Common Social @ Sri Bahari Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Housed along Sri Bahari Road in George Town, Common Social is one of the city's newer Italian dining spots, offering a menu centred on Italian-inspired favourites such as handcrafted pizzas, fresh pasta and a handful of appetisers and desserts. The restaurant embraces a clean, contemporary setting with a comfortable dining atmosphere that makes it equally suitable for casual lunches or laid-back dinners. We found the prices to be reasonable for the quality and overall experience, making it a worthwhile option if you're in the mood for approachable Italian fare in the heart of the city. 

Kopi Pasta Club @ Teluk Kumbar, Penang.

Nestled deep in a Malay fishing village at Teluk Kumbar, Kopi Pasta Club is a hidden seaside gem that might give drivers pause— those narrow alleys are not for SUVs or D-segment cars. But once you arrive, the relaxed village vibe meets ocean views in a charming waterside café atmosphere. The menu leans Western, specializing in pasta and homemade pizza alongside decent coffee offerings. Despite its tucked‑away location, it delivers good food at fair prices in a rustic, no‑fuss setting—perfect for unwinding after beach strolls or catching the sunset by the shore. 

Kenny Hills Bakers @ Penang Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Kenny Hills Bakers, a familiar name among Klang Valley’s café-goers, has recently made its way to Penang, bringing along its signature artisanal bakes and cozy ambiance. Strategically housed in a bungalow near upper Penang road in the heart of Georgetown, the interior exudes a rustic charm, with wooden furnishings and warm lighting creating an inviting atmosphere. The menu features a variety of options, from hearty mains to delicate pastries; though the prices lean towards higher end. Nevertheless, it is still a welcoming spot for both casual brunches and indulgent dessert sessions.

Hard Rock Hotel Penang Launches Golden Hour Grill at LEÑA at Pizzeria

Hard Rock Hotel Penang introduces Golden Hour Grill, a Saturday-only semi-buffet dinner at LEÑA at Pizzeria, available from July to September 2025. Featuring fire-crafted rotisserie meats and a rotating blackboard menu built on seasonal ingredients, the spread also includes stir-fry dishes, sushi, soups, breads, salads, and desserts. Priced at RM180 nett per adult, the open-air dinner comes with live band or DJ entertainment, making it a laid-back yet flavor-packed way to enjoy the Batu Ferringhi sea breeze.

Golden Hour Grill @ LEÑA at Pizzeria

• Every Saturday from Jul 2025 to Sep 2025 (6:30 PM to 10:00 PM)
• RM180 nett/adult and RM118 nett for children (aged 6 to 12 ) or senior citizens (above 60 years old)

Many Thanks to Hard Rock Hotel Penang for hosting us.

Pizzahana @ CY Choy, Georgetown, Penang.

A marriage between Italian and Japanese cuisine, Pizzahana offers the best of both worlds on the menu: Italian Pizza and Japanese-influenced Cuisine. The menu is fairly small but at the point of penning this down, the place is still in its soft-opening phase. The Pizza menu features some of the Italian classics like Margherita and some Pasta highlights; the tricky one would be the Japanese version. Unlike traditional Japanese delights, Pizzahana takes a slightly more creative approach with a fusion touch. Pizzahana can be found at CY Choy, near the junction to Lebuh Presgrave. 

People Pleaser Cafe @ Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

Yet another new cafe at Lebuh Melayu (Georgetown) is People Pleaser Cafe- step in the place and you will instantly feel the casual, relaxed vibe with small, round Coffee tables along the sides. Walk further in and you will find the dining area with proper tables and chairs; as well as an open kitchen with kitchen staff in action. The cafe features a Western menu- offering some house-made Pasta, Pizza, Toasts and Sandwiches etc. Price points are of restaurant-standard. We found the potential in their menu but some refinements are needed to bring it up to standard.

Ayataya By Piccadilly @ Central Gurney Penang.

Joining Central Gurney Penang is Ayataya By Piccadilly, opened in January 2024; Ayataya boasts a casual, lively and tropical ambiance. The large glass windows allow natural light to flow into the space, creating a warm-homey vibe. The selection of furniture is brilliant- with a good harmonization of rattan chairs and couches in shades of light brown; creating a relaxed, easy-going mood. The menu features a good selection of cafe offerings, exquisite main courses and an array of alluring desserts as well as specialty drinks. The price points are slightly on the higher side but Ayataya is definitely a good option for any casual dining, meet ups or occasions.

Many Thanks to Ayataya By Piccadilly for hosting us.

Wooden Wagon @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Hidden away from the bustling banking district of Beach Street (Georgetown), Wooden Wagon is one of the tenants at a new business area (converted from an old warehouse) hidden in an alley (right next to Alliance Bank Georgetown). If you are not familiar with the area, it does take a while to locate the place. Maintaining its old industrial-warehouse charm, Wooden Wagon serves a casual Western menu with some worth-a-look choices. The prices are on the higher side but the daily Set Lunch (priced at RM28) proves to be a success. The 3-course Set Lunch with complimentary drink offers a good value in return (though we can't say the set lunch offers great quality), a popular choice for the working crowd working in the vicinity.

The Pomelo Restaurant & Bar Rolls Out New Pizza Menu @ The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh, Perak.

The nation's best luxury natural hot springs wellness retreat- The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is merely 20-min drive away from Ipoh city center and offers great facilities to guests to recharge and rejuvenate. But many do not know that the retreat is well-equipped with dining options. The Jeff's Cellar is one of the city's top fine-dining destinations, only did it bag multiple awards; the restaurant also offers unique ambiance and setting second to none. But many do not aware that the retreat has another cozy, casual all-day restaurant- The Pomelo. The Pomelo serves ala-carte buffet breakfast to the retreat's guests in the morning and the all-day menu commences after noon; the restaurant welcomes public to dine-in but early reservation is required to enter the property premise. As for dining ambiance, The Pomelo presents a cozy indoor and al-fresco dining within any one of the three Gazebos that extend over the hot springs. 

Many Thanks to The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat for hosting us.

Nero Nero Penang @ King Street, Georgetown, Penang.

A brand started in Kuala Lumpur, Nero Nero has expanded its business operations up north to Penang recently... opening a new branch at King Street, right next to Wisma Great Eastern near Esplanade. Known to dish out hearty Italian fare, Nero Nero Penang has drawn a great crowd since its opening with relentless walk-ins and big reservations. Our visit on Saturday Noon was without reservation and we had to resort to a bar seat, the dining hall was full! The 'bistro Italian' concept of the restaurant places great emphasis over the freshness of ingredients, with an aim to offer value for money meal in a modern-comfortable setting. The menu is fairly big, featuring many Italian delights... with some uncommon ones as well as some familiar names. Price points are definitely above average but expect to be served with big serving portion as well as beautiful Italian flavors. If you are coming in a big group, make sure you make your reservations. 

Yin's Sourdough Bakery @ Gurney Walk, Penang.

Bread lovers should not be new to the name- Yin's Sourdough Bakery, the brand has strong presence across the Penang state and has recently expanded its business operations to the central region. For the uninitiated, Yin's had a humble start as a bakery and it slowly expands its food offering to introduce more mains and desserts... even roasting their own Coffee beans now. But one thing does not change- their menu is still Sourdough-based with many healthy options. The branch Gurney Walk occupies a prominent lot, right next to the main entrance to the community hub. While most of the offering is similar to other branches, this particular outlet focuses more on healthy fermented products like Kombucha or Kefir. It also has a bigger spread of Pastries and classic loaves due to the demand in the neighborhood. It is also noteworthy that the menu has got many options for those practicing plant-based diet. 

This post is brought to you by Gurney Walk Penang.

Bottega @ Muntri Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Bottega at Muntri Street is one of the latest spots in town to get your Italian fix; Italian food lovers would not be new to the brand as Bottega has long-standing presence in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from offering an Italian menu, the restaurant is also an Italian Delishop... selling various imported Italian goodies. The menu at this trattoria is quite big, featuring an array of Italian dishes- from Italian Charcuterie board to Italian-styled Toasts, Pasta, Pizza, Meat dishes as well as Dessert.  Business has been very good at Bottega Penang with full bookings on peak hours and long weekends (probably they have limited seating); so if you are planning to have a meal here, do make sure you make your booking first. 

Rossi ItaLian @ Hotel Penaga, Georgetown, Penang.

Housed in Hotel Penaga, Rossi ItaLian is one of the latest spots in town for some decent Italian food. The Italian restaurant is found inside the hotel, menu is fairly small but offers most of the Italian classics like Pasta, Pizza, Anti Pasti and even desserts. Some hard core meat fans would notice the missing of some Italian Charcuterie board but the place serves no pork and alcohol, making it Muslim-friendly. The price points are of average range but the place is comfortable with cozy setting, a place worth-going if you are game for Italian food. 

Trattoria Il Lago @ SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting, Pahang.

Accessible from both SkyAvenue and the newly opened Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, Trattoria Il Lago is one of the latest restaurants that have recently joined the clamoring SkyAvenue. Like its name suggested, the restaurant offers an Italian-focused menu where diners get to find Antipasti, Pizza, Pasta and various Italian delights. The price points seem affordable amongst the restaurants in SkyAvenue but the quality can be further improved. 

Flvour @ Alma, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

With a slightly catchy name of "Flvour", the newly opened restaurant boasts an eccentric menu with a dazzling interpretations traditional Asian flavors (particularly Indian cuisine), where they tweaked and fused everything to create something new. Step in the restaurant and you will be amazed by its easy, casual atmosphere; Gin-lovers would be glad to know that Flvour has a great variety of Gins (more than 25 types of Gins available)... with collections from all over the world. Both the food and beverage menu are big, with a wide options of mains and bar bites selection as well delicious Cocktails and Gins. 

Many Thanks to Flvour for hosting us that evening.

Amico Dining & Social House @ Nagore Road, Georgetown, Penang.

While it is not hard to find Italian food in Penang but this restaurant in the heart of Georgetown is something that you should try. Amico Dining & Social House opened its doors in late April 2021 and can be found occupying a prominent corner lot at Nagore Road. The exterior decor barely tells what the restaurant is offering. While it is place suitable for wine lovers (they carry a wide range of labels), the Italian-inspired menu is definitely worth-trying.  The selection ranges from appetizers to main course and desserts... with reasonable prices. We were satisfied and happy on what we had the other day- the quality has been quite promising and we are looking forward to another revisit.

Otto Pizza Romana @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Be it a tasty snack or a quick dinner, grab and go pizza is a convenient way of filling up the tummy. Introducing authentic Italian flavors to Penang is Otto Pizza Romana, a Pizza specialist new to Penang. The place is manned by an Italian (from Rome), striving to bring a taste of Rome to Penang. The Pizza parlor churns out freshly baked Pizza everyday and have them displayed on the display counter. Do not worry, the Pizza will be warmed up before handing to you. There are a few choices on offer at any times but most of them are simple and classic Italian flavors. Though there are some seats for dine-in, they are very limited and may not necessary be a comfortable way of enjoying the Pizza. Take-away is still preferred. 

Dandy Modern Food @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.

Middle Eastern cuisine is widely accepted and welcomed in Malaysia- healthy, bold and irresistible flavors but it is often too grueling to the wallet to indulge. Dandy Modern Food seizes this opportunity and brings flavors from the Mediterranean to Penang by offering delicious Mediterranean delights in an affordable price range. While some are authentically Mediterranean dishes, certain dishes have been modified to suit the local palate (esp on the heavy usage of Herbs). Having received great support from Penangites, the brand expanded its business operation and opened up a new branch at Queensbay Mall earlier this year. The same open-kitchen concept is used to impart a casual and comfortable dining atmosphere, allowing diners to witness the entire food preparation process. Both restaurants in Queensbay Mall and Arena Curve are Halal-certified; private functions and events can also be arranged at both locations.

Many Thanks to Dandy Modern Food for hosting us.

The Loft Pizzeria & Bar @ Love Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Managed by the same team of people from Holy Guacamole, the new venture on the same street of Love Lane is a Pizza joint named The Loft. Step in the place and you will find the open concept Pizza kitchen with gigantic Pizza stove in the middle... surrounded by classy chic interior setting. The Pizzeria is serious about their Pizza... can be seen from the extensive menu but it does not only churn out freshly baked Pizza, the Pasta, Appetizers and Desserts seem equally promising. Prices however, are on the higher side. Food aside, the service could be friendlier, one of the servers (a lady) was not pleased when she found out that we turned down her request on opening an Acqua Panna mineral water and was less-attentive to us later on.

Ristorante Porto Romano @ The Intermark, Kuala Lumpur.

There is no shortage of Italian/ Mediterranean restaurants in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city but Ristorante Porto Romano, one of the few restaurants under the group; the place is welcomed by the office workers working in the vicinity... for the quality food with inexpensive price tags (considering you are dining in a restaurant in KL city center). Though some websites online suggested that the place is a Mediterranean restaurant but both the menu and the name (Porto Romano) suggest otherwise (sounds pretty Italian to us). The menu features a wide options of Anti-Pasti, Pasta and Pizza. Great ambiance but the food was nothing out of the ordinary.