Auntie Foo is a modest café at the town center of Kuala Selangor. The eatery is conveniently near Bukit Malawati and Taman Alam Kuala Selangor, making it a popular stopover for tourists.

Auntie Foo’s pork-free menu covers light meals, snacks and drinks. The café also sells assorted trinkets and souvenirs like postcards. In addition, customers can obtain information on private tours around Kuala Selangor.

If you want something cooling, the ice-blended Cappucino Cendol (RM6.90) is a good choice. Like Cendol, the drink contains gula melaka (palm sugar) and green jelly noodles. Meanwhile, 3 Layer Kopi (RM3.90) has distinct layers of coffee, milk and palm sugar.

Auntie Foo is a nice place to rest while exploring Kuala Selangor. There are books to keep customers occupied. Since Kuala Selangor does not have a proper tourist information center, Auntie Foo serves as an unofficial one.

Address: 1, Jalan Raja Abdullah, 45000 Kuala Selangor, Selangor
Contact: 03-3281-1939
Business hours: 8:30am-6:30pm
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Special thanks to Copthorne Cameron Highlands for extending this food review invitation.

18° Celsius Cafe is one of the four F&B outlets in Copthorne Cameron Highlands. The eatery is located at the Lobby Level and adjacent to Cricket Lounge.

Set in a spacious hall with high ceilings, 18° Celsius Cafe has a rustic charm that resembles that of a ski lodge. The café serves coffee, tea and light meals in a family-friendly setting.

To support sustainable coffee farming, 18° Celsius Cafe only brews PURO Fairtrade Coffee. The barista can prepare espresso-based drinks such as caffè latte and cappuccino. Each cup of coffee comes with a small cookie.

Copthorne Cameron Highlands takes pride in making all pastries from scratch. Each day, 18° Celsius Cafe has around a dozen types of cakes and pies in the chiller. We opted for Walnut Carrot Cake and Blueberry Cheesecake. Both cakes are satisfying.

18° Celsius Cafe is named after the fact that the typical temperature in Cameron Highlands is 18°C. During colder nights, guests may gather around the fireplace to stay warm.

Name: 18° Celsius Cafe
Address: Copthorne Cameron Highlands, Kea Farm, 39100 Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Contact: 05-496-1777
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Website: Click here
Coordinates: 4.50506 N, 101.40888 E
Directions: Copthorne Cameron Highlands is located at Kea Farm, a small farming village halfway between Brinchang and Tringkap. 18° Celsius Cafe is located at the Lobby Level of the hotel. Customers may park in the hotel’s basement levels.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Fei Brew Cafe (啡) is a new café at Bayan Point, situated directly behind the former premises of Alora Hotel. The small eatery is under the same management as Xiang Yun Vegetarian House several doors away.

Occupying the first floor of the building, Fei Brew Cafe presents a relaxing atmosphere through the use of live plants and warm lamps. Besides proper dining tables, there are also a cozy couch and a counter next to the window. Overall, the café is a great place to hang out with friends while enjoying a cup of joe.

Coffee is the focal point of this café. My meal kicks off with Mocha (RM13.00), which comprises of espresso, milk and chocolate syrup. At Fei Brew Cafe, espresso coffee is extracted from a blend of Costa Rica beans.

Fei Brew Cafe offers filtered coffee too. Customers can choose between hand-dripped and siphon brewing techniques. Two vessels are used for siphon brewing: the upper vessel contains ground coffee, while the lower one contains water. As water boils, vapor pressure forces it up to the upper vessel. Once extraction is complete, heat is removed so that brewed coffee is pulled back to the lower vessel.

Single-origin coffee is generally preferred for filtered coffee. Popular choices are Ethiopia Washed Yirgacheffe and Sumatra Gayo Full Natural; I opted for the former. The light bodied coffee carries berry undertones amid fragrant aroma reminiscent of flowers.

Besides coffee, the café also has non-caffeinated beverages like fruit juices, smoothies and floral teas. For instance, Pink Perfection (RM12.00) is concocted from watermelon, orange, strawberries and blueberries. Blended from actual fruits, the pink-colored juice does a great job in quenching thirst.

As for food, Fei Brew Cafe serves a handful of vegetarian dishes too. Soup With Puff Pastry (RM9.00) is the perfect starter. Prepared from vegetables and hericium mushrooms, the soup has a creamy and mushy consistency. Croissant-like puff pastry on top helps to keep the soup warm.

If you prefer something more filling, Authentic Peranakan Ulam Rice (RM14.00) is highly recommended. This rice dish combines basmati rice with shredded herbs like wild betel leaves, basil, torch ginger, kaffir lime leaves and mint. Side items are acar awak (pickled cucumber and carrots), vegetarian anchovies, hard-boiled eggs and chili paste.

Sambal Petai Mini Burgers (RM14.00) come in three pieces per set. The sambal petai “patty” strikes a balance between sweet and spicy flavors. Vegetarian meat imitates the texture and savory taste of dried shrimps. The burgers also contain romaine lettuce and hard-boiled eggs.

Moving on to desserts, Mango Grapefruit Sago (RM10.00) is essentially mango-flavored yogurt with chunks of mango, grapefruit and translucent sago pearls. The gentle sweetness of this chilled dessert is punctuated by the grapefruit’s piquant taste.

Fei Brew Cafe offers homemade cakes like Lemon Poppyseed Cake (RM12.00). I enjoy the refreshing scent of lemons as the cake makes its way to my mouth. The cake’s crumbly texture makes every morsel scrumptious indeed.

Combining great taste with reasonable prices, Fei Brew Cafe is a great eatery for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. The food menu is somewhat limited as the café is barely open for 2 months. However, more dishes will be introduced in due time.

Name: Fei Brew Cafe (啡)
Address: 17-1-29, Medan Kampung Relau, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-496-8085
Business hours: 11:00am-9:30pm, closed on Tuesdays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/FeiBrewCafe
Coordinates: 5.33317 N, 100.29434 E
Directions: From Jalan Kampung Relau, drive along the front of Alora Hotel, then turn around to the next row immediately behind the hotel. Fei Brew Cafe is located on the left side of this road. Private parking spaces are available along both sides of the road.

Meet Up brews coffee beans from Catunambú, a coffee roaster from Spain. A cup of Cappuccino (RM10.00) contains a single shot of espresso. I love the bold flavor of coffee. Steamed milk blends well with espresso to produce a creamy consistency.

Address: 158, Jalan Hutton, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-226-6388
Business hours: 8:30am-1:00am (Monday-Thursday), 8:30am-3:00am (Friday-Sunday)
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

San Francisco Coffee has several outlets in Klang Valley, but currently has only one café in Penang. Located at the exterior section of Gurney Plaza, this outlet is sandwiched between Starbucks Coffee and Hoshino Coffee.

Stepping into San Francisco Coffee, the most prominent feature inside is a large, painted mural. Meanwhile, dining tables are placed sparsely from one another, giving the café a spacious appearance. There are also outdoor tables for customers who prefer al fresco dining.

The bestselling beverage here is the Golden Gate (RM12.30). Named after the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the drink is concocted from espresso, milk, chocolate and orange. On the other hand, Bay Bridge Sunrise (RM14.20) is served iced and carries substantial notes of citrus. Its name refers to another bridge in San Francisco which connects it to Oakland.

San Francisco Coffee has a collection of merchandise on sale. Shown here are special edition tumblers designed by Marty Woods, a local Malaysian artist. Customers who use a San Francisco Coffee tumbler enjoy RM2.00 discount for every handcrafted drink.

As for food, San Francisco Coffee serves sandwiches, pastries and breakfast. Unfortunately, I am not able to sample these food items yet. As for coffee addicts from Seberang Perai, the staff has hinted that San Francisco Coffee will be opening another outlet in Auto-City soon.

Name: San Francisco Coffee
Address: 170-G-40, Plaza Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: N/A
Business hours: 8:00am-12:00pm
Website: http://www.sfcoffee.com
Coordinates: 5.43780 N, 100.31001 E
Directions: San Francisco Coffee is located at Gurney Plaza’s outdoor piazza, directly facing G Hotel. Gurney Plaza has basement and multi-level parking garages.

I ordered a cup of Mocha (RM12.00), which is essentially two shots of espresso with steamed milk and chocolate syrup. In hindsight, I should have ordered Cappuccino or Caffe Latte instead as the chocolate’s sweetness masks the coffee’s flavor.

Several types of waffle are available at Frank Laurent. The Caramel Charcoal Waffle (RM19.00) is black in color because it is prepared from batter that contains bamboo charcoal. The waffle is topped with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, kiwifruits, bananas, almond flakes and caramel. In my personal opinion, I think the waffle is too dry to be enjoyed properly.

Address: 170-07-16, Plaza Gurney, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-370-2591
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Brick walls line both sides of this secluded place. The barista counter in front has only a several seats while the back section provides marginally more space. Nevertheless, be sure to check out the specially carved coffee table here!

I ordered Coffee With Milk (RM13.00), which is essentially caffè latte. Served in a 9-oz. cup, the drink contains two shots of espresso. Fresh milk lends its soothing sweetness, making the coffee satisfying indeed.

Besides espresso, the café also offers Hand Brew Black Coffee (RM18.00) through drip brewing or AeroPress techniques. Compared to espresso, these techniques usually result in clearer brews.

Ome By Spacebar Coffee is considered a more “traditional” café in the sense that it does not serve cooked food. This allows customers to focus their attention on coffee and only coffee.

Address: 1, Lorong Toh Aka, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 019-309-1450
Business hours: 8:00am-6:00pm, closed on Thursdays
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value

Special thanks to Novotel Taiping for extending this food review invitation.

Located at the lobby of Novotel Taiping, Gourmet Bar provides a relaxing setting for guests to hang out. The eatery is furnished with comfortable couches and sleek marble tables, presenting a welcoming ambience for newly arrived guests.

Gourmet Bar serves as an alternative dining option to Food Exchange on Level 7. While the latter serves mainstream Asian and Western dishes, Gourmet Bar focuses on light snacks, coffee and gelato. Alcoholic beverages are also available. The Coffee & Cake promotion gives customers a cup of espresso-based coffee and a slice of cake for only RM10.00 net.

My choice of coffee is Cappuccino, which has creamy consistency and soothing aroma. The hot drink is topped with a thick layer of foam and sprinkles of cocoa powder.

Gourmet Bar’s cakes are prepared by the hotel’s in-house pastry chef. There are usually 6 types in the chiller every day. The Hazelnut Torte Cake today looks tempting. Covering the layered butter cake are chocolate icings and chopped hazelnuts.

Meanwhile, the Green Tea Cake is equally appealing. Flavored with premium matcha, the cake is dotted with sweet azuki beans. Fine green tea powder is sprinkled on top for aesthetic effect.

For a mere RM10.00, Coffee & Cake is surprisingly affordable indeed. If you are yearning for a sweet treat, why not drop by Gourmet Bar to satisfy your cravings?

Name: Gourmet Bar
Address: Novotel Taiping, 1, Jalan Tupai, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: 05-820-8239
Business hours: 10:00am-11:00pm (Monday-Friday), 10:00am-12:00am (Saturday-Sunday)
Website: https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-9233-novotel-taiping-perak/index.shtml
Coordinates: 4.85018 N, 100.74282 E
Directions: Novotel Taiping shares the building with Taiping Mall at Jalan Tupai. Gourmet Bar is located at the hotel lobby. There is a multistorey parking garage inside the hotel.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Udini Square is a shopping mall next Tesco Penang. At the south entrance, Pilipala By WoodmanZ opens its doors for the first time today. This igloo-themed café pioneers a new concept which appeals to youngsters. By the way, “pilipala” is a Welsh word that means “butterfly”.

Pilipala’s coffee is brewed from a blend of Columbian and Brazilian beans. The best way to enjoy the house blend is through its Espresso (RM7.00). The coffee has rather high acidity despite using medium roast beans.

For a gentler beverage, try the Rose Latte (RM14.00) instead. The caffè latte has a hint of rose syrup for the soothing fragrance. The drink is served in a fancy teacup and is decorated with actual rose petals.

Iced drinks are particularly appealing on a sunny day. Pilipala’s Asian Latte (RM16.00) and Blue Latte (RM16.00) each contains two shots of espresso. The latter comprises of three distinct layers: espresso, milk and butterfly-pea flower extract. These drinks are perfect for satisfying one’s sweet tooth.

Matcha Boru (RM18.00) is similar to iced matcha latte but is prepared in a novel manner. The transparent glass starts with frozen matcha balls. Warm milk is poured into the glass, allowing frozen matcha to melt gradually and mix with the milk. Syrup is optional but is likely needed to counter the bitterness of pure matcha.

Next, the Pink Bunny (RM18.00) is prepared from homemade strawberry sauce, milk, ice cubes and strawberry ice cream. Served in a special glass with a smiley face on it, the drink is decorated with fresh strawberries to resemble bunny ears. Instead of ice cubes, I believe it is better to use a single large one for better enjoyment.

Pilipala also serves Hawaiian rice bowls called Poke. Three versions are available here: Shoyu Salmon (RM18.00), Sriracha Salmon (RM18.00) and Honey Herbs Chicken (RM15.00). Pilipala prepares the sauces from scratch in the kitchen. My personal favorite is Honey Herbs Chicken, but the other two are delectable too especially if you are fond of raw fish.

If you are in the mood for something lighter, Pilipala offers two types of toast: Pili Toast (RM17.00) and Pala Toast (RM17.00). For Pili Toast, the thick slice of bread is covered with signature matcha spread, and then topped with matcha ice cream and corn flakes. Meanwhile, Pala Toast contains mascarpone cream, sprinkles of cocoa powder, fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

The Strawberry Croissant (RM15.00) is filled with fresh strawberries and homemade custard. The croissant has flaky texture and produces buttery sensation in the mouth. A light shower of icing sugar forms the finishing touch. At Pilipala, most condiments are prepared in-house.

A visit to Pilipala would be incomplete without relaxing in one of its iconic “igloos”. Located outdoors, this al fresco setting is more viable once the sun has set. The evening lighting is mesmerizing indeed. Dining in one of these igloos requires minimum spending of RM30.00 per person.

Name: Pilipala By WoodmanZ
Address: B1-07, Udini Square, Lebuh Tengku Kudin 3, 11700 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-443-0303
Business hours: 11:00am-10:30pm (Monday-Friday), 11:00am-11:00pm (Saturday-Sunday)
Website: https://www.woodmanz.com
Coordinates: 5.37771 N, 100.31410 E
Directions: Pilipala is located at Level B1 of Udini Square, right at the mall’s south entrance. Udini Square provides parking spaces at its basement levels.

The café is larger than it appears from the front. The inner section is quite warm; I find it more comfortable to be seated near the entrance. The shop has two floors but the upper floor is usually reserved for private events only.

I ordered a cup of Cappuccino (RM11.90). At Coffee On The Table, coffee beans are roasted by Degayo. The espresso’s soothing bitterness is rounded by sweetness of milk. The drink comes with a piece of biscotti.

Address: 164, Lebuh Pantai, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-262-2611
Business hours: 9:00am-11:00pm
Taste

Presentation

Ambience

Hospitality

Value