Moon Shop- Lunabar @ Penang Bowl, Georgetown, Penang.

Lunabar is a space with dual characteristics, the Coffee Bar is further juxtaposed with bottles and jars of greens (terrarium concept). The entire shop is divided into two parts- a terrarium laboratory (named Moon Shop) and and Coffee corner. The space is snug and could only fit in one table but it adopts the open dialogue concept where by guests can sit at the front and discuss their area of interest with the owners; manned by a couple (whether plants/ terrarium or coffee). The entire concept emerged from a impractical question- "if you were to bring ONE thing to the Moon, what would you bring?". For him, it's plants and for her, it's coffee. On the cafe, they have a very small menu that offers a few types of blend (coffee beans) and a sweet treat (Chocolate Lava). It's not hard to locate Lunabar/ Moon Shop, turn your car into the parking space of Penang Bowl (right next to Eastern & Oriental Hotel) and you will find the place (facing the hotel). 

Easy Brew Cafe @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

A new place that Coffee connoisseurs might want to visit, Easy Brew Cafe gathers Coffee Beans from different parts of the world. It roasts its own Coffee beans as well; the place however, serves no food (on our visit). Step in the place and you will be caught in a whiff of Coffee aroma followed by an amazing sight of their al-fresco garden seating. Almost like an adult playground, it has swings, garden tents with white furniture; a romantic and possibly an Instagram-perfect place. It gets a little warm in afternoon so the best time to visit would be sometime between 4 pm to 6 pm. Not the ideal place for dessert maniacs but possibly a good place for a sip of Coffee. Easy Brew Cafe can be found two doors away from China House, along Beach Street (near to the famous mural at Armenian Street).

Coffee Soft Serve Ice Cream (Rm 3.50)

Salon Du Chocolat @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Many chocolate lovers' wish is finally answered with the new opening of Salon Du Chocolat at the iconic Festive Square (Ground Floor) of Gurney Paragon Mall. The Hong Kong-based brand is not new for those in the know; Salon Du Chocolat is well-known for serving premium and fine Chocolate desserts as well as their home-made Pralines and Chocolate bites. The place has a minimal yet elegant interior decor- comfortable and snug. Step in the cafe and your attention will likely be drawn away by the three Chocolate fountain right next to the main entrance where one gets to witness the silky smooth, creamy and glistening Chocolate. The sizable menu has many desserts covered but they share one common appearance- heavily slathered by Chocolate syrup. It can be quite glutted for one to finish a chocolate dessert entirely on his/her own so it is advisable to visit the place in a group... for sharing the guilt; it is not the place that you want to have your regular meal fixed but a great place for a cocoa-rific experience to sate your cravings. 

Little Nap Coffee Bar @ Time Capsule Hotel, Georgetown, Penang.

Housed in Time Capsule Hotel, the largest Capsule Hotel in Penang is one of the latest additions to the Penang cafe scene- Little Nap Coffee Bar. The cafe occupies a corner of the hotel's lobby; not entirely spacious but good enough to fit four small tables with seating capacity of 15 to 20 pax. The place was not fully launched yet on our visit, thus, we did not get to try their brunch or main menu. Little Nap Coffee Bar offers the usual-standard cafe fare at average prices. The contemporary design of the cafe may be one of the reasons for cafe hoppers to try their luck here. Time Capsule Hotel can be found at Chulia Street, a stone's throw distance away from Subway near Penang Road. 

Restaurant Markus @ Cantonment Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

As most of you would probably agree, Penang is in many ways the perfect place to savor a wide variety of International cuisine. The state has seen many openings of new restaurants lately and Restaurant Markus is definitely one of the notable ones. The Italian semi fine-dining restaurant along Cantonment Road is a humble beginning for entrepreneur Mr. Choong and Chef Markus; which explains how the restaurant got its name. The extraordinaire Chef Markus has trained and honed his culinary skills at some prestigious restaurants abroad. Restaurant Markus has a simple yet sophisticated setting, perfect for any formal or informal occasion. The comprehensive menu has more than sufficient items suitable for every palate, we were also pleased with the impeccable services provided by the eloquent staff on our visit. A place that I would love to revisit again in the near future.

Many Thanks to Restaurant Markus for hosting us that afternoon.

D' Chef Dining @ Lebuh Presgrave, Georgetown, Penang.

It's easy to miss D' Chef Dining at Lebuh Presgrave but the positive comments of the restaurant spread rapidly via words of mouth over the world of internet. Opened for just a few weeks, the place has already gathered an appreciate following. The popular space is manned by Chef Davine, a very talented Chef returned from Singapore. Due to shortage of manpower, the restaurant could offer a small menu at present but all of the dishes on the menu were meticulously designed. The menu will be changed once a month so stay tuned over their Facebook Page . Interior decor is minimalist, nothing fancy, no frills; but we could tell that the competitive advantage of D' Chef Dining will be the honed culinary skills of Chef Davine and her masterpiece, every single dish is a work of art.

6-in-1 International Buffet with Chef Seth @ Spice Market Cafe, Shangri-la's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang.

Have a taste of India at Spice Market Cafe, Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa Penang as the restaurant invites award-winning Chef- Chef Seth Shantanu (from Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Kota Kinabalu) as their guest chef to present a series of his signature dishes in their 6-in-1 buffet promotion; together with the dedicated local culinary team here in Penang which shares a common passion- to serve the best dishes to diners.

Wait, there's more! Spice Market Cafe continues to surprise its diners with its unbeatable prices for their buffet spread. While the P60 promotion continues for every Monday and Tuesday (for more information, please hop over to here), the restaurant rolls out a new promotion- P70 for every Wednesday and P80 for every Thursday. It works the same way, in which diners get to enjoy a 30% discount for the restaurant's International Buffet on every Wednesday and 20% discount on every Thursday.

Many Thanks to Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa for extending the invitation. 

Prices for the buffets are as follows:

International Buffet Dinner: Sunday to Thursday

From 6:30pm to 10:30pm.

Rm 128++ (Adult), Rm 64++ (Child)
P60 on Mondays & Tuesdays
P70 on Wednesdays
P80 on Thursdays

Seafood Theme Buffet: Friday and Saturday
From 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Rm 148++ (Adult), Rm 74++ (Child)

For inquiries or reservations, kindly contact Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa at +604- 888 8888.

Chef Seth Shantanu

Kantan Cafe/ Kafe (簡単) @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Tucked within one of the heritage houses, Kantan Cafe/ Kafe (簡単) is the third cafe opened along Campbell Street. The cafe's predecessor is Macaron Cafe, previously located on level 6 of Gurney Plaza Penang. Under the same management but with new revamped menu, Kantan Cafe/ Kafe (簡単) rolls out their simple series of freshly baked Bagels, Pizzas and some in-house Pastries and Cakes. As compared to many of its competitors, their menu is quite extensive with many reasonably priced choices covering Mains, Snacks, Desserts and Beverages. Despite fully air-conditioned, the place can be a little too dark for gathering though. Kantan Cafe/ Kafe (簡単) can be found few shops away from Moustache Houze and Sugar Honey along the same road. 

Patisserie Equateur (赤道法式烘焙) @ Butterworth, Penang.

A heaven for dessert lovers: Patisserie Equateur (赤道法式烘焙) is a delightful addition to the ubiquitous food area of Raja Uda. Using only thoughtfully chosen ingredients, the cafe is a charming spot to enjoy their range of well-executed luscious desserts and to have a cup of Coffee or Tea to rewind and retreat. Pastries and Cakes will be freshly made daily, hence, choices are rather limited but there will surely be some to satiate your cravings for desserts. The reputation of the cafe is burgeoning and it should be quite apparent from the crowd and regular patrons constantly going back to the place. To find Patisserie Equateur (赤道法式烘焙), simply turn into the junction adjacent to Chung Ling Butterworth (of Jalan Ong Yi How) and drive for a minute, the cafe should be located on your right; a stone's throw away from Econsave of Jalan Ong Yi How. 

Moody Cow Dessert Cafe @ Transfer Road, Georgetown, Penang.

At the junction to Transfer Road and Dicken Street in the heart of Georgetown, one could easily realize the presence of this newly opened dessert cafe. Nestled within an old heritage building, Moody Cow Dessert Cafe serves some of their carefully crafted home-made desserts just as the name would imply. Choices for desserts are aplenty in the cafe and they share one common feature- Gigantic in portion; sharing is highly recommended. However, the selection and types of cakes are quite "safe", I would personally prefer my cakes with a touch of uniqueness, you will agree with me if you are as adventurous as me. The snug cafe has limited seats and advance reservation is recommended should you are coming in a big gang. Other than desserts, the place serves some pasta dishes too.

Moody Cow Dessert Cafe is next to where Ye Wei Vietnamese Food was previously located, facing the bustling road of Dicken Street as well as Transfer Road. 

Royce' Chocolate- A Taste of Hokkaido

Indulge in a taste of Hokkaido with Royce' Chocolate, this Japanese brand takes pride in offering some of the finest premium chocolates; sourcing its ingredients from surrounding areas of Hokkaido, a region in Japan well known for its quality farming and fresh dairy products, ensuring every single bite of their chocolate carries the flavors and senses of Hokkaido. Unlike any European chocolates, Royce' products are made less-sweeten and possess a lighter texture and softer in feel. 

Royce' Chocolate has recently launched their e-store, teeming with a selection of more than 40 types of products available, customers can now order their products anywhere in Malaysia at anytime. There are a total 7 outlets in the Klang Valley- Isetan Suria KLCC, Bangsar Village, The Garden's Mall, Ben's Independent Grocer at Publika, Tropicana City Mall, Tropicana Golf & Resort and Empire Shopping Gallery. As for Penangites, fear not, delivery to Penang is made possible via their professional chilled logistic partner- Ta-Q-Bin; the available delivery areas are Klang Valley, Penang, Kedah, and Johor. 

Chocolates are deemed as the de facto gifts in this gifting season of Christmas, New Year or even Valentine. What are you waiting for? Surprise your loved ones with Royce' delightful chocolates now. Place your order now at http://www.royce.com.my/.

Thanks to Royce' Chocolate Malaysia and Jocelyn Lee from Royce' Chocolate Malaysia for sponsoring the review.

Brown Pocket @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Brown Pocket, a newly opened dessert cafe, is a delightful addition to Gurney Paragon mall. Its iconic location at Gurney Paragon mall allows exhausted shoppers to hide away from the crowds and have a short rest by savoring some of their signature desserts. Brown Pocket offers an array of desserts comprises of Waffles, Crepe and imported Ice Cream. The place has a very good ambiance with spacious and comfortable seating which exude a relaxed vibe and offers a breath-taking view. It was the very first day of business since their soft opening, the staff was rather unsystematic probably due to first day jitters. Brown Pocket is located strategically on level 6 of Gurney Paragon Mall, opposite to Celebrity Fitness and facing Kelawai Road (corner unit).