Space, Identity, and Foodscapes in the Coffee Houses of George Town, Penang, Malaysia

The recent proliferation of new artisanal cafes in the historic port city of George Town, Malaysia – recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage city since 2008 – is being negotiated amidst the long-standing popularity of traditional coffee houses (kopitiams) and international coffee chains like Starbucks Coffee. The consumption habits of coffee house-goers of George Town involve dynamic processes where spatial experiences frame and develop new forms of urban sociality. New forms of coffee consumption in George Town, in turn, have prompted a change in cultural perceptions of the city and to the landscape of eateries in the city.