PACE Coffee: Beach Street’s Modern Terrarium Café
PACE Coffee’s fresh white exterior stood out among the old shop lots in Beach Street.
As one of the oldest streets on the island, Beach Street harbours heritage buildings, banks, cafes, and museums. It is less likely to find a decent parking spot during peak hours. However, I was lucky to find an empty parking spot near the café, right after I turned into the street’s entrance.
My friend Shino, who was working in this newly established café, already expected my arrival. Our mutual friend Esther had visited the premises several days earlier, so it was my turn to pay Shino a visit.
I found Shino and her colleagues in black attires that contrasted the white interior. The counter had a minimalist design, with a few terrariums to brighten the mood. Patrons would make their food and drink order before going through an arch entryway to the dining area.
The other side revealed a gorgeous garden full of plantations and terrariums. The harmonious organic-industrial combination set a simplistic and unpretentious environment.
What You Can Have There?
“Hojicha?” Shino asked. “Like how Esther ordered last time?”
I nodded. Esther had highly recommended the hojicha drink with a slice of tiramisu. I went for the iced option, something cold to withstand the heat.
I might as well order lunch before work.
Shino recommended the carbonara and pesto. I was not in the mood to have something creamy, so I ordered mushroom aglio olio, my comfort food. When I have a better appetite, I would try the other attractive food options.
The iced hojicha came in a minimalistic tea set: one glass of iced milk and the brownish-green hojicha syrup in a wooden saucepan. It would be a shame if I did not capture the beautiful specimen. As I was focusing the lens, I noticed something odd about the glass.
It was not vertically straight. How fantastic.
I had spent a few minutes investigating this unusual glass before the aglio olio came. The smell of the fresh mushrooms and olives hit my nostrils. The button mushroom’s spore had dyed the spaghetti brown.
My brief hour in the café was just indulging in pasta while reading a web novel. I slowly poured in the hojicha syrup into the milk and watched the two liquids blend like fluid art. After finishing the last sip of the drink, it was time for me to depart.
“Thank you for the meal,” I said, while passing by the counter.
“No desserts?” Shino asked. I glimpsed the cakes on the display rack; their irresistible appearance with sliced red strawberries on top made my mouth water.
“I would like to,” I moaned. “But I’ve to work soon.”
The Experience
PACE Coffee is the best place to work or study at your own pace. They offer built-in sockets for patrons to charge their electronic devices.
It is also a fantastic dating spot for couples to have brunch. There were two pairs of lovers sitting near my spot, sharing their meal and snacks. Then there was me, having lunch all by myself.
Right next to the café was an old rattan shop selling hand-crafted baskets and furniture. After the meal, you could pay a visit to this antique shop, which was a part of the living Malaysian heritage.
I wish I could stay longer and indulge the ambiance. But duty called. I might return some day and try out another dish and drink.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Date of Visitation: 10 Jan 2022
Address：397, Beach St, Georgetown, 10300 George Town, Penang
Opening Hours: Weekdays (9am to 6pm), Weekends (8am to 6pm), Closes on Wednesday
Socials:
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