Google search for Quirky Penang Cafe 2024, and a list of quaint cafes appears.
The list is related to where you are on the island.
So where do you go?
I vote for delicious food with good service, not just instagrammable places and food for the gram!
Quirky Penang Cafe Worth Visiting
For the best experience within your budget, you should shortlist a few from the quirky Penang cafes worth visiting.
The local cafe scene differs from that of other Malaysian cities due to Penang’s distinct heritage, history, and connectivity.
For a total immersion experience of the charming vibes, here’s a list of many quirky Penang cafes to add to your café hopping list.
If you’re looking to escape the bustling George Town heat (but then again, maybe NOT), check out these cafes that SmartDory and friends have tried and liked.
Remember, reciprocity goes a long way when it comes to service.
1 EMILY Darling Cafe (Bakery/Café)
EMILY Darling Cafe bakes delectable pastries and indulgent cakes that are rich and yummeh!
The charming, friendly cafe has some of the freshest, most delicious pastries on the bustling Penang Road. The food and service are top-notch.
Two visits in two months and will return for more.
Service: Friendly and good vibes the moment you step in.
Co-owner Danny makes excellent recommendations and makes you feel right at home!
EMILY Darling Cafe
Address:186 & 188 Penang Road, 10000 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
Opening hours: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
Pick your pastry and add on the Garden Salad – so pretty!
2 Two Frenchies Cafe Bistro
When we went for Easter Sunday breakfast at The Two Frenchies, the staff was on point, polite, perfectly trained, and attentive.
My 3rd visit over the years.
The restaurant offers various mouth-watering savory and sweet selections and is recommended for its delicious food and excellent service.
My favorite order is Croque Monsieur, done perfectly with delightful ham and melty cheese!
Service: Warm hospitality, knowledgeable staff with great recommendations.
Overall, nice folks!
Two Frenchies Cafe Bistro
Address: 36, Lebuh Bishop, 10200 George Town, Penang
Opening hours: 11.30 AM to 10.30 PM
Smartdory’s favorite, the Croque Monsieur, is a hot sandwich with ham and melty cheese.
3 OME By Spacebar Coffee
So far, Ome wins hands-down as the smoothest coffee for your list Penang Cafe 2023.
The small, narrow cafe is tucked in a secluded alley along Lorong Toh Aka, away from the maddening crowds.
Food choice is limited to Olive Oil Zucchini Loaf, but you’re here because of the delicious coffee.
OME’s best-seller: Coffee!
Service: Polite and helpful. I brought friends from overseas, and everyone loved the coffee.
OME By Spacebar Coffee
Address: 1, Lorong Toh Aka, George Town, 10100 George Town, Penang
Operating Hours: 7:30 AM to 4.00 PM (Closed Thursdays and Fridays)
OME’s best-seller: Coffee!
4 W.Life Cafe (Vegetarian)
A vegetarian café in a comfortable, clean place with a good ambiance.
The sharp, vibrant interiors make for a great photoshoot.
Service: Helpful and polite. It’s a little slow due to a lack of staff, but it has good vibes, and the people here are kind.
W.Life Cafe
Address: 2, Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, 10300 Penang.
Opening hours: 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM
5 WHEELER’S (Café & Bar)
Popular and packed almost every day of the week, Wheeler’s constantly introduces new menu items that don’t disappoint.
The service, even on busy days, is polite and spot on, with accommodating staff who keeps checking on orders.
The coffee is good!
Wheeler’s best-seller: Espresso Chicken
Service: Good, courteous service. The staff is helpful.
WHEELER’S
Address: 67, Lorong Love, George Town, 10200 George Town, Penang.
Opening hours: 8.00 AM to 12.00 AM
Wheelers Cafe must order their famous Espresso Chicken
6 Hudson’s Deli
It is a great little Deli with fabulous meats, cheeses, bread, soups, imported beers, and stouts.
Hudson’s Deli’s best-seller: the Reuben sandwich, Russian dressing, Sauerkraut, and Beef Pastrami on Rye!
Service: Friendly and chatty when there is a lull, as the owners are kept busy behind the counters most of the time.
Hudson’s Deli
Address: 103, Jalan Chan Siew Teong, Taman Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang
Operating Hours: 11.00 AM to 6.00 PM (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
The Reuben Sandwich at the Hudson’s Deli with Russian dressing, Sauerkraut, and Beef Pastrami on Rye!
7 Passion Heart Cafe (Bakery/Café)
Nely Koon started selling her decadent homemade cakes at a humble stall at the monthly Little Penang Street Market before setting up a bakery and cafe.
The bakery started as Nellcis Home Made Snacks (Nellcis Cake House) on Jalan A.S. Mansoor, off Jalan Transfer Road.
Nasi lemak, mee jawa, and Pasta are on the menu. However, their forte lies in their superb cakes.
Service: Courteous and friendly, and pleasant.
Passion Heart Cafe
Address: 23, Jalan A.S. Mansoor, 10050 George Town, Penang.
Operating Hours: 11:30 AM to 9.00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
L to R: Pesto Chicken and Mee Jawa
8 Kopi Hutan (Cafe)
Perfect for nature lovers, you have tree canopies as your roof and shrubs and tree trunks for walls.
However, the Kopi Hutan menu is limited, and there’s no hot kitchen for a sit-down meal.
If you’re looking for a quirky Penang cafe for coffee and cakes, it’s worth a stop.
Service: The cafe is run by aunties, and the service can be slow. Be patient and enjoy the awesome jungle vibe as you wait.
Kopi Hutan
Address: Summit Road, Penang Hill, 11500 Penang
Opening hours: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM daily
Kopi Hutan is a forest coffee grown at the highest point in Penang Hill, in the vicinity of a rainforest.
9 Mangga at The Blue Mansion (Cafe)
Mangga offers a casual, laid-back spot under the old mango tree on the grounds of the Blue Mansion.
The pork-free restaurant serves a classic and contemporary All Day Dining menu of comfort food and drinks.
Service: Polite.
SmartDory friends have reported great ambiance and enjoyed dining in the Mangga garden.
Mangga at The Blue Mansion
Address: Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion, 14, Leith Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Cafe Mangga is open from 8.00 AM to 6.00 PM daily.
Mangga offers a casual, laid-back spot under the old mango tree on the grounds of the Blue Mansion. Image: MANGGA
10 Norm Micro Roastery (Cafe)
A not-that-smart fish got lost on the rendezvous and went to the original outlet.
The other four seniors had gone café hopping to the correct location, but of course!
Norm’s unique, stark, minimalist interiors feature high ceilings, polished cement floors, and skylights to illuminate the space naturally.
While the ID makes for a great photo shoot in this former warehouse, the café gets warm and noisy during peak hours.
There is a decent menu with various options, a range of coffee (from their roastery), and crafted beverages.
Service: Polite.
Norm Micro Roastery
Address: 13, Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang
Opening hours: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM (Sundays to Thursdays) and 9.00 AM to 10 PM (Fridays and Saturdays)
Norm Micro Roastery is one of the famous cafes in Penang, with an industrial structure and high ceilings. Image: NORM
11 TEMU Coffee (Halal)
TEMU cafe’s facade is covered in creepers, with a sizeable reflective art piece at the entrance.
Inside, its calm ambiance of stripped-down interiors greets you if you want to meet up or TEMU (Malay).
The signature burnt cheesecake and pastries are popular with the in-house Temu coffee blend, coffee, and crafted beverages.
TEMU Coffee
Address: 62, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10300 George Town, Penang.
Opening hours: 10.00 AM to 7.00 PM daily
A calm ambiance of stripped-down interiors greets you at TEMU. Image: TEMU
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