Walking into the Craftisan, I felt the “Zen” ambiance’s calm and peace.
I suggested trying out the handcrafted dessert and coffee bar.
Our criteria are friendly vibes, easy parking, fabulous food, great coffee, and decadent desserts.
The Hardwicke House next to the Vouk Hotel was perfect for an extended Friday lunch date with friends.
The friendly parking attendant greets you and asks where you are headed.
You get an RM4 rebate off the RM6 parking fee for diners, so don’t be alarmed.
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What is the Craftisan?
Just as the moniker suggests, the Craftisan prides itself on its unique and handcrafted coffee, homemade desserts, and treats (read gelato!)
The original location of the café was above the Soul Café, touted as the 1st Photography Café in Malaysia.
The Soul Cafe, their sister cafe, has some of the best recipes for pasta in George Town!
That was when I met the team behind the brand years ago.
The Craftisan Coffee
The list of coffee is engaging, with the Tasting Plates standing out
You get single espresso coffee – espresso, long black, and latte.
For their best-handcrafted delights – their unique hand-dripped coffee is memorable.
As I mentioned to Barista Hui Ying, my favorite is the Butterscotch Caramel Coffee she makes.
You will need to head over to the Soul Café for that drink.
The Craftisan Ambiance
I love the muted colors, and the café has a great chill vibe for dessert and coffee lovers.
If you love selfies, you can find interesting spots to take great shots here.
Sit up close to the Barista as your coffee is brewed.
The dining area has a Zen Garden and plants for sale.
The Craftisan Shop
As you enter, the lobby to the premise’s right are outlets with exciting product displays.
Some of the handcrafted ceramics on display are unique and beautiful.
You can ask for help, and the nice young lady in charge will explain.
Check out the product displays!
The Craftisan Gelato RM10
The Craftisan has tea-inspired gelato, which is slow-churned for increased flavor and density.
There are a selected number of flavors that you can choose from the Homemade Gelato Menu.
When I visited the Craftisan at Kek Chuan Street, I was surprised to learn that traditional Chinese tea is used to create Italian gelato.
The unique flavors include all-time favorites Rum & Raisin and Tie Guan Yin’s interesting taste (the Taiwanese oolong tea), Matcha, and Hojicha.
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- Tie Kuan Yin
- Rum & Raisin
- Matcha
- Hojicha
- Pistachio
- Salted Caramel
Artisan Gelato for sale. Check out the flavors.
The Craftisan Menu
If you appreciate healthy food, excellent drinks, desserts, and a quiet hideaway from the hustle and bustle of George Town.
We ordered a few items for the four of us to try.
Salmon Egg Benedict RM24
One of Craftisan’s signature dishes, the Salmon Egg Benedict, features homemade cured salmon slices paired with homemade hollandaise sauce.
Multigrain bread, avocado, onsen egg, homemade hollandaise sauce, and house salad make a perfect brunch item.
Salmon Egg Benedict RM24
The Big Breakfast RM35
Multigrain bread, Beef Bacon, Lamb Sausage, Chicken Ham, Portobello Mushrooms, Tomato, and Sunny-Side Egg.
The Big Breakfast is quite an enormous set and best shared. However, if you have a huge appetite, you can eat it by yourself and stay full most of the day!
The Big Breakfast RM35
The Craftisan Teas
The cafe offers premium tea from famous tea regions globally. The selection of teas perfectly complements its creative desserts.
Just the right lightness – perfect to accompany sweet cakes!
The Craftisan Coffee
The café offers a wide range of single-origin coffee and, not to worry, experienced baristas to make your delicious cuppa.
If you ask me if there is a difference in who pulls your coffee – yes, there is.
A great barista is a skilled technician who understands the science of brewing.
He or she learns to control the flavor of the final cup of coffee.
When done correctly, the barista is the one who creates a consistent, delicious coffee.
The Craftisan Coffee.
Tips: Ask the friendly staff to discover specials or limited offerings, such as seasonal tea or hand-drip coffee.
We found the Egg Tart as a promotional display near the Cashier as this item was not on the official menu!
The Craftisan Dessert Menu (RM15 to RM20)
It depends on what strikes your fancy if you’re up for some luscious sweet options with premium quality desserts.
Cakes, brownies, crepe, or gelato, the dessert offerings should be delicious and satisfy your cravings.
- Creme Brulee
- Matchmisu
- Hojichamisu
- Chocolate Lava Cake
- Match Lava Cake
- Hojicha Lava Cake
- French Vanilla Crepe Cake
- Oreo Crepe Cake
- Belgium Chocolate Crepe Cake
Belgium Chocolate Crepe Cake RM15
There were several pretty cakes to choose from from the glass showcase.
I’ve tasted the Chocolate and Matcha Lava Cake a few times, and it’s impressive.
For this outing, we tried the Belgium Chocolate Crepe Cake as a shared dessert and loved it.
Crepes are intentionally incredibly thin.
Sometimes, if you pour too much batter into the pan, the crepe becomes thicker and maybe a tad chewy.
However, that aside, the Belgium Chocolate Crepe Cake was well presented and deliciously flavorful.
The Craftisan Egg Tart (RM15 for nine tarts)
One of the nicest surprises is when the little one mouths a bite of Macau-type Portuguese Egg Tarts.
Unlike the shortcrust casing used by the Hong Kong pastry shops, Macau’s Portuguese egg tarts are made from puff pastry.
The Macanese egg tarts are slightly sweeter, and the tops are caramelized.
The burned bits, of course, tasted the best, so those went first into our greedy mouths.
Belgium Chocolate Crepe Cake RM15 and The Craftisan Egg Tart (RM15 for nine tarts)
The Craftisan Service
The servers speak predominately Mandarin, English, and Hokkien, so a banana like me, feel free to switch to Penang Hokkien to converse.
Generally, the staff is friendly and helpful with the menu or any explanation.
The Craftisan Review
Over the years, the Craftisan has continuously created an exciting combination of flavors and textures in its desserts.
The staff is always smiling (yes, behind the masks) and friendly.
The brightly lit decor is clean and relaxing—just the perfect ambiance to while away a free afternoon while you indulge in coffee and delicious treats.
By the way, the café is Pork-Free, so it is a good option for health-conscious folks who omit Pork and Lard from their diets.
My only comment is there is only one dining table near the lobby area.
If you don’t mind sitting on a high stool at the bar.
I recommend this cafe to everyone looking for a quiet bistro to chill with great desserts.
A café is a perfect place for gathering with friends, and we would come back again.
The Craftisan
Wellings Mansion,
67, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town, Penang 10050 Malaysia
Contact: 04-2278200
Operation hours: 8 am – 5 pm (Sun Close)
