Ok, let’s just start by saying this is one of the best destinations we have been to on our travels. From food to markets, to the people, George Town in Malaysia really has it all, including all the coffee we could ever ask for! If you’re a coffeehead like us, then you will be glad to know that great coffee is really easily accessible in this magical and energetic hub! It’s a busy (in a really good way), small town that really shows off its arty nature on the streets and in the cafes. Everything seems unique, and the mix of cultures that all blend together create one amazing roast for us travellers to experience.
After spending a whole week cafe hopping, tasting local and specialty coffees and eating some amazing coffee-infused foods, we have created, tested and put together our very own unique (and first ever) Grindstone Runaways Coffee Crawl for you to take advantage of while you’re in town… Like we mentioned before, George Town really has all whe it comes to coffee.
The Grindstone Runaways Coffee Crawl route will take you through the streets of the UNESCO World Heritage Site core & buffer zones where you can experience some of the street art on offer, as well as the vibey neighbourhoods that make up this wonderful town. Feel free to walk, ride a bike (we suggest LinkBike) or take multiple tri-shaws between spots.
Let’s get started…
Breakfast @ The Daily Dose Cafe
Address: 36, Stewart Ln, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Get your day started at our first stop – The Daily Dose Cafe & Wine Bar, who serve up amazing brekkie/brunch and good coffee. Asia as a whole, enjoy their sweetened coffee, so start the crawl and get on board by ordering their DD Special coffee.
On the way: Street Art (The Little Girl in Blue), Purrfect Cat Cafe, Muntri Street, Love Lane
Penang White Coffee Tasting @ The Chocolate Boutique – Chocolate & Coffee Museum
Address: 22, Leith St, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 10 am – 8 pm
Take a trip to this small but insightful (and FREE) museum, which leads to a little shop at the end. A brief history of coffee and the production of the cocoa bean is painted on the walls. When you reach the shop, you’ll be able to try a few of the products on sale (including the espresso chocolate), but make sure you try the Penang White Coffee testers and ask questions on the product varieties. PS: We loved the Coffee & Tea Mix variant.
On the way: Chinatown & Campbell Street Shopping
Coffee-Infused Lunch @ Kim Haus
Address: Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 8 am – 12 am
Today’s main meal should be the unique and tasty Coffee Pasta or Chicken Espresso at Campbell street’s Kim Haus (sorry veggies, these are both chicken-based dishes). Yes, coffee-infused savoury food is a thing, and it’s delicious! Have a seat on the pavement and watch the street happenings while scoffing down your lunch.
Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream @ The Safe Room
Address: 42, Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 12 pm – 11 pm (Closed on Mondays)
Just a walk across the road from Kim Haus, The Safe Room is serving up novelty ice cream that’s super tasty and made in front of your eyes! Liquid nitrogen ice cream is just too delicious and is always freshly prepared, making it better for you (we know it’s still sugar, but there are no preservatives, yay!). We lapped up the Salted Caramel Coffee Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream for our dessert, which you can watch them make from scratch in 5 minutes and is served to your table still smoking!
On the way: Armenian Street entertainment, Kopi Loewak, street art and shopping
3D Latté Art @ Coffee On The Table
Address: 164, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 9 am – 11 pm
Your afternoon coffee-sesh should include a super cute 3D foam animal, and the best place to go is to Coffee On The Table in Leubuh Pantai (Beach Street). Here, 3D latté art is taken seriously and we just love it, oh and the coffee is yummy too!
On the way: The Wonderfood Museum
Cold Brew @ Coffee Affairs
Address: 21, Lebuh Bishop, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 11 am – 11h30 pm
Chill out at one of George Town’s only coffee roasteries, Coffee Affairs, with their amazing sous-vide cold brew. A completely different way to brew coffee, we loved the originality and the fact that they are roasters too! The cold brew is brewed for a couple of hours at 65˚C in a sous-vide bath and the taste is world-class!
On the way: Little India, 3D Trick Art Museum
Espresso, Churros & Cronuts @ The Alley
Address: 5, Stewart Ln, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Trading Hours: 12 pm – 12 am
Last stop off, get to The Alley for an after-dinner caffeine-hit and dessert. The menu is small but phenomenal, just like their coffee and the size of this stunning space. Serving a set of mini churros or cronuts, this place is the perfect cafe to wind-down with friends after a long day!
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Let us know you liked this article, followed our guide or if you have any additional suggestions for this self-guided coffee crawl.
