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. 

AMARI SPICE PENANG- A Luxury Hotel Fit For A Romantic Stay

Looking for a quick getaway in town or a special bonding time with your loved one but unwilling to go through the hassle of multiple flights, accommodation and restaurants? Fortunately, we can find plenty of romantic hotels and restaurants in Penang- closer to home and skip the hassle of international travels. Located at the centre of Penang's central business district in Bayan Lepas, Amari SPICE Penang is only a mere 5 km drive away from the Penang International Airport. With its strategic location, the hotel is surrounded with many eateries and restaurants; Queensbay Mall, one of the more happening malls in Penang is also a short 10 min drive away from the hotel. It is also noteworthy to mention that Amari SPICE Penang is directly connected to the SPICE Convention Centre. 

About Amari:

The Amari collection of hotels and resorts by the ONYX Hospitality Group brings to life a contemporary reimagining of Thailand's rich cultural roots and the influence of its dynamic creativity to locations both near and far. Amari's network of properties spans across Thailand and beyond; including Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Buriram, Dhaka, Maldives, Johor Bahru, Vang Vieng, Yangshuo, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.amari.com.

Many Thanks to Amari SPICE Penang for hosting us.

5 Best Cheap Hotels In Singapore

Finding cheap hotels in Singapore is very easy. Although the country is famous for its high cost of living, you can still find many cheap accommodations that even the facilities they offer are very attractive.

Staying in cheap hotels in Singapore can also be a good option, you can save on spending while in Singapore. There's nothing wrong with staying in a cheap hotel, let alone a cheap hotel located in Singapore, surely you can still enjoy interesting facilities as well as good service.

Viet Garden @ Kimberley Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Vietnamese food lovers can look forward to an authentic, delicious Vietnamese meal at the newly opened Viet Garden at Kimberley Street. The new kid on the block offers a big Vietnamese menu with many familiar Vietnamese delights on the list with mid-average price points (thought portions are smaller than expected). Limited seating space on the ground floor but the upper floor dining area could accommodate bigger crowd. Service was a little slow on our visit but probably because of new operation jitters. Worth a look if you do enjoy a good Vietnamese meal. 

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.

JOJA Bagels @ Bishop Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Who does not love a good Bagel? Crusty, chewy, filling and versatile, JOJA Bagels is one of the few Bagel specialists in town that offers a full-fledged Bagel menu. The purists get to enjoy the all time classics while the more adventurous could go for those with creative combos. Expect longer wait at this new Bagel joint though; we waited ours for more than 30 minutes. Good quality of food, everything was fresh but be prepared to sign up for a messy dining experience. There will be no cutleries or utensils, just bare hands for the sandwiches. JOJA Bagels is located at Bishop Street, few shops away from BSN Bank on the same street. 

The Little House Kochabi 一家小店.古早味 @ Gelugor, Penang.

The Little House Kochabi 一家小店.古早味  is a newly opened and seemingly mysterious eatery along Jalan Yeap Chor Ee. The little light bulbs will be lit in the evenings and if you have been driving along the bustling street, chances of you noticing this place will be high. The Little House Kochabi offers a Taiwanese-influenced menu and its located on a slope (facing the junction to the shop houses at Island Glades). The menu is not big but some home-cooked Taiwanese meals- be it Rice or Noodles, along with some Taiwanese delights like Fried Chicken Chop, Fried Sweet Potato etc. Reasonable price points but the overall food offering is still quite weak and would need some fine-tuning. 

Macallum Connoisseurs Celebrates 8th Year Anniversary With Extra Promotions!

It has been a good 8 years since Macallum Connoisseurs opened its doors at the heart of Georgetown, offering quality Western cafe fare. Since the beginning, the quality at Macallum Connoisseurs has been consistent and known to be one of best cafes to visit in Penang. The reasons are clear- big menu from appetizers to mains and desserts, suitable for all age range, comfortable dining space with ample parking space; its food menu has evolved over the years, slowly expanding with more choices to offer. To celebrate its 8th year anniversary, Macallum Connoisseurs will be having 2 promotions: (i) for the month of January 2023, enjoy 8% discount on the bill for dine-in and; (ii) for diners who celebrate their birthday on 28th of January, they will receive ONE complimentary Main dish (upon verification). Make sure you make early reservations for the birthday promotion to avoid any disappointments! 

Many Thanks to Macallum Connoisseurs for hosting us

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.

Empat Sekawan Cafe @ Sunway Perdana, Perai, Penang.

Empat Sekawan Cafe is probably one of the busiest cafes around Sunway Perdana area, the cafe is often thronged with crowd, particularly on weekends. The place gets popular due to its solid, welcoming menu featuring various types of cuisines favorited by Malaysians. One can find Thai dishes, Malaysian delights, Chinese noodles, Western food on their menu... even some eye-catchy desserts. The wide variety of food offering is definitely a strong pull-factor, basically any diner from any age range gets to find something here. The price points are fair and reasonable. Its also note-worthy to mention Empat Sekawan Cafe is a pork-free cafe. 

Penang Is Now A Michelin Star Studded City- Michelin Guide Penang 2023

With the 2023 list of Penang Michelin Star winners unveiled last month, the topic has become the talk of the town- everyone has its own opinions on the list. Nevertheless, one must recognize the effort behind in promoting the Penang food culture as well as introducing Penang to the rest of the world. For the uninitiated, the Michelin Guide is a guidebook that has been published by the French tyre company- MICHELIN since 1900. The guidebook recognizes establishments with outstanding culinary performance in related aspects and till today, it is seen as one of the most reputable international food guides. It is also an assurance and attestation to a certain standard of quality. 

Many Thanks to Penang Global Tourism for extending the invitation.

The Fisher By KruaThai @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Satisfying your cravings for authentic Thai delights at The Fisher By KruaThai, a new Thai restaurant opened in September 2022. It took over the spot at Le Embassy Hotel (Burmah Road) previously occupied as Catch by D.A.M. Minimal changes to the interior, The Fisher now offers an authentic Thai menu manned by Thai Chefs. There are plenty of Thai options- from the familiar dishes like Mieng Kam to Tom Yum Seafood or even Tab Tim Krob; diners can also expect to find some uncommon yet exciting ones like Salt-Grilled Fish, Thai Lamb Rack Soup, Thai Glutinous Rice Balls etc. While the food quality is impressive, the dishes are also reasonably priced. If you are visiting in a big group, do make early reservations.

Many Thanks to The Fisher By KruaThai for hosting us. 

Ramen Lab @ Nagore Road, Georgetown, Penang.

More options for Ramen fans in town- Ramen Lab is the latest Ramen addition in Penang. The new Ramen joint can be found at Nagore Road, a short walk from New World Park (adjacent to Continental Bakery). Ramen Lab specializes in offering Tonkotsu Ramen, savory pork-based broth. Apart from Ramen, there are also some familiar Japanese delights on offer- Japanese Curry Rice, Gyoza, Takoyaki just to name a few. Price points are friendlier than those established ones though.

Dao Xiang Dim Sum 稻香点心 @ Kulim, Kedah.

There are only a handful of Dim Sum options at Kulim (Kedah) and Dao Xiang Dim Sum 稻香点心 is one of them. Strategically located at Taman Selasih and occupying a prominent corner lot, the place attracts diners of all age-range... mainly due to its big Chinese menu and well-spaced seating arrangement. Not only Dim Sum dishes are available, there are also some tummy-filling mains and stir-fry dishes as well as some Chinese pastries; importantly, they are all reasonably priced. Worth-dropping by if you are in the vicinity and looking for some classic, inexpensive Chinese eats. 

Lau Teng By Wilson Chia @ Butterworth, Penang.

Started in Nov 2022, Lau Teng By Wilson Chia is a rather hidden spot amidst light industrial shop houses at Butterworth that offers a comfortable, casual space over expertly crafted dishes. "Lau Teng" means upstairs or upper floor in Hokkien dialect; it occupies the upper floor of the warehouse-like building and transformed into a proper, sophisticated dining room Guests will need to enter from the main entrance then take the stairs up to the restaurant. The restaurant has a strong contrast to the facade- it is cozy, elegantly setup with big windows allowing natural lights to flow in; creating a warm-welcoming space. The mastermind behind the restaurant is Wilson Chia, a professionally trained culinary expert whom previously worked as a Yacht Chef. The regular menu features a modern take on European dishes but for those who prefers a full-fledged experience can go for the 5-course Degustation Menu.

Many Thanks to Lau Teng By Wilson Chia for hosting us that afternoon.