5 Instagram-Worthy Places in Penang You Should Check Out

There’s only one goal in my mind whenever I visit Penang – to feast on as many delicious local food as I can stomach. On my previous trip to Penang, I’ve managed to visit a few local attractions. This time round, since I explored Penang with one of my girlfriends who’s a local, we went around the city looking for Instagram-worthy places. Check out the following 5 aesthetically-pleasing places in Penang with plenty of photo opportunities for you to up your Instagram game.

#1 – BookXcess

Photographing libraries and bookstores was not a “thing” until social media personalities started this trend on Instagram. Since I was in Penang, I didn’t want to miss out on BookXcess which features the longest bookshelf in Malaysia, with a length of 70 metres. Besides housing an incredible collection of books, this bookstore also boasts a 10-metre tall two-storey bookshelf – the most Instagram-worthy part of BookXcess.

Ps. BookXcess is located on level 7 and level 8 of Gurney Paragon Mall. You can also find HaiDiLao in the mall. Why not treat yourself to a hotpot feast after your photoshoot?

BookXcess
Address: 163D-7.06-7.16 & L8.02-8.-5, Gurney Paragon, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website: https://www.bookxcess.com/

#2 – Hin Bus Depot

Hin Bus Depot is a creative community hub in Penang. It is home to a gallery, arts & event spaces, innovative business outlets, and quaint cafés. There are a couple of interesting wall murals that serve as photo backdrops. It was surprisingly quiet when we arrived around 4pm on a weekday afternoon. You don’t have to worry about getting up early just to visit Hin Bus Depot for photoshoots. However, we heard that this place gets crowded on weekends, so you might want to avoid these days.

Hin Bus Depot
Address: 31A, Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 8pm. Sat & Sun 11am to 8pm.
Website: https://hinbusdepot.com/

#3 – Cheong Fatt Tze’s Blue Mansion

Traverse into the eclectic charm of George Town Penang’s illustrious history as you step into the world of Cheong Fatt Tze’s Blue Mansion. The transcendental quality and timelessness of the mansion has been perfectly poised for over a century on firm foundations of architectural, cultural and historical superlatives. Time comes to a halt as you meander along the mansion and revel in the harmonious medley of history and culture. This was the setting for Crazy Rich Asian’s memorable mahjong scene. There are many amazing photo spots here, and I’m pretty sure you’ll have fun recreating the mahjong scene from the movie.

Cheong Fatt Tze’s Blue Mansion
Address: 14 Leith Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Contact: +604 262 0006
Website: https://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/

#4 – W Life Café

Although the exterior of W Life Café might not capture your attention at first sight, the vibrant and colourful interior will amaze you – it is totally picture-worthy. We did not try any of the lunch or dinner items, and ended up only having desserts. The seating area is very spacious and it’s a good place to chill out with family and friends. If I live in Penang, W Life Café will be a place I frequent.

W Life Café
Address: 2, Gat Lebuh Gereja, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 8.30pm. Closed on Sundays.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wlifecafe/

#5 – REVE Kitchen & Dessert Bar

Entering REVE Kitchen & Dessert Bar is equivalent to walking into a garden. The numerous bunches of flowers hanging from the ceiling and twirling around the furniture give the café a romantic vibe. You can choose to take a seat on the swinging chairs or the velvet chairs by the window. The fusion dishes and desserts served here are as beautifully presented as the interior. You should give the Bomb Alaska Angku Kuih dessert a try. It is made up of an outer layer of meringue, angku kuih, and ice-cream in the core. Don’t forget to take an Instagram story when the waiter fires up a spoonful of Martell before pouring over the dessert.

REVE Kitchen & Dessert Bar
Address: 18, Lebuh King, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm. Closed on Mondays.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Revecinq/

Unfortunately, we were in Penang for work and did not have sufficient time to visit other cafés or hunt down more Instagram-worthy places. Do you know of any hidden gems in Penang that you’d like to recommend to everyone? Do comment and share your recommendations below!