stork-billed kingfishers, white-breasted waterhens and great egrets. The sandy beach of Pantai Kerachut is also a nesting place of Green turtles from April to August. Phone: +60 4-881 3530
  8. 
Pinang Peranakan Mansion Pinang Peranakan Mansion - a stately home has been renovated to back to its former glory to showcase the opulence, lifestyle and times of the Peranakan a century ago. Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Admission: MYR20.00
  9. 
Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum - modern interactive 3D art Museum with the "Glow in the Dark" theme | 145, Lebuh Kimberley, 10100 Georgetown, Penang | Adult MYR 18, kids MYR 10 | Mon-Fri: 10:00 - 18:30, Sat-Sun: 10:00 - 21:30

Suggested Destinations after Penang

  • Cameron Highlands -
  • Perhentian Islands -
  • Langkawi Island -
  • Taman Negara -
  • Hat Yai -

Penang Cost Index

(US$1 = Malaysian Ringgit 4.116 = Php 46.67 as of June 1, 2016)
  • MYR 40/hour tri-shaw (pedal-powered rickshaw) around the city
  • MYR 5-8 small bottle of beer
  • MYR 5-8 standard price for a soup noodle or rice topping dish
  • MYR 6 hot coffee in a decent cafe (cold coffee is more)
  • MYR 10 bicycle rental, 8am to 6pm
  • MYR 5 coin operated laundry
  • MYR 1-2 local bus rides, no change given, have exact fee
  • MYR 18 cheapest dorm room, shared toilet during low season
  • MYR 2 one hour, internet cafe
  • MYR 2.70 1.5 liter drinking water
  • MYR 79 ETS fast train from Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth (Penang pier area)
  • MYR 18 standard admission fee for museums for 1 adult. eg - Dark Mansion - 3D Glow In The Dark Museum
  • MYR 7 haircut
Currency Converter
Penang Blogs
  1. Penang (Malaysia) Immersion May 27-Jun 19, 2016
  2. Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang Jun 18, 2016
  3. Encounters with the Guru-Types of Penang Jun 17, 2016
  4. Overnight Camping at Turtle Beach Jun 10, 2016
  5. Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation in Penang Jun 10, 2016
  6. Daytrip to Batu Ferringhi Jun 9, 2016
  7. Savouring the Food of Penang May 27 - Jun 6, 2016
  8. Surreal Glow-in-the-Dark 3D World at Dark Mansion June 3, 2016
  9. The Animated Street Art of Penang Jun 3, 2016
  10. Exploring the Lush Greenery of Botanic Gardens May 29, 2016
  11. Up up and Away to Penang Hill May 28, 2016
  12. About Penang May 27, 2016

Coffee Tips

  • if you're buying a coffee grinder, choose the burr-type instead of the blade type. The burr-type grinds coffee to a more consistent grade (a little pricey but worth it)
  • coffee goes stale fast. Store it in the freezer.
  • don't use boiling water to brew coffee. Wait a minute for the boiled water to cool a bit before pouring into the coffee grounds. Boiling water releases the bitter alkaloides in coffee.
  • have your coffee beans ground according to your brewing device. French Press, coarse. Drip coffee maker, fine. Espresso, very fine. Ibrik (Turkish way of brewing), pulverized
  • use cream (the one for making fruit salad) for coffee instead of milk or Coffeemate for superior taste and texture
  • ground coffee absorbs external odors - keep it insulated

Coffee Blogs

  1. Vietnamese Phin Coffee Filter Dec 2, 2021
  2. 'Must Experience' Cafés of Chiang Mai Nov 30, 2021
  3. Exploring Nong Khai's Cafe Culture Jun 10, 2020
  4. Cafescape of Hanoi's Old Quarter, Vietnam Jan 6-24, 2019
  5. Rediscovering the Cafe Tradition of Ho Chi Minh City Aug 7-27, 2018
  6. Exploring the Cafe Scene of Tagbilaran Oct 7, 2017
  7. Discovering the Neighborhood Cafes of Singapore Aug. 8-22, 2016
  8. Discovering Saigon's Cafe Culture Nov 9 - Dec 17, 2014
  9. The Perfect Coffee Brew Feb 13, 2008
  10. Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang Jun 18, 2016
  11. Coffee Review: Himalayan Java Coffee Dec. 18, 2013
  12. Homemade Bread Breakfast Aug 1, 2006
  13. Alamid Coffee Jul 9, 2006
  14. Communal Forest with a Newbie May 4, 2006
  15. Civet 'Coffee-Shit' on Mount Cristobal Mar 11, 2006
  16. The Afternoon Coffee Ritual Dec 12, 2002

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Jun 18, 2016

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Penang Hotels

Hotels

Le Dream Boutique Hotel, Penang hotel


Just Inn, Penang hotel


Restaurants

My Voice Cafe, Penang hotel


Attractions

Dark Mansion 3D Glow In The Dark Museum, Penang hotel








Penang Hotels

Le Dream Boutique Hotel, Penang
Le Dream
Boutique Hotel

Georgetown
Penang, Malaysia



Just Inn, Penang
Just Inn
clean | affordable
Penang, Malaysia



Dark Mansion 3D Glow In The Dark Museum, Penang
Dark Mansion
3D Glow In The Dark Museum
Penang, Malaysia



My Voice Cafe, Penang
My Voice Cafe
Big Bowl Ramen
Penang, Malaysia







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