{"id":339552,"date":"2025-08-04T07:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T14:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/?p=339552"},"modified":"2025-08-04T09:45:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T16:45:40","slug":"the-sprudge-guide-to-coffee-in-george-town-penang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/the-sprudge-guide-to-coffee-in-george-town-penang-339552.html","title":{"rendered":"The Sprudge Guide To Coffee In George Town, Penang"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Malaysian state of Penang\u2014known far and wide in a culinary context\u2014is synonymous with the city of George Town, the region’s capital. Awash with rows of heritage buildings, George Town is rightfully one of Asia\u2019s most popular tourist destinations, with magnificent temples, sandy beaches, lively markets, and incredible street food making it a magnet for visitors year-round.<\/p>\n

While the coffee scene in Kuala Lumpur is better known, and quite well-established, coffee in Penang has grown leaps and bounds in the last decade, building on the foundations laid by Constant Gardener<\/a> and Ome by Spacebar<\/a> (both were mentioned in our 2020 Penang article by Tung Nguyen<\/a>, and highly worth a visit). Since then a new batch of brewers and roasters have been planting their footprints into the local scene, more than enough to warrant a proper update.<\/p>\n

\"penang<\/p>\n

As expected, you will find plenty of cafes serving decent flat whites and avocado toast, but the way the city has evolved leaves you with third-wave options galore. An award-winning AeroPress bar, ring-a-doorbell coffee shop decorated like a hoarder’s cave, sleek Taiwanese minimalism, a neighborhood third-wave shop in a house, and even specialty locales with vegan burgers and tattoos in the same floor space. It’s enough to make you wonder: is George Town currently Asia’s most underrated coffee city?<\/p>\n

Mundane<\/h2>\n

\"mundane<\/p>\n

Early birds flock to Mundane<\/a> to drink their batch brew before hitting the office. The cafe opens at 6:00am sharp\u2014a rarity here\u2014which means travelers might consider this a first-stop option on a coffee crawl, before the heat sets in. Run by Johny Koay<\/a>, this small cafe is a refuge for specialty coffee, expertly brewed behind the famous Pulau Tikus market.<\/p>\n

Koay prepares his AeroPress orders at the back bar, dotted with high stools so you can watch and chat about methods and doses. The rest of the counter is home to the espresso maker, batch brew, and snacks. If your idea of the perfect morning is waking early, having a delicious coffee, and heading out to explore street food stalls, start your adventure here.<\/p>\n

\"mundane<\/p>\n

Need another reason to visit? Locals know an added benefit of heading to Mundane early is its proximity to Ravi\u2019s<\/a>, where one can grab a pile of delicious Michelin<\/a> recommended claypot Apom (a sweet fermented rice flour pancake) before they\u2019re sold out (usually by 9am).<\/p>\n

Mundane is located at 359B, Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, George Town<\/a>. Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

Lunabar<\/h2>\n

\"lunabar<\/p>\n

This neighborhood shop offers a quintessential cafe hideout experience. Occupying the bottom floor of a house, the cafe’s concrete-pastel interior is studded with dry flowers, ceramic pottery and hand painted menus. A backroom provides space for work, the front area, containing the bar, is perfect for a quick chat and a long sip.<\/p>\n

The coffee here is all thoughtfully hand-picked. Colorful menus guide you through flavor profiles to aid in your decision, and for a moment the congested streets of George Town become a dull thudding in the distance.<\/p>\n

\"lunabar<\/p>\n

Lunabar<\/a> is where the Penang’s coffee pros go on their day off. That says it all really.<\/p>\n

Lunabar is located at 10d, Jalan Clove Hall, George Town, 10050 George Town<\/a>. Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

Wells<\/h2>\n

\"wells<\/p>\n

Born in 2013 in Taiwan, Wells Cafe<\/a> arrived a few years later to George Town. Their ethos is in combining Japanese and Scandinavian roasting methods, to create the flavor profiles they desire, with tasting-note cards explaining the steps involved in how your cup arrives at the table.<\/p>\n

The pour-over coffee here is especially good. Brewed with a light hand, and bringing out both the floral and the sweet notes of their beans. Upstairs is a relaxed, open-plan room with comfortable chairs, bookshelves full of reading material, and large windows on all sides. Downstairs is the brains of the operation with espresso machines and filter coffee set-ups.<\/p>\n

Wells is located at 125, Jalan Timah, 10150 George Town<\/a>. Visit their official website<\/a> and follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

A Soar<\/h2>\n

\"asoar<\/p>\n

Gadgets piled on the counter, Tupperware tubs crammed with resting beans, subscription bags spilling out of wooden boxes and the constant hum of a coffee grinder: A Soar<\/a> is not your regular cafe. Focused on roasting a variety of beans, using different processing methods as a foundation, the coffee here is bold, clean and vibrant.<\/p>\n

Whether your tastes lie in sweet, washed coffee, intense co-ferments or black honey processed, A Soar has something for everyone.<\/p>\n

\"asoar<\/p>\n

A Soar is located at 102, Lrg Kinta, George Town, 10400 George Town<\/a>.\u00a0 Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

Double Check<\/h2>\n

\"doublecheck<\/p>\n

This cafe is unique in Penang, boldly international with a visual style that draws on classic American hip-hop and contemporary branding trends. Founder Chui May San quit her desk job in 2024 to start this place, and sources coffee from the very good roaster Afloat<\/a> in Kuala Lumpur. In a short time, she has managed to create an original space in a crowded, local market.<\/p>\n

Espresso and pour-over coffees are both on offer here, but our tip is to ask May to recommend whatever her favorite might be that day. This is a distinctly owner-operated place and she won’t steer you wrong.<\/p>\n

\"doublecheck<\/p>\n

Double Check is located at 120, Jalan Pintal Tali, George Town, 10100 George Town<\/a>. Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

Orcabrew<\/h2>\n

\"orcabrew<\/p>\n

A minute\u2019s walk from the popular New World Park food centre, Orcabrew<\/a> delivers specialty coffee in artistic surroundings. In fact, it may be something of a world’s first, a combination coffee brew bar, tattoo studio, and (great) vegan burger shop called \u201cSusu Mylk Bar<\/a>\u201d at the back.<\/p>\n

The specialty menu reads from affordable to \u201cmonthly splurge,\u201d and drinks are prepared conscientiously. On a recent visit, one highlight included a floral and peach-forward Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Gelana washed coffee that was balanced and delicate. Their food and dessert menu is popular, so lunch dates are a hot topic here. The high ceilings give you a sense of breathing space, and the chatter never becomes too cloying.<\/p>\n

\"orcabrew<\/p>\n

Orcabrew is located at 209, Jalan Hutton, 10050 George Town<\/a>. Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

Slow Coffee Person<\/h2>\n

\"slowcoffeeperson<\/p>\n

A home-brewer-turned-coffee-shop owner, Slow Coffee Person<\/a> is tucked along a row of buildings three blocks from Chulia Street. Entered only after ringing a bell, the interiors are a study in maximalism, with every conceivable coffee item given its prominence on the shelf space. The walls are adorned with posters; countertops covered with brewers, drippers, grinders, filter papers, and coffee bags. This place is something of a personal coffee museum, but also, somehow, a working coffee bar.<\/p>\n

Seating is tight, but that creates a cosy atmosphere where you can easily chat to the barista. Roasters are selected with great intention, and often skew local, to favorites such as Tongue Mission,<\/a> or else go totally international, from the likes of La Cabra<\/a> and Manhattan<\/a>. This shop is truly a one of one, distinct experience.<\/p>\n

\"slowcoffeeperson<\/p>\n

\"slowcoffeeperson<\/p>\n

Slow Coffee Person is located at 209, Jalan Hutton, 10050 George Town<\/a>.\u00a0 Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

The Alley<\/h2>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

No guide to Penang is complete without a nod to The Alley<\/a>. This cult-status shop (located just behind the Goddess of Mercy Temple) serves excellent espresso and pour-over coffee. One of the first-wave of specialty shops to open, back in 2013, they have quietly let the coffee do the talking in the decade-plus since, inspiring a whole generation of coffee bars and coffee lovers here in Penang along the way.<\/p>\n

Despite being in the centre of George Town, the location in a small side-street ensures that only the coffee-forward tourists find it. With five to six small tables, the space is compact, but the lack of loud music makes it excellent for planning your tourist itinerary in peace and quiet.<\/p>\n

\"thealley<\/p>\n

The Alley is located at 5, Stewart Lane, George Town<\/a>. Visit their official website and follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

The Ais & Hani<\/h2>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

What could be better than an ice-cream store and coffee shop in the same space? Hani<\/a> specializes in the growing popularity of Yunnan beans, roasting them in light and medium options and preparing delicate, sweet pour-overs. Their honey-processed offerings are particularly delicious, prepared in a manner that highlights sweetness and clarity.<\/p>\n

The Ais & Hani is located at 65 Lebuh Campbell, George Town<\/a>. Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

Nine Lives Roaster<\/h2>\n

\"ninelivesroaster<\/p>\n

Open only on Thursday to the public, the main purpose of Nine Lives<\/a> is roasting, training, and promoting specialty coffee. Run by passionate owners and always participating in events to inform people about the coffee universe, if you happen to be in town during their narrow opening window, make a beeline.<\/p>\n

Numerous cafes roast their beans at Nine Lives, so it is a hive of activity. We were treated to a tasting of three new coffee\u2019s whilst the roasters worked tirelessly in the background filling the room with amazing aromas.<\/p>\n

\"ninelivesroaster<\/p>\n

Nine Lives Roaster is located at Pusat Bayaran Setempat, Jalan Padang Kota Lama, George Town, 10200 George Town<\/a>. Follow them on Instagram<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\n

There’s so much more happening in George Town\u2014here’s additional cafes that are very worth your time:<\/p>\n

Ome by Spacebar<\/a>, Coffee Lane<\/a>, Constant Gardener<\/a>, AE<\/a>, Forest Cloud<\/a>, Sweetbar<\/a>, Altertaste<\/a>, 2F+<\/a>, and Reframe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Taste Note Crews<\/a> if you are visiting Butterworth. Tongue Mission<\/a> if you need to stock up on beans.<\/p>\n

\"penang<\/p>\n

\"penang<\/p>\n

\"penang<\/p>\n

Benjamin Sand is a freelance journalist and the creator of\u00a0The Mouth<\/a>.\u00a0Read more Benjamin Sand for Sprudge<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Where to drink coffee in George Town, Penang.","protected":false},"author":436,"featured_media":339572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7029],"tags":[32656,31724,3228,19214,21430,32657,32651,9420,32661,8116,32654,8649,706,32653,32663,32652,32658,21429,32659,32662,32660,31916,32655],"class_list":["post-339552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-guides","tag-a-soar","tag-afloat","tag-cafes","tag-city-guide","tag-constant-gardener","tag-double-check","tag-george-town","tag-guides","tag-hani","tag-la-cabra","tag-lunabar","tag-malaysia","tag-manhattan","tag-mundane","tag-nine-lives-roaster","tag-ome-by-spacebar","tag-orcabrew","tag-penang","tag-slow-coffee-person","tag-the-ais","tag-the-alley","tag-tongue-mission","tag-wells","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/436"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=339552"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339552\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=339552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=339552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sprudge.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=339552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}