BY CK LAM

Penang recently saw the opening of a casual and charming old style cafe at Stewart Lane. Name as Kopi Cine, it is the in-house cafe of Straits Collection which was set up by Bon Ton.

Kopi Cine occupies the corner lot of the six old shop houses of the Straits Collection which is a refurnished architectural heritage boutique hotel. The interior though refurbished, still retain the charm of an old kopitiam. Being long and narrow, the dining area can accommodate a few tables, with a few stretching out to the walkway.

The cafe with its wooden counter and high chairs has several tables leaning against the wall. The classic old counter looked extremely enticing, with a glass counter filled with cakes. The interior furnished with ceiling fans and decorated with colorful photos and art pieces, provides a relaxing venue to enjoy good food and wine.

Being an in-house cafe, it is open for breakfast till late in the night. Their menu is extensive and definitely interesting with separate sections for breakfast, lunch and tapas-style dinners together with an interesting wine menu.

For Breakfast – from 9am till Noon

Highly recommend to order from their menu is the Creamy Scrambled Eggs with Salsa & Toast. The other interesting egg dish is the Brie, Cheddar & Basil Omelette served together with Onion Relish & Toast.

There are several varieties of coffee to choose from. The rich and strong Macchiato coffee does give a satisfying coffee kick. Aside from the coffee and tea, there are also fresh fruit frappes.

Lunch- from Noon to 4pm

For lunch, you should try the cool and refreshing beverages of Crushed Mint & Lime Soda or the Iced Caramel with Gula Melaka Ice Cream.

For the starter, check out the Thai Style Chicken Salad in a pomegranate dressing. It is topped with Macadamia Nuts which added a crunchy texture to it. For those looking for something light, the Burger with Melted Cheese, Avocado & Caramelised Onions should be just nice. Serve in mini size portions it makes eating much more convenient. The bun is split open and served inside it was a juicy piece of well seasoned minced beef.

The dinner menu comes with a good selection of seafood, meat, poultry dishes and beverages. Try pairing the Crushed Mint & Lime Soda or the Pineapple Mint Tea with the meal. Both of these combinations are truly refreshing and go along well with the dishes.

The dinner menu comes with a good selection of seafood, meat, poultry dishes and beverages. Try pairing the Crushed Mint & Lime Soda or the Pineapple Mint Tea with the meal. Both of these combinations are truly refreshing and go along well with the dishes.

For starter, the Mezze Plate should be a great choice. It comes with a selection of flavourful thick Hummus, Eggplant Dip, Tomato Salsa, Olive Oil and Dukka with Pita. It is scrumptious having the warm pita dip in the aromatic olive oil with the crumbly mixture of Dukka.

The Rocket, Avocado, Cherry Tomato & Cashewnut salad is mixed with simple soy sauce and lime dressing for a refreshing taste.

The Beef & Guinness Pie in an egg-washed thin and crispy texture comes filled with minced beef in a rich and pungent flavor. The pies are much sought after as only small batches are baked daily to maintain their freshness. It is served with mashed potato and salad.

Kopi Cine has a variety of cakes for dessert. Their Tiramisu with Kahlua, Italian Cream Cake, Chocolate Brownies and the Chocolate Pistachio Cake are simply delicious. Every piece of the cake makes a great treat especially with a cup of aromatic coffee.

For those who love to catch up with light reading, do pop over to the neighbouring Reading Room. The small library is stocked with books, from art, travel, food to novels including children’s books!

There is always something happening at this corner cafe, the place for comfort food while watching the street life go by. The cafe is just a few minutes’ walk away from several of Penang landmarks, including the house of Mr Lee Beng Chuan, Penang’s famous joss sticker maker and the Goddess of Mercy temple. Click here for the Map Location.

Kopi Cine
55 Stewart Lane
Corner of Chulia Lane
10200 George Town
Penang

Business Hour: 9.00am – 11.00pm (7 days a week)
Tel: 04 263 7299

GPS Coordinates: N05.41917   E100.33777

Written by CK Lam, food blogger and editor of http://www.what2seeonline.com ; featuring the Best of Penang Food. She constantly combs Penang for the best gastronomical delights and loves promoting Penang Cuisines, Culture and Heritage.