The Library Coffee Bar @ Alma, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The developing town of Alma (at Bukit Mertajam) welcomes the 7th branch of a renown coffee specialist in Malaysia- The Library Coffee Bar. Located at the new commercial area- Impiana Gallery opposite Tesco Alma, the double storey shoplot will be a great place to hang out for the cafe hoppers nearby. The Library Coffee Bar has quite an extensive menu, featuring not only mains but appetizers and desserts too. The place is nicely decorated according to the theme- with books scatteredly placed on brightly colored book racks and comfortable couches. However, seats were very limited on our visit (probably due to the overwhelming crowd on Friday evening) and the service was rather slow. Nevertheless, this is one of the few places that I would not mind to drop by again.

Vivo Pizza @ AEON Mall, Alma, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The long-anticipated wait is over as AEON Mall at Alma (of Bukit Mertajam) has finally opened its doors to the public and amongst the new spade of tenants that have moved in, Vivo Pizza is definitely one of the worth-checking out ones. The well-established Pizza joint has more than 12 outlets in the country and this is the first outlet in Northern Malaysia. As the name of the restaurant would have hinted, Vivo Pizza specializes in serving Pizzas, ranging from the commonly seen savory Pizzas to the uncommonly found sweet dessert Pizza. Prices are pretty standard-average but Vivo Pizza stands out by offering Pizzas that are 33% larger than its competitors. While I have yet to try the food at other branches but there were some hits and misses during our visit; I could not tell if it was the usual way how they did it or the fact that they have yet to stabilize their operations. Nevertheless, if you are in the vicinity and have a sweet tooth, be sure to check out their dessert pizza. Vivo Pizza is strategically located near the main entrance (ground floor) of AEON Mall, facing The Cruises Steak House and a stone's throw distance away from Jusco.