Georgetown Penang has an eclectic collection of charming cafes. These are worthy of your time while exploring street art and rich cultural heritage.
There are many chic and cozy venues to get a comforting breakfast, lunch, or a carb-loaded dinner.
Bookmark this list of the best Georgetown cafés in Penang! Try some sourdough bread, dainty pastries, and artisanal coffee.
11 Best Cafes In Georgetown, Penang Island
1. The Mugshot Café
An intriguing designer café set within two pre-war shophouses:
The Mugshot Café is hard to miss with its distinctive brown blinds emblazoned with its name.
A life-size skeleton of a Pteranodon and pink paper fans hang from the ceiling. It is an arresting sight to behold.
On the menu is a range of bespoke non-alcoholic cakes that taste as good as they look.
The Pistachio Lemon Cake is a best seller. It pairs well with any of the high-quality fruity yogurt shakes. The Jackfruit Greek yogurt and jackfruit Gula Melaka Yogurt are healthy desserts.
Other than these, the Salmon Bagel is another decadent winner. It has a filling of cream cheese and is crispy.
Jazzy background music completes this relaxing space. So pop on over at this George Town café in Penang at any time of the day.
- Address: 302, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang.
- Business Hours: 8am–10pm; Friday & Saturday, 8am–12am
- Contact: 011-2644 7007
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
2. Yin’s Sourdough Bakery and Café
Originating as a wholesale bakery:
Yin’s Sourdough Bakery & Café repivoted its business strategy. They now offer artisanal coffee and café food.
Their sourdough bread is first class. And has a faultless equilibrium of sour and wholesome nuances.
Bread lovers revel in their cheesy egg-filled focaccia with garlic and rosemary undertones.
Meanwhile, their “mistress” coffee is a beautiful art piece. It has roasted tea and they use flower petals for decoration.
The breakfast set of fluffy soft scrambled eggs and handmade sausage is worth having. It comes with homemade tomato sauce.
- Address: 11, Pesara Claimant, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 8.00am to 5.30pm. Closed on Wednesday
- Contact: 011-2419 5118
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Website; Facebook; Instagram
3. Lunabarcoffee
Plant-filled with a Scandinavian concept to boot:
Lunabarcoffee is a popular joint among bookworms and coffee lovers.
Towering book racks present a sweet opportunity to scour for new reading material. As books are available for sale along with your preferred choice of coffee.
Aside from books, there’s a vinyl player in-house where guests can request for their favorite song.
And while Lunabarcofee is mostfamous for its gourmet coffee and teas:
There’s a decent selection of homemade cakes too.
Thrill your taste buds with their Banana Cake, Almond Blue Berry Cake, or Matcha Cake.
- Address: 10d, Jalan Clove Hall, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 11.00am to 5.00pm. Closed on Tues and Wednesday
- Contact: 010-932 2810
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
4. siTigun Micro Coffee Roastery
Carving its niche as an artisanal coffee place featuring roasted Indonesian beans:
siTigun Micro Coffee Roastery lives up to its name.
By default, they serve double-shot coffee to patrons. So, if you want to dial this down to a single shot, let the crew know upfront.
Steep quality control is their forte. The café has its own coffee bean roasting machine. Baristas roast the Arabica and Robusta beans according to their expertise.
For something savory to go with your coffee:
The croissant and scrambled eggs are on-point, as are other buttery pastries.
- Address: 28, Jalan Nagor, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm. Closed on Mon.
- Contact: 04-228 7108
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
5. Coffee Lane
Coffee Lane on Chulia Street is a great pitstop in your Penang itinerary. This unassuming small café boasts a decent menu with the usual café staples.
Some of their must-try breakfast items include the Butter-Kaya Toast with Half-Boiled Eggs.
Alongside an array of homemade cakes like the Marble and Banana Cake.
But they have an impressive coffee and unique beverage list as well. Snow Blake Coffee is one such crowd-puller.
You should note that their coffee beans are not too strong and they have a fruity top note.
An in-house roaster helps deliver consistent goodness with each brew. They roast beans at the start of each morning to ensure the utmost freshness.
- Address: 435, Chulia St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang.
- Business Hours: 9.00am to 6.00pm daily.
- Contact: 04-226 3350
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
6. Jawi House Cafe Gallery
With a rich heritage dating back six generations:
Jawi House Café Gallery serves authentic Peranakan cuisine. They use spices of Arab, Persian, and Indian descent.
The décor of this pre-war shop lot is breathtaking too:
There is heavy use of mahogany furniture to contrast against colorful windows.
Pictures of Chef Nuril’s family and important Jawi Peranakan women folk adorn the walls.
Food-wise, the Nasi Briyani with chicken or lamb is on-point. It goes well with fragrant-imbued Air Pandan (screw pine drink).
Assam Laksa Lemak is another amazing rendition. It balances the richness of the coconut milk and the tangy undertones.
Not forgetting the Beef Rendang. This is a renown hit for its smoky taste that accompanies the tender meat chunks.
- Address: 85, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 11.00am to 9.30pm. Closed on Tuesday
- Contact: 04-261 3680
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Website; Facebook; Instagram
7. Fuku Eatery & Dessert
With an azure-colored flight of stairs against clean interiors:
Fuku Eatery & Dessert stands out for its mouthwatering menu and sleek aesthetics.
Their Umu Japanese curry, Mazemen (dry ramen), and Udon are crowd favorites. And you will doubtless see these menu items on many tables.
And instead of conventional coffee mugs:
Their iced coffee comes in a sake bottle. You can sip the coffee from small teacups for a novel experience.
Fuku Eatery & Dessert offers desserts too:
The ice-shaved dessert, Golden Mang Kakigori is nice. It has crisp grapes, pear jellies, and homemade mango sauce.
You’ll also find a decent variety of meatless food ideal for vegetarians.
Expect thick lunch crowds since the breakfast menu is minimal. Some of the food is only available after 11:30pm too.
- Address: 37a&b, Beach St, Georgetown, 10300 George Town, Penang.
- Business Hours: Mon – Thurs: 9.00am to 6.00pm. Fri – Sun: 9.00am to 9.00pm daily.
- Contact: 017-892 4829
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
8. Matcho Café
Try matcha delicacies and chocolate desserts in a chic setting at this George Town cafe.
This café’s use of neon pink and pastels against green makes for a tranquil but vibrant atmosphere.
The menu has some seasonal items:
One top recommendation is their Rose Matcha Pancake. It incorporates floral accents that integrate well with matcha’s earthy flavors.
You can choose matcha latte art and matching matcha crepes!
- Address: 99B, Lebuh Noordin, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 2.00pm to 10.00pm. Closed on Tuesday
- Contact: 04-261 0031
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
9. The Table Penang
The Table Penang boasts a wide selection of sumptuous Western meals.
They have Chicken Chop and Pesto Pasta. And Chicken Popcorn with Creamy Sauce. The food here is well-done and rarely disappoints.
The Bolognese Beef Burger is another well-crafted dish. For this, they use 100% Australian beef and rich wagyu beef.
Artisanal tea and beverages are of generous servings.
- Address: 27, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: Mon – Fri: 12pm to 10.30pm. Sat – Sun: 3.00pm to 10.30pm.
- Contact: 012-385 3892
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
10. Soul Café
Hailed for serving the best pasta in this side of town:
Soul Café’s different spaghetti texture puts it on the pedestal of pasta greats.
Always al dente and well-coated with glorious pasta sauce:
Fusion variants like Curry and Tom Yam Pasta are as good as classic choices such as the Pesto Pasta.
The Linguine Al Vongole Pasta is another clear hit on the menu with its generous use of fresh clams and herbs.
As for its ambiance, warm lighting and woody fittings provide an inviting touch. The welcoming environment overflows with good vibes.
- Address: 12, Jalan Kek Chuan, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: 11.00am to 9.00pm. Closed on Sunday
- Contact: 04-226 8200
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
11. Norm Micro Roastery
Styled in pristine white with ample natural light and an industrial ceiling:
Norm Micro Roastery has a beautiful open-concept interior. Living trees thrive at the center of this café.
This minimalist-designed café at George Town is also a well-liked cafe that allows pets.
Norm Micro Roastery is famous for its Prawn and Pumpkin Risotto. This uses natural stock well infused with rich seafood essence.
The risotto possesses an ideal moisture ratio too. Fresh clams strike a balance in flavors.
Moreover, their Tiramisu is tiny but decadent in all aspects. the taste of fine liquor and luscious mascarpone cheese is notable.
- Address: 13, Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
- Business Hours: Sun, Mon – Thurs: 8.00am to 6.00pm. Fri – Sat: 8.00am to 10.00pm.
- Contact: 016-527 6273
- Email: [email protected]
- Social Media: Facebook; Instagram
Conclusion
Seek to cool off at any of these amazing Georgetown cafes that are set to tantalize your palate.
Take a break from the roadside hawker food Penang is famous for.
Coffee aficionados can head over to any one of these other cafes in Penang too.
