Dorinda Gym

I’ve always believed that the best kind of celebrations are the small, meaningful ones — a good meal, a beautiful setting, and the right people. I’ve been exploring spots around the island that make me go, “Yes, I’d totally celebrate something here.”

These aren’t your typical travel-guide picks — they’re personal favourites I’ve either celebrated at, or would recommend for a cozy birthday, date night, or just because-it’s-Thursday-and-you-deserve-it dinner.

So if you’re looking for a place with good vibes and memorable food, here are my top 3 picks in Penang island for a special night out.

1. The Firewood

If I had to describe this place in one word, it would be: elegant. I remember being impressed the moment I stepped in — the lighting, the open kitchen, the little details. It has that “quiet luxury” feel without being too intimidating.

What stood out most was the food — I ordered steak as per usual and it was really impressive and easily one of the best steals I've had. 

It’s not a cheap meal, but if you're celebrating something meaningful, it’s worth the splurge.

🕯️ Best for: Romantic celebrations, anniversaries, birthday dates
📍 Location: Georgetown
📷 Tip: Sit near the kitchen if you love watching chefs in action

 

 

More detailed post here. 

2. Fam Dining

I discovered this gem after doing some research on XHS. It was love at first post — moody lighting, intimate setup, and what looked like an 6-course meal with gorgeous plating. I knew I had to try it.

Dining here is like being invited to someone’s home where the chef just happens to be amazing. There’s no à la carte — you just trust the chef and enjoy each course as it comes. And it’s surprisingly calming not to have to choose anything.

 

 

 

3. Kool Kongsi 

Now this one’s totally different. Think artsy meets chill, perfect for birthday dinners with friends or something casual but memorable. It’s an open-concept space and little artistic corners you’ll want to photograph.

Food Recommendation: A Must-Try: Kongsi Bikini Sandwich. Further, the steak is surprisingly good — dip it in the egg before eating to elevate the flavour. Last but not least, don’t miss their Tiramisu! It was a delightful surprise and the perfect dessert to end the meal on a sweet note.

🎉 Best for: Group hangouts, casual celebrations, birthdays with friends
📍 Location: Hotel Mokoyozo Georgetown
📸 Tip: Go before sunset for the best lighting if you want pretty photos

    

   

I know Penang is full of amazing restaurants, and everyone has their own favourites. But these three places felt personal to me — the kind of spots where you forget to check your phone because the food, the people, and the moment feel just right.

If you’ve got your own go-to place for celebrating, I’d genuinely love to hear about it. Leave me a comment or DM me on IG — I’m always looking for my next excuse to dress up and dine out ✨

✨Bonus: 

If you're looking for a bar to chill after dinner, how about a Rooftop Bar tucked in Georgetown? Visit Sphere for a enjoyable night. Do note that it may be a bit hot since it is an open-air bar and doesn't come with AC. Might not be ideal if it's raining as well.

Well, I was lucky when I visited. Even managed to catch the sunset! 😍

 

 

 

 If you’re looking for a great place to unwind over amazing food, Firewood Penang is definitely worth checking out. I had dinner there recently, and honestly, it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a while. The warm, rustic vibe of the place made it even better—cozy lighting, the scent of wood-fire grilling in the air, and just an overall inviting atmosphere.

Firewood Chitose Tomato Soup

For the main course, we went for steak with truffle mashed potatoes. The steak? Absolute perfection. Perfectly seared on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, and just bursting with that smoky, umami goodness. And don’t even get me started on the mashed potatoes. Creamy, buttery, and infused with just the right amount of truffle—like, you could taste it without it being overpowering. It was the kind of meal that makes you want to slow down and savor every bite.

Medium-rare Ribeye Steak cooked to perfection

Truffle Mushroom Pasta

The whole experience was just spot-on. The staff were super friendly and made great recommendations, and the ambiance made it feel like the perfect spot for a chill but special night out. If you love wood-fired flavors or just appreciate a really well-cooked steak, Firewood Penang is a must-visit. I’m already thinking about going back for round two!

Location:

Address: 15 Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling 10200 Georgetown 

Opening Hours: 5:30-10pm (Closed on Monday) 

After having dinner, you can walk around nearby with lots of heritage touches. 

Which Turkey SIM card to use when travelling there?

So let me give you a little background. In Turkey, there are 3 main mobile operators, namely Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom. Turkcell has the biggest subscriber base, with Vodafone as the second largest, followed by Turk Telecom. If you would like to know more, you can check this link to see the latest figures. 

Check it out here

Should you purchase the Turkey SIM Card at the airport?

There is no right or wrong with purchasing the SIM card first or after arriving in Turkey. However, since we are traveling in a big group, we'd figured that if we get it in advance, it will save a lot of time when we are there. 

In order to skip the hassle of stopping or queuing at the airport, we decided to purchase the SIM card in advance. Our friend helped to check some of the options available in local e-commerce site Lazada and we ended up choosing this - https://bit.ly/34tImus

Actual product received of the Vodafone SIM card we purchased for the Turkey trip:

 

 

Review of the Turkey Turkey SIM card - Vodafone: 

Price	RM 98 for 10 GB of data (we enjoyed discount as we bought in bulk)
Validity	10 days
Waiting time	We received it the day after payment was made, FAST!
Link	https://www.lazada.com.my/products/turkey-travel-sim-card-i443202685-s658465683.html?spm=a2o4k.searchlist.list.1.44f46cd9sa5qpD&search=1%22%3E
Connection	Fast, strong and stable  Throughout the whole journey traveling in Turkey 【Locations that we travelled to - Canakkale, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia, Ankara, Bolu】the data coverage were consistently excellent.
Instructions	You need to contact the person to activate the SIM card one day  before departure. Just drop a text, easy as ABC ;)

What about other Turkey SIM Card? 

As I mentioned, we went with Vodafone so I didn't get to try other networks. However someone in our group did purchase Turk Telekom and did not have a good experience as there were disconnections on and off. 

Additional information: 

Do you need to purchase mobile data in Turkey? 

If you have read the above, I guess you're thinking about getting a SIM card for internet usage in Turkey. So the next question that you have might be: "Is it needed for everyone to get their SIM card?"

Well the answer actually depends greatly on the user. If you want to share every moment, like posting Instagram Stories or going live in Facebook, then it's definitely a yes. You can also ensure that you are able to stay connected with the group of people whom you are traveling with via Whatsapp, WeChat or any messaging platforms.

Other than that, almost all the hotels that we stayed provided WiFi. If you don't need it for those #InstaMoments, then you don't really have to get it.

Guys I made a video below compiling some of the Instagram Stories that I have posted during Turkey trip, check it out :)

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