Here’s an unpopular opinion: it is possible for you to exhaust your desire for street food in Penang once you’ve tried most of the offerings available. Nasi kandar, Hokkien mee, oyster omelette, curry noodles—what these foods have in common is the abundance of flavour. Eventually, your taste buds will wear down, and you’ll crave something different. Also, you may not want to spend your time queuing at those popular spots or rubbing shoulders with the masses. That’s where this Penang chill food guide comes in. Save this list for a 3D2N itinerary in Penang.
This is a non-halal guide.
Day 1
The best time to land in Penang is in the late morning—you’ve had plenty of time to wake up at a reasonable hour, land just in time to have an early lunch on the island, and then head to your hotel for check-in. After all, a holiday is meant to be taken at a leisurely pace.
Lunch
If you’re in Penang anywhere between Thursdays and Sundays, you’ll need to book yourself a lunch seating at the 1 Michelin-starred Au Jardin. Renowned for its sustainable French cuisine, Chef Su Kim Hock and his team have artfully created an ambience and a menu that feels like you’re dining within a secret garden. You might not even realise you’re in the heart of George Town, within the premises of the bustling Hin Bus Depot.
During our time there, we opted for the degustation menu and were served a beautiful course ranging from cabbage interpreted several ways to East Malaysia-sourced seafood. The Semporna Sea Harvest course, for instance, felt like the ocean served in an abalone shell—quite literally, the ceramic dish was lined with mother-of-pearl—and contained the riches of the sea: sea cucumber, abalone, served with vin jaune sauce and squid ink focaccia.
Au Jardin’s Cognac & Hay Aged Duck is its signature main dish, and rightfully so. The theatrics are on point, with Chef Kim Hock opening a treasure box housing a whole duck, smoke pouring out. The duck itself was sublime, served alongside guava puree, Szechuan pepper, and blanc jus—a marriage of French skills with familiar flavours.
As a fun conclusion to your lunch, you’ll be asked to guess the flavours and inspiration behind your petit fours. Hint: one of them is inspired by mouthwash.
Book a lunch seating at Au Jardin here.
Coffee and/or Dessert
Tucked inside a house overflowing with plants—try to spot some sleeping bats during the day—in a residential neighbourhood next to Jalan Burma is Lunabar Coffee. It’s one of the island’s more popular cafes for coffee enthusiasts, promising a good cuppa, good vibes, and a chill experience to while your day away in between feasting.
Featuring delectable French pastries by award-winning pastry chef Hooi Shing, Le Petit Four Patisserie is located along Lebuh Pantai and is the place to go when you want a small bite of something sweet. Try the Lemon Tart or Pistachio Tart for a post-meal treat, or the almond croissant if you’re looking for a light breakfast.
Dinner
The sister restaurant to Michelin Selected Gen Penang is a more casual eatery, but no less fabulous. If we were to pinpoint the type of cuisine, we’d describe it as an elevated Malaysian style, reinventing familiar dishes with new perspectives. As the name suggests, the menu here is designed for diners in a group to share—hence, “communal table”. Don’t expect small sharing plates here, though. From starters to mains and carbs, nearly every dish is hearty, leaving everyone in your party feeling sated. There’s even a section titled “Penang Seafood”, featuring harvests from the island.
During our time there, we were wowed by many items on the menu. The Tropical Beef Carpaccio was one: an experimental yet palatable medley of jackfruit acar, cincalok, and crispy chicken skin. The White Corn Tofu is another appetiser you should try, for a refreshing burst of sweetness alongside aromatic spices of green peppercorn and curry leaf. As for the mains, you can’t go wrong with Hakka Threadfin, served in a very familiar style with asam gelugor sauce, highland tomatoes, and lard fried milk cabbage. Also try the Aged Penang Duck that comes with pickled guava and red nutmeg jam for an interesting pairing.
No Malaysian dinner is complete without carbs—so you must go decadent and try the Flower Crab Rice, served with petai XO, crab roe, and lemak rice. It is as rich as it sounds, but entirely worth it.
Book a table at Communal Table by Gen here.
Drinks
Can’t decide between having a drink or dessert? Why not both? At Drunken Gelato, you get the best of both worlds with boozy cocktails and its gelato counterpart—which is equally as boozy. Think flavours like Rum & Raisin, Milo Guinness Bomb, Coffee & Croissant. Which came first: the gelato or the cocktail?
We love the retro American Diner concept, and the bar exists like a liminal space with its neon lights and box TV playing curated, mind-boggling videos. We love when F&B outlets commit to a bit, and Drunken Gelato is a perfect example of it.
If gelato isn’t your thing or you want a second option, head over to the next street for a spot of refined cocktail at The Suckling Pig. The cocktail bar recently opened its doors this year and became quite the hit amongst locals and tourists alike. Co-founder Adrian Foo was formerly at Jigger & Pony in Singapore, and he brings his wealth of experience to this little island alongside very excellent classic cocktails.
Day 2
Breakfast
Keep your breakfast light on day two, because lunch is going to fill you up. But first—coffee. Head over to ae coffee in Lebuh Clarke and soak in the easygoing atmosphere in this restored colonial shophouse. There’s homemade cakes and desserts too—we personally love the madeleines.
Lunch
Few dining moments feel quite as opportunistic as getting a table at Jaloux. They only open four days a week—Friday through Monday—and can be found closed nearly half of the year for their pilgrimage to Europe, where they take most of their cooking inspiration from. Hence, it’s always a smart move to check on their Instagram page to see if they’re open for the day. However, if you’re able to dine at Jaloux, you must. Pasta may be what they’re known for, but don’t discount their other offerings, from antipasti to mains to dessert. Everything on the small, ever-changing menu (refer to the chalkboard above their bar) is delectable and transports you to a small town in Italy riddled with cobblestone streets. Don’t forget to order a glass of wine while you’re there.
Walk-ins only, no reservations.
Dinner
One of Penang’s best-kept secrets, you know it’s a good place when even the George Town locals frequent this place. Seafood is JUJU’s main feature, sourced from around the island and cooked optimally in a Mediterranean style to retain its best flavours and textures. It’s a private dining restaurant, so you must make reservations, but the 10-course omakase tasting menu will be well worth it.
Book a table at JUJU Restaurant Lounge here.
Drinks
Natural wine enthusiasts looking for a second spot to further their wine enjoyment post-JUJU should head to Ino Space, a gorgeous bar located within a refurbished colonial shophouse. Brought to you by the same owners of Ome by Spacebar—which is just up the street—this standing wine bar serves not just excellent wine recommendations but also tunes via the vinyl player and conversation, if you so wish.
Just up the road from Ino Space is another fairly new cocktail bar, also opened by alums of the Jigger Group. Steep Social is the perfect place for a nightcap to end your second day in Penang, as they open fairly late—8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and 6 p.m. onwards from Fridays to Sundays. The vibe here is classy, from the perfectly chilled Vesper Martini to a tall, refreshing glass of Whisky Highball.
Day 3
Breakfast
Begin your last day bright and early with coffee and a slice of warm, olive oil loaf cake at Ome by Spacebar. Chat with the friendly baristas if you’d like some specialty coffee recommendations or recommendations for must-see spots in Penang. Expect a crowd throughout the day.
Lunch
Bibik’s Kitchen Nyonya Cuisine
Just before you leave the island, you must get your fill of traditional Nyonya food for lunch. Bibik’s Kitchen is the place to be, for Nyonya dishes made from recipes passed down through generations. If you’re at a loss on how to navigate the menu, not to worry—one of the helpful aunties taking your order will be more than happy to give you and your party recommendations. Our personal favourites include the Assam Pedas Fish: tangy, spicy, and whets the appetite; Tau Ewe Bak: braised pork in soy sauce that’s full of flavour and perfect to dole over rice; Jiu Hu Char: a traditional dish made with stir-fried jicama and dried cuttlefish that’s sweet, crunchy, and slightly oceanic.
READ MORE