Coffee shops: Coffee shops are taking over the Gurney Plaza al fresco area! Pie Harbour sadly closed last year – I liked their pies, but rarely ate there. Because pies go much better with beer, and they didn’t sell beer.
Coffee shops in Gurney Plaza
With the introduction of the 6% SST (tax) from September 1st, prices have risen again, almost to the same level as with the GST in the case of coffee and restaurants.
price list
These prices are before SST is added. And, as I mentioned before, unlisted is the “tall” option, which, at least for Americano coffee, is RM1 less than indicated above. I suppose they have to have this option because some of the flasks they sell can contain only the Tall volume, the others taking the Grande volume. Presenting a flask grants you a RM2 discount, so long term it pays for itself. I tend to use the loyalty rewards I collect for times when it is inconvenient to carry the flask – and especially at the airport where prices are much higher than elsewhere.
Starbucks works out pretty economical compared with many coffee houses, and if you ask for less water is often pretty good.
This same blog appears on the site I’m currently setting up – tropicalexpat.com.
park next to Gurney Plaza
On a walk this morning I noticed birds behaving badly – flirting in the park.
birds flirting
Can’t they read the sign?
sign in the park
It seems it’s mating season, and I also notice birds building nests recently.
Doutor Coffee in the Gurney Alfresco area has closed
I’d been meaning to have a coffee there, but it’s already closed. But another coffee shop will replace it.
Doutor coffee is being replaced with another coffee shop – so there’ll be four coffee shops in a row – Dome, Doutor replacement, SF Coffee and Starbucks. And that’s just on this side!
And it seems there was an altercation with a pole on Gurney Drive.
I suppose this happened last night
Otherwise it’s fairly quiet this week.
One can get a coffee at PBC Coffee in the First Avenue Mall for RM2 – the catch is, you prepare it yourself – including grinding the coffee beans by hand. The first time a staff member will show you the procedure.
PBC
instructions
prices
coffee grinder
implements
we’ve ground the coffee now – you can filter the coffee or use a French press
carefully pour in boiling water
filtering
the coffee – in a ceramic mug – not in those undesirable paper cups
the wall
Grab had a discount the day we went – so catching Grab from home to First Avenue and back cost us RM5 – then RM4 for two coffees. RM9, or about USD2 for a day out. Not bad.
And as Grab sometimes has special discounts – it cost us RM2 to get to First Avenue from home, and RM3 to get back
I first noticed Pie Harbour in Queensbay Mall probably over three years ago. I enjoyed my pie there. Then I noticed them in Gurney Paragon, but I don’t actually go there much. And earlier this year I saw they were coming to the Gurney Plaza alfresco area. They opened quite a while ago, and I finally got around to eating there on Friday.
I noticed that they were quite busy, and all the outside tables were taken. I sat inside, and soon inside was quite full, too. The staff were friendly, the food good, but the service slow – possibly because they were so busy. The WiFi was fast. I was there for breakfast when you are served unlimited amounts of coffee – which was also good.
In the end I didn’t have a pie, but I will be back sometime to have one. It’s a pity, though, they don’t serve beer. A beer and pie is really nice. A few photos…
Pie Harbour, Gurney Plaza
lunch menu – er – where are the pies?
I ordered this from the breakfast menu, just before lunch time
Tropical Expat 