10 Trendy cafes in Penang for digital nomads (wifi included!)

Angela Goh 22 May 2017

1/10
Wheeler’s Coffee
More than just a coffee shop, Wheeler’s Coffee is themed to the nines with bicycles. With bike paraphernalia mounted on the walls and bicycle-related art everywhere, this cafe is both intriguing and Instagram-worthy. Those who need a place to work will find this space cosy and inviting. Plus, their extensive menu dishes out everything from desserts and waffles to burgers and salads. Their ice cold coffee drinks are bound to impress!

67 Love Lane, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Photo: Wheeler’s Coffee (Facebook)
2/10
Black Kettle
Located along Beach Street, Black Kettle provides customers a welcome respite from the sweltering heat of George Town. Offering a plethora of baked goodies and delightful mains, you can enjoy a sumptuous lunch here while typing away on your keyboard and getting some work done. On certain nights towards the end of the week, you might even catch a live music performance or two!

105, Beach Street, Georgetown 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Photo: Black Kettle (Facebook)
3/10
DoubleShot Bistro
If you’re sticking to the central parts of George Town, it’ll be hard for you to stumble upon DoubleShot, but if you’re wandering the west end of Jalan Burma, give this place a visit. They have extremely speedy wifi connection and, from the raving reviews we’ve come across, some impressive quality coffee (with adorable latte art) and amazing cakes as well. With its relaxing atmosphere, it’ll make for a good place to knock back a few hours of work while sipping away on a beverage or two.

25G, Jalan Gottlieb, George Town, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Photo: @pey_chyi
4/10
Bricklin Cafe Bar
Nestled in the historic Hin Bus Depot, Bricklin is the place to be to indulge in some good, simple food and fresh coffee. With a smorgasbord of cakes, bagels and savoury bites, you won’t go hungry here. Don’t be surprised when you spy several people - locals and expats alike - tapping away on their laptops in here. It’s a very lovely spot to get some work done.

31A Jalan Gurdwara George Town, Malaysia

Photo: Bricklin Cafe Bar (Facebook)
5/10
The Alley
While the wifi here might be spotty, making it only just passable as an ideal digital nomad workspace, it still provides plenty of ambience to work from, if you’re a coffee over with a penchant for drool-worthy churros and other sweet treats. In fact, you’ve probably come across various Instagram photos of their to-die-for desserts here.

5, Lorong Stewart, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Photo: The Alley (Facebook)
6/10
Coffee Addict
Reliable wifi, comfy seats and a spacious interior, not to mention power outlets readily available, this is one hidden cafe along Hutton Lane that you’ll want to spend your day at if you’ve got a deadline to meet. They provide a good selection of coffee, juices and desserts to keep you powering through the day. And if you need something heavier, their savoury options will definitely impress your palate.

209, Hutton Lane 10050 George Town, Malaysia

Photo: Coffee Addict (Facebook)
7/10
China House
China House is a must-visit cafe when you’re touring George Town, if only to see just how sprawling this “longest cafe in Penang” truly is. With several themed “rooms”, including an art gallery and retail store on the upper floor, and even a sipping spirits lounge, it’s a multi-purpose space that makes for the ultimate hangout spot. Serving up 50 cakes/desserts a day, you can bet you’ll be spoilt for choice here. And while the cafe gets increasingly crowded as the day wears on and it might be a little distracting if you’re trying to do some work, we think this is the perfect spot for to check up on your emails real quick while nibbling on a delectable slice of cake.

153, Lebuh Pantai, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Photo: China House (Facebook)
8/10
Coffee Elements
Providing customers with generous meal portions and exceptionally good drinks, Coffee Elements at All Seasons Place is the hipster cafe that locals love to frequent. They boast a dedicated team and a great menu offering sweets and savouries such as sinfully delicious cakes, yummy pastas, grand breakfasts, and of course, artfully prepared coffees. And yes, we can’t forget the wifi!

6G-2-17, All Seasons Place, Lebuhraya Thean Teik, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Photo: Coffee Elements (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeElementsMalaysia/
9/10
Monkeycup Cafe
We’ve featured them in our ultimate hipster guide to Penang’s cafe scene, and for good reason. Monkeycup Cafe provides a superb atmosphere for working in - with friendly staff and a laid-back vibe, not to mention delightful desserts and savoury treats for when you’re feeling peckish. For the coffee connoisseurs, they serve peaberry coffee here. For the digital nomads, don’t worry, their wifi will keep you coming back.

36c, Jalan Chow Thye, George Town, 10050 Penang 10050 Penang, Malaysia

Photo: Monkeycup Cafe (Facebook)
10/10
Narrow Marrow
Aptly named, Narrow Marrow occupies one of Penang’s many pre-war shophouses and provides a cosy little nook to keep things simple and easy. Oozing seriously hipster vibes, this hidden weekend cafe is rustic and charming all at once, with mismatched furniture and old-school elements giving the space a very traditional feel. But don’t think this means they aren’t technologically savvy — this is certainly a wifi hotspot! Need a tasty pick-me-up while you run your laptop? Impressive cakes and refreshing drinks await you!

252, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Photo: Narrow Marrow (Facebook)

Free wifi and cosy environments – these cafes offer some of the best workspaces imaginable.

If you’re a remote-working digital nomad, hopping from destination to destination and toting along your laptop wherever you go, you’ll know that a good, comfortable spot to set up your workspace is important. That said, you might not think Penang is a great place to work remotely from, but you’ll be gobsmacked at the number of excellent cafes, especially in (but not limited to) the historic George Town area, that provide good wifi, not to mention fantastic ambience, lip-smacking food and delicious coffee to keep you productive all day.

Need to know where these great spots are? We’re more than happy to tell you. Head up to the gallery and bookmark each and every one of these spots!

Angela Goh

Travel Light: The ultimate beginner’s guide to exploring Penang

Be Wooed: 8 Romantic restaurants in Penang to impress your significant other

Your guide to the 15 most Instagrammable places in Penang

10 Spectacular omakase restaurants in Singapore...