The Alley, 5 Stewart Lane — Restaurant in George Town

During my 3-day, 2-night trip to Penang, I ended up visiting this café twice — yes, it was that good. I even reserved my limited stomach space just for them.

Tucked away in a hidden spot just a few minutes’ walk from where I stayed, this café offers a rather unique sensory experience. It’s located near a Kuan Yin temple. You might easily walk past it — the shopfront is tiny, shielded by lush green plants, with only a small sign by the door confirming you’ve found the right place.

And yet, despite being so hidden, it was nearly always packed.

This place delivers equally on coffee and dessert. I tried the supreme burnt cheesecake (RM18) and the key lime pie (RM16) — both were cloud-light and practically melted on the tongue, with just the right amount of sweetness. I personally preferred the cheesecake, but both were absolutely worth the calories.

The menu is small, but I truly believe every item is carefully curated — quality over quantity.

I ordered the latte (RM13) on both visits because the first one completely stunned me. They seem to be using light roast beans recently — bursting with fruity aroma and bright acidity. The barista clearly knows what they’re doing: full extraction, thick crema, and a luxurious texture. The creamy milk was also spot on.

One tiny detail I adored — they only add two ice cubes to their iced latte. I genuinely believe this helps preserve the flavor and intensity without diluting it too quickly. It invites you to sip slowly and savor each drop.

If you order coffee, they’ll even serve you a tiny cup of coffee blossom tea on the side — it tastes like a slightly tangy herbal tea.

The staff were lovely and greeted every customer with a smile. The only downside? The space is quite limited, so it’s probably not ideal for groups larger than four. But for a solo traveler like me, it was perfect — the kind of place where you want to curl up with a book (though I get the feeling the café isn’t super into that idea 😅). Oh, and there's a lazy cat lounging at the entrance who sleeps through everything and couldn’t care less about visitors — but you can give it a little pat.

All in all, this café is going straight to the top of my must-visit-again list for the next time...

Chanced upon it by accident and this quint little shop became my best memories of Penang! Will totally fly back for the coffee and cakes!

Ice mocha It has the best mocha that I had ever drank. The coffee and chocolate were of right level and harmony - creamy and flavourful! I’m lactose intolerant and sensitive to milk smell but my tummy and nose could take it. I bought their “underdog blend” used for mocha. Staff was generous to share the coco used in the drink is from nearby Forest Cloud cafe. The latter’s ice mocha & ice chocolate aren't as good as The Alley.

Ice chocolate It is amazing too. It is flavourful, rich and creamy! Chat with staff revealed they use 72% coco from Chocolate Concierge in KL. Opt for this bittersweet instead of fruity one. So much attention to detail!

Cakes! Boy do they serve the most decadent cakes!

Olive oil chocolate cake! It was warm, rich, gooey, bittersweet! The cream was super light! Each of us ordered 3 slices to bring back to sg!

Cheesecake! Hands down to the best cheesecake that I have ever eaten! Cheese flavour was just right for me as I dislike strong cheesecake like Cheesecake Factory which can be too rich after a few bites. The texture is like Japanese soufflé cheesecake BUT BETTER, boosting a whole new melt in mouth texture! Even the accompanying whipped cream was so smooth and light! Each of us ordered another 3 slices to bring back!

Churros Very crispy! Listened to staff and opted for local peanut candy as topping! The chocolate dip was bittersweet, rich flavourful and amazing!

Compliments to the staff on their knowledge on beans! They really love coffee and put so much effort and love to make one cup! The underdog blend was perfect for me as it was not too acidic/ strong in caffeine that makes heart racing. They are incredibly meticulous with packing of my cakes. Each slice was in a box with accompanying sides! They were intact despite being placed sideways by cabin crew! TIP: bring your biggest cooler bags and ice pack!

I would totally fly to Penang just to get a good cup of ice mocha and a decadent...

I have nothing but compliments for this cafe. The café was introduced to me by Ome by Spacebar. The first item I ordered was an Ethiopia Sidamo pourover; the barista paid a lot of attention to details during the brewing process, which resulted in a very delicious cup of coffee; sweet, syrupy with floral notes. The coffee is served in a carafe/ server, alongside a small glass. The idea is the carafe would retain the heat/ aroma, and when coffee is poured into the glass, it would cool the coffee enough to be sipped. The experience was quite interesting (and one I would most definitely replicate at home).

I came back the next day and ordered a coffee made from Indonesia Bali Kintamanis beans, and again, the coffee produced delivered all the notes it was promised: mandarin, orange, starfruit, etc.

The final item I had came complimentary with the coffee beans I purchased; it was a piccolo latte. Again, it did not disappoint, the coffee produced had just enough milk to cut through the espresso and sweeten it, while retaining the characteristics of the espresso shot itself.

I did not try any of the food offered, however, I can guarantee with the amount of attention paid to the small details, it will taste excellent paired with the coffee.

While the coffee is really good, the service provided is exceptional! The barista, Pei, is very friendly and you can tell she is very passionate about her job, making sure the coffee produced is of excellent quality and beyond.

I will most certainly return to this café again the next time I stop by Penang, as it's one of my most memorable experiences throughout my trip...