If you’re looking for a new but affordable travel destination to spend a quick getaway in, why not consider Penang? Besides delicious food that’s signature to Penang (Asam Laksa, Char Kway Teow with duck egg, Chendol, and more), Penang also has a flourishing cafe culture to check out.
If you’re ready to explore the cafes in Penang, here’s something to start your research with: 23 cafes in Penang you should definitely check out for some good Instagram-worthy shots.
1. Aplace 26
Aplace 26 promises that all your five senses – see, smell, hear, touch, taste – can all be satisfied in one spot. Head down for a relaxing breakfast amidst music, flowers, and good food – of course. Aplace 26 boasts of a healthy menu, with dishes that are adorned with pretty colours of spring.
Address: 26, Lorong Bangkok, Pulau Tikus, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 6pm (Wednesday to Monday), Closed on Tuesday
Contact: +60 12-932 3227
2. Arteasan Cafe
For an elegant tea experience, head over to Arteasan Cafe and indulge in a spread of Western food and fancy desserts.
The cafe has a minimalist interior – white walls and pink furniture – which makes for an extremely chic tea session that Mad Hatter will approve of.
The desserts are definitely the highlight of this cafe. Although they don’t have a huge menu for cakes, each item is enough to make your Instagram audience go wild.
Address: 122-C, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 1pm to 11pm daily
Contact: +60 11-5138 9858
3. Belle and Cream
Calling all bubble tea and cheesecake lovers! Head down to Belle and Cream where the two meet in the form of a unique Bubble Milk Tea Cheesecake topped with tapioca pearls.
Those who want to try this be warned: the flavour of the tea is very strong, a sign they’re using the real stuff but it may be overwhelming for those who prefer a milky sweet taste. Not to fret, they have a selection of cheesecake flavours including Original, Matcha and Chocolate that are crowd-pleasers.
If you like a minimalist-luxe vibe on your Instagram feed, the interior design of this cafe will certainly make for a great backdrop for your photos.
Address: 16, Medan Lim Cheng Teik, Kampung Syed, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm (Wednesday to Monday), Closed on Tuesday
Contact: +60 12-484 8968
4. Blooms Cafe
Blooms Cafe has to be on your list if you’re looking for an Instagram-worthy cafe to visit in Penang. Other than the gorgeous pink decor, it even has – hold your breath – a ball pit where you can jump into! As if that’s not exciting enough, guess what – you can even take your food inside!
The ball pit isn’t the only exciting thing about Blooms Cafe – its menu is amazing too. Before I get carried away with the ball pit, let’s not forget their menu items. Look forward to dishes that are decorated with flowers (hence its name!). They don’t just look good on your Instagram feed, they taste amazing too.
Address: 82b, Lebuh Tye Sin, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11am to 12pm daily
Contact: +60 18-386 4817
5. Dān Café 單
Dān Café’s concept is “a cafe surrounded by lush greenery in a concrete jungle” – pretty apt considering that the cafe is filled with plants – wall plants, hanging plants, plants in a jar. It’s the perfect getaway from the bustling city life and you can totally fool your friends into believing you are miles away, in a remote town.
Their food is also as Instagram-worthy as their decor, with each food carefully plated for maximum impact on photos – just look at their Chocolate Lava Cake and Affogato!
Address: George Town, 38/1, Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11am to 7pm daily
2wContact: +60 10-394 0877
6. Dandy Modern Food
Western food is certainly all the rage when it comes to cafes in Penang but we have discovered a gem in Jalan Mahsuri that serves Mediterranean food. Situated away from the bustling cafe scene in George Town, Dandy Modern Food is an all-in-one eatery, rotisserie, bakery and café inspired by global food cultures.
Of course, Mediterranean food is known for its vibrant food colours and we can tell Dandy Modern Food makes no compromise – from their main dishes right down to dessert, each dish is carefully plated using a myriad of colours, making it extremely picture-worthy. If you are new to the cuisine and find yourself unsure of what to pick, go for their signature Dandy Lamb with Rice or popular Dandy Kebab with Tabbouleh Salad.
For our Muslim readers, good news: it is 100% halal certified.
Address: No. 72-1-17 Arena Curve, Jalan Mahsuri, 11950 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm daily
Contact: +60 17-557 3141
7. Fourspoons Dessert Cafe
Approaching ice-cream desserts with an innovative take, Fourspoons prides itself on charting new paths for dessert lovers. If you’re curious about some of their items, Affogato with Black Sesame Soft Serve and Sweet Potato Waffle are only the tip of the iceberg. You should get ready for an ice-cream ride you’ve never experienced before.
Simple is never the intention for Fourspoons, so remember to also get your cameras ready for some fancy shots.
Address: 48-1 (Tingkat, 1, Jln Icon City, Icon City, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 3pm to 12am (Tuesday to Sunday), Closed on Monday
Contact: –
8. Fruitmade
Drink your thirst away at this tropical paradise! Check out their two-flavour soft serve ice-cream made from fresh fruits, served on top of fresh fruits. After all, who needs a bowl when you can have a fruit bowl (literally!) with a fruit dessert after your main course of ice cream. They also have fresh fruit smoothies made at an open counter so you can actually see your drink being concocted before your eyes!
Address: George Town, 38/1, Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11am to 7pm daily
Contact: +60 10-394 0877
9. Guagua’s Store
Tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood in Bukit Mertajam, Guagua’s Store is an unassuming cafe that serves a small selection of home-made desserts. Don’t let its small size fool you, its desserts are huge in flavours! Our favourite part is the small pieces of fruits baked into the cheesecake, giving small refreshing bites amidst the rich, creamy cheesecake. The pieces of fruits also make for the most unusual appearance (that you want on your Instagram feed!)
Address: Jalan Tiga, Machang Bubok, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 3.30pm to 10pm (Thursday & Sunday), 3.30pm to 11pm (Friday & Saturday), Closed on Monday to Wednesday
Contact: +60 10-225 8830
10. Home Cafe 家
For some Malaysian classics, Home Cafe is the best place to head to to enjoy local delights like Nasi Lemak, Mie Goreng, and Chendol. Like its name, the traditional food has a nostalgic and familial feel, making the food all the more delicious. However, what really caught our eye was the purple rice (dyed with butterfly pea flowers) and their tri-coloured drinks!
Address: Alora Hotel, Blok 19, Medan Kampung Relau, Bayan Point, Penang Island
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm (Tuesday to Sunday), Closed on Monday
Contact: +60 12-498 0250
11. Joies Cafe
If you’re looking for vegetarian and vegan fare, head down to Joies Cafe to check out their extensive brunch menu that’s complete with a wide selection of desserts. The philosophy of the cafe is to provide natural, energy-rich food grown from organic sources while providing a mid-week getaway from the bustling city. Sounds like an ideal spot to relax in, don’t you think?
Not only is the food good for the soul, it’s extremely pleasing to the eye too! The cafe specialises in sourdough bread and serves it with a multitude of colourful vegetables. Even their Black Sesame Tofu Cheesecake looks interesting with its monochrome colours.
Address: 1st floor 32, Jalan Moulmein 10350 Pulau Pinang, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am to 9pm (Friday to Wednesday), Closed on Thursday
Contact: +60 4-226 0479
12. Kraffmen Cafe
If you haven’t heard of the milkshakes at Kraffmen Cafe, you really need to head down to have a taste. Served in a mason jar and topped with all sorts of goodies including a salted caramel banana, it has been a hit for both children and adults alike. You’ll not just be enjoying the taste of the food, you’ll also love how it is plated. The plating of the dishes are so artfully designed you might wonder if you’re at a fine dining restaurant instead.
Kraffmen Cafe serves a full range of Australian-influenced dishes including salads, pastas, and fish. Those who have eaten here say that the dishes they tried are so marvelous, they want to return to try more items on the menu.
Address: George Town, 80, Jalan Zainal Abidin, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm (Thursday to Tuesday), Closed on Wednesday
Contact: +60 4-226 2770
13. Lavish Fusion Bakery
Established by popular bakery Love A Loaf, Lavish Fushion Bakery serves up pastries that seem to have been plated by an expert pâtissier. Creativity is key to the cafe’s concept, and they have been lauded for their innovative menu such as Snowy Ice Cream Croissant and Caramel Popcorn Milkshake. However, the latest must-try item is the popular Fuwa Fuwa Japanese souffle pancake, which they offer in a wide range of flavours, from the more classic ones like strawberry to more experimental ones like durian coffee. Your Instagram followers will definitely have a treat for their eyes the day you head down!
Address: 214, Lebuh Victoria, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: 10.30am to 11.30pm (Monday to Friday), 9am to 12am (Saturday & Sunday)
Contact: +60 4-261 0107
14. Le Petit Four Patisserie
You don’t need to travel to Paris to enjoy delicious classic pastries. Le Petit Four Patisserie is situated right in George Town and serves classic pastries like croissants, scones, and madeleines that many say are must-tries on their menu. They also offer other sweet treats and desserts that are so pretty, you probably would be tempted to try everything.
The only downside to this place is the long waiting hour. But we assure you it’s definitely worth the wait to please your stomach and your eye. Just a note, their croissants are so good, they sell out before lunchtime so you need to get there early to snatch up the goods!
Address: 310, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am to 6pm (Monday to Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday), Closed on Thursday and Friday
Contact: –
15. Ludwig softserve.au
When you’re caught in the afternoon sun, what better way is there to cool off than to have some frozen desserts? And among all the cold desserts we can think of an Insta-worthy unicorn ice cream sounds like a dream come true.
Ludwig’s soft serve ice-cream is made with only fresh milk and natural organic ingredients and once you sink your teeth into it, you’ll know why quality ingredients make all the difference. The ice-cream flavours they offer change from time to time, so there’s always something new to look forward to whenever you visit.
Besides the gorgeous ice-cream, their pretty rose-pink walls also make for a pretty backdrop for Instagram photos.
Address: 66, Lebuh Noordin, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12pm to 7pm daily
Contact: +60 17-451 7587
16. Matcho Cafe
Matcho Cafe serves up summertime specialties – perfect for Malaysia’s hot weather climate. It definitely feels like a tropical getaway at this cafe, as you can relax in rattan chairs while sipping on refreshing sodas – served in rose-gold cups! – and pretend you’re at the beach.
Address: 99B, Lebuh Noordin, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10.30am to 10.30pm (Wednesday to Monday), Closed on Tuesday
Contact: +60 4-261 0031
17. Norm // Noct
The name of the cafe caught our attention first – it is very interesting and reflects its concept of a cafe in the day that turns into a cocktail bar at night. Their famed waffles are a must-try, made in a cute heart-shaped waffle iron and are available in both sweet and savoury options so you can have them as the main or as dessert.
Address: 260c Lebuh Carnarvon 10100 George Town, Penang
Opening Hours: 10am to 12am daily
Contact: +60 17-401 1300
18. Plan C Pâtisserie
Get ready for an out-of-this-word experience at Plan C Patisserie – and we really mean it. The cafe serves up some eye-catching galaxy cakes that looks so perfect no matter which way you angle it. It’s more than just gimmicks though, because the taste matches up to their looks. The crowd goes especially crazy for their Salted Cream Sponge Cake with Pearl and Seasalt Chocolate Cake. Be warned though: if you want to avoid the long queue, call them up ahead of time to reserve a table.
Address: 4th Floor, Gurney Plaza, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm daily
Contact: +60 17-761 8888
19. Pik Nik
With a pink glow radiating from the interior of the store, you can already tell Pik Nik is not your regular cafe. Every angle makes for a photogenic selfie – after all you get a flattering pink filter with every photo! As for their food, the waffle-burgers are by far the most popular at their store. The Instagram-worthy dish looks quirky and taste delicious. If that’s not your thing, the cafe serves up delectable pasta as well.
Address: 15, Jalan Nagor, 10500 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 3pm to 12am (Monday, Wednesday to Friday), 12pm to 12am (Saturday & Sunday), Closed on Tuesday
Contact: +60 16-448 1517
20. Roots Dessert Bar
If you’ve got a sweet tooth like us, then there’s no such thing as too much desserts. Check out Roots Desserts Cafe, which doesn’t just do desserts well, but also introduce innovative flavours every now and then. Try their Rose-jelly Cheesecake, Tofu Cheesecake with lime jelly and Gula Melaka and Black Sesame Panna Cotta. If you still feel up it after all these delectable fare, order their refreshing Watermelon Cake, to round up your cafe experience. Note that this is a bestseller that is only available on Friday and weekends.
Address: 72, Jalan A.S. Mansoor, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 3pm to 11pm (Wednesday & Thursday), 3pm to 12am (Friday), 12pm to 12am (Saturday), 12pm to 11pm (Sunday), Closed on Monday & Tuesday
Contact: +60 14-909 9272
21. The Book Sandwich Cafe
For hearty, indulgent meal, consider The Book Sandwich Cafe. Lobster is a huge feature in their menu, and their most popular dishes include the Lobster Sandwich, Lobster Marinara Pasta, and Poached Lobster. Besides making for a dramatic photo on Instagram, these dishes are also going to satisfy your tummy.
Address: 205 Lebuh Pantai, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 12pm to 11pm daily
Contact: +60 4-261 3445
22. The Craftisan
What sets The Craftisan apart is their tea-infused gelato that presents both a refreshing bite and creamy goodness – think Tie Kuan Yin, Hojicha, and Honey Jasmine gelato. You can also anticipate new flavours during festive season, such as their latest Pineapple gelato for Chinese New Year.
It’s not enough to only get the ice-cream – they taste even better when paired with crepes and apple crumble. These tasty dishes are also beautifully decorated, so get your (phone) cameras ready before you dig in.
Address: 1st Floor, 12, Jalan Kek Chuan, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 2pm to 11pm (Monday to Saturday), Closed on Sunday
Contact: +60 4-227 8200
23. Urban Daybreak
Known for its breakfast spread, Urban Daybreak is the cafe to check out when you wake up to a rumbling tummy in the morning. Offering unique renditions of Western breakfast such as having bananas and bacon on their Signature French Toast and burnt honey peach on their Continental Croissant, this cafe will surely wow your taste buds, if you’re up for it.
Not only that, just look at the flower petals on your plate! Your plate is not just a plate – it is an artwork.
Address: 338, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 7.30am to 5.30pm (Wednesday to Monday), Closed on Tuesday
Contact: +60 4-262 9693
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