The Melbourne Cartel @ Straits Quay, Penang.

One of the latest additions to Straits Quay Penang is The Melbourne Cartel- where Australian vibes meet gourmet Waffles and Pancakes... inspired by Aussie culinary traditions and served in a creative twist. The cafe specializes in Waffles and Pancakes... but also offers an Aussie-influenced All Day Breakfast menu. The Coffee Beans are roasted and imported from Melbourne directly so you are literally getting a taste of the Down Under from Penang. If you must know- there are a couple of tables at the al-fresco area, especially suitable for pet owners.

Oh My Bingsu @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

One of the latest spots to have an icy cold treat to beat the tropical heat would be Oh My Bingsu, the corner unit at the junction of Victoria Street and Malay Street. As suggested by the name, the dessert parlor specializes in serving Bingsu- Korean milk-based Shaved Ice. In addition to the signature Bingsu series, there is also Croffle series. Oh My Bingsu offers cozy seating with comfortable interior decor, the food is good too. Do check it out if you do enjoy a bowl of delicious Bingsu.

Cawan Kuey @ Sungai Ara, Penang.

Sharing the same space as Juma Homestay at Sungai Ara, Cawan Kuey only opens in the late afternoons. The Muslim-friendly cafe brilliantly uses the space right in front of a residential house, before the sun sets, the place is a little warm and stuffy so do come prepared. It has a simple menu with a couple of mains and some snacks/cakes. But mind you, the casual, relaxed seating arrangement is not quite suitable for main (we struggled a bit with the Bihun Sup) but more for enjoying light snacks or even cakes over coffee. Interesting vibe with wallet-friendly sweet treats, worth a look if you are looking for Halal options. 

Ookane Mochi @ Pulau Tikus, Penang.

Fancy both Ramen and Waffle? You can now have both at the newly opened Ookane Mochi, a stone's throw distance away from Pulau Tikus morning market. The cafe uses Muji-style minimalist design and offers a cozy-comfortable space for visitors. During its soft-launch period, the menu is a little small... only offering a few Waffle choices, some Ramen and Japanese-inspired Rice Bowls as well as some Cakes. Price points are definitely on the higher side, a good spot for casual meet ups nevertheless.

18°C Cool Blend @ Jalan Raya, Kulim, Kedah.

Found right smack in the heartland of Kulim old town, 18°C Cool Blend proves to be a popular dining space for locals... mainly due to its wallet-friendly price points as well as its wide range of food offering suitable for all age range. Apart from the usual mains, the cafe also rolled out some healthy meals for those seeking for balanced diet. There is nothing extraordinary about the interior deco but a comfortable space in Kulim old town for a meal or to enjoy a cup of Joe. 

The Coffee Cottage @ Nibong Tebal, Penang.

Though a little off the beaten track, The Coffee Cottage had a successful debut thanks to its picturesque, rustic country cottage style landscape. The cafe is well-hidden in a residential neighborhood of Nibong Tebal so you might need a navigation system to reach there if you are not familiar with Nibong Tebal. The cafe comprises of a few annexes- built from some unused scrap materials like old car and wood; they are then refurbished and put together creating an unusual but quaint space perfect for photo-taking. Both indoor and outdoor seating are available but the indoor seating is not air-conditioned so you will have to embrace the sweltering tropical heat. The Coffee Cottage does not serve main menu but only some drinks and desserts. 

TEMU Coffee @ Malay Street, Georgetown, Penang.

TEMU which literally translates as "Meet Up" from Malay, is one of the latest hang out spots in Penang. The place received great attention since its opening due to its minimalist and quaint setting, the big reflective art piece right in front of the entrance is a nice futuristic touch (a popular spot for Instagram feed). But TEMU is not all about the interior decor and setting, the place churns out delicious sweet treats as well- from their Waffle series to Cakes. While the choices may not be aplenty, the quality is pretty consistent so far. A nice spot to hangout over desserts and Coffee (not so friendly when it comes to finding a parking space though). 

Hanakoya Flower Cafe @ Muntri Street, Georgetown, Penang.

A place shared by both cafe and floristry- Hanakoya Flower Cafe is one of the latest additions in town. Housed in one of the old heritage houses along Muntri Street, the place preserves the beauty of the charm of the heritage building. Step in the place and you will notice the colorful Nyonya-styled tiles as well as the minimalist coffee bar... a beautiful marriage of the old and modern ones. The place is air-conditioned and warrants a comfortable meal. The menu consists of both mains and desserts, with some specials of the day being displayed at the display fridge. Waiting time might be longer than usual but definitely a cozy place to check out.

Haru Stationery Cafe @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Haru is one of the new comers to the Penang cafe scene but the place has quickly taken social media by storm... partly because of their clean, minimalist interior decor as well as their food offering. Found at Campbell Street, the cafe also has a dedicated corner for selling stationery. Menu-wise, it does not carry a big menu but a simple one featuring an array of Japanese-influenced Rice Bowls and a series of Liege Waffle dishes (both sweet and savory) as well as a couple of Cake choices. Price points and mid-range but expect the serving portions to be smaller than usual. If you must know, we were more convinced by their sweet treats than the savory ones. 

Frank Laurent Launches All Day Food Menu

Established in 2015, Frank Laurent was one of the earliest boutique roasters in Penang; while they still remain as a key player and leading name when it comes to quality coffee, the brand has far expanded its business operations... offering more options to coffee lovers and cafe hoppers. With a base in Udini Square, Frank Laurent currently manages 4 more outlets in northern Malaysia. The Udini Square outlet has also expanded since then; while the minimalist cafe continues to offer the right laid back vibe, it is now more spacious and comfortable for coffee lovers to unwind and enjoy their cup of Joe. In line with their expansion plan, Frank Laurent also launched their All Day Food Menu in the month of September 2020. The newly rolled out All Day Food Menu features an array of hearty brunch staples like Toasts, Pasta and sweet treats; not very extensive but more than good enough to please picky eaters. 

Many Thanks to Frank Laurent for hosting us that afternoon.

Miodis Cafe @ Abu Siti Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Both a florist and a cafe, Miodis Cafe boasts over its floral-homey interior decor... step in the place and you will be welcomed with a colorful, bright entrance with a whiff of floral scents. The ordering counter is right next to the florist, a corner dedicated to selling bouquets of fresh flowers. Seats are arranged in a comfortable spacing, allowing good privacy next to each other... there are also a couple of couches for those who prefer a more relaxed seating arrangement. On the menu, the cafe offers Western choices along with a couple of Chinese noodle options (though not available on our visit). Not exactly a big menu and the dishes do not come cheap but the quality for the mains are not too shabby (not for the case of their Waffles). Miodis Cafe can be found along Abu Siti Lane, facing 7 Village Noodle House.

Artelier Cafe @ Anson Cube, Georgetown, Penang.

Sitting on the first floor of Anson Cube- a busy commercial property along Anson Road; Artelier Cafe has been around for quite sometime but it's hard to notice the place, due to the building structure of Anson Cube. To find Artelier Cafe, take the lift to 1st floor and walk until the far end and you will find this cafe at the corner lot. The first thing that strikes your mind as you enter the place is the pinkish, dreamy atmosphere- hanging chair, pink feathery walls and various feminine knick knacks. On the menu, the kitchen does churn out main dishes- local Chinese dishes with a mix of Western elements, as for sweet treats, mainly Waffles and Shibuya Toasts. To be frank, we thought the price points are above average. 

Long Cha Guan 龍茶館 @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Both a tea house and a restaurant, Long Cha Guan 龍茶館 is one of the modern eateries that put together Chinese Tea and cafe delights. Well, it is not like the kitchen churns out Chinese Tea-infused dishes but at the end of the cafe, there is a Chinese-inspired Tea garden that allows tea drinkers to chill and enjoy a cup of well-brewed and aged Chinese Tea. Nearer to the entrance is a corner dedicated to staged-seating where diners can choose to be seated on normal level or to climb up and be seated at the top level... not very practical but something new especially for those who prefer to take some photos. On the food menu, there is a mix of both locals' favorites (like Nasi Lemak, Laksa, Fried Koay Teow etc) and Western grills as well as some Pasta dishes. Dishes are priced slightly above average but the serving portion commensurate to the serving portion. Long Cha Guan can be found adjacent to Lavish Fusion Bakery on Victoria Street.

Pynk @ Stewart Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

*** Pynk has since ceased its business operations.***

During the daytime, Pynk offers a healthy brunch menu with a variety of Smoothie Bowls as well as sweet Waffles but when night falls, the place is turned into a lively space that offers a small alcohol menu (with unbelievably affordable Sangria at Rm 18/ 500 ml). There are no proper dining tables at Pynk but only small drinking tables. The place is as straight-forward as it seems; walk in the place and you will be greeted by two friendly residential dogs wagging their tails to welcome your presence. A cozy, quiet little space for an after-meal dessert (more reasons to visit if you are a dog lover).

Big Tree Eatery @ Arena Curve, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Young parents would be glad to know that there's a newly opened kid-friendly cafe at Arena Curve... the commercial shop lots right next to Olive Tree Hotel at Bayan Baru. It's hard to miss Big Tree Eatery... it has a huge signage printed at the facade. The interior decor is simple but brilliantly spaced... on the right, there's a corner dedicated for kids... well-equipped with toys that could keep the children busy. On the food offering, Big Tree Eatery has a mixed menu consists of both Western options and Chinese dishes. Prices are on the higher side... not exactly the place for a meal but more like a venue for your children to play while having some food.

Me Melon Dessert House @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Specializing in making Kakigori (Japanese Shaved Ice), Me Melon Dessert House earned its fame through the perfect play of dairy and fresh fruits; the brand started in Hatyai (Thailand) and has since garnered an appreciate following... be it local Thai or Malaysian. The widespread of Japanese and Korean desserts in Thailand resulting in many cafes/ restaurants in the country churning out good Kakigori/Bingsu and Me Melon is one of them in Southern Thailand. News about Me Melon opening a branch in Penang has excited many dessert lovers. But Kakigori is not the only sweet treat here, Shibuya Toasts, Waffles and Brownies are also on offer.

Copper Bar & Restaurant @ Armenian Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Found at a touristy area of Armenian Street, Copper Bar and Restaurant has a traditionally Chinese facade but classy-glossy interior; one may think that its a new boutique hotel. In actual fact, the rustic spot offers an interesting food menu with a wide range of alcohol beverages. The dinner menu (with a local touch) seems to be wildly creative but we were there early- brunch menu was the only menu on offer. Prices are certainly on the higher side but the quality commensurate with the price tags; at least it gets the basics right... with the servers delivering warm hospitality, this is definitely one of the places for a worthy breakfast. 

Bingsu 9 Korean Dessert Cafe @ Maritime Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Penang.

The sultry tropical heat strikes and Penangites do know where and how to beat the heat. Bingsu 9 Korean Dessert Cafe has got to be the busiest cafe during this Chinese New Year holiday, visitors thronged the place and it was packed to the brim as late as midnight. It only sells Bingsu (Korean Shaved Ice) and Waffles but still making some bank. Visit in the evenings and likely you will have to wait outside, the queue to get a table requires wait as long as 1 hour. The cafe has a Bingsu-focused menu... in addition to the standard Pat Bingsu and Injeolmi, there is also a slew of other flavors like Matcha, Chocolate, Mango, Strawberry etc (9 flavors in total thus, the name of this place) as well as an array of Waffle-treats. Unless you have ample time, this place is not suggested for the time-sensitive or those dining in a group, hoping for a comfortable-cozy atmosphere.

Swens Pastry Cafe @ Pusat Perdagangan Nova, Jelutong, Penang.

A long established cake specialist turn cafe, Swens Pastry Cafe has been running a cake house at Air Hitam but their expansion plan came as a surprise when one of their friends suggested a joint-partnership in sharing a unit in Pusat Perdagangan Nova, Jelutong. The cafe only occupies half of the ground floor unit so do not expect the place to be very spacious and able to offer a lot. The dessert-focused menu is pretty small, with a little more than 8 types of home-made Cakes, some Waffles and beverages. Not a place for absolute indulgence but if you are looking for a cozy, less-crowded place to chill out, this can be a decent option.

Coffee Signature @ Pusat Perdagangan Nova, Jelutong, Penang.

Hailed from Southern Malaysia, Coffee Signature is a well-known brand in Southern Malaysia and Singapore but this extended branch of theirs is the first in Penang. The location is a little off from the bustling Georgetown, it occupies a space at the new business shop houses near Jelutong (a stone's throw distance away from the Jelutong Police Station near the market). It was previously occupied by another cafe but the ownership has changed since then. The interior decor remains unchanged... classy European flair with a wooden touch. The fairly big menu offers diners Sandwiches, Pasta dishes, some Western mains and a variety of desserts. To be frank, we found the desserts comparatively more visually appealing compared to the savory ones. Food quality was mediocre and the service was horrible, this is probably the only cafe/restaurant in Penang that does not provide proper cutlery (imagine eating Waffles without knife/ they gave us fork and spoon instead).