did u try toh soon cafe?
air itam?

First of all, welcome to Penang! =))

Not sure if you're Muslim but looking at your food choices it seems like you could be one. But do correct me if I'm wrong ya! (Which I could very well be haha)

Restoran Kapitan @ Chulia Street (Within walking distance from where you're currently staying. Famous for tandoori and nasi briyani)

Mee Sotong Hameed Pata @ Padang Kota Lama (Also within walking distance from Love Lane. This is a food court beside the field. Just look for the stall with the longest queue. Closes on Sunday though. The coconut shake right beside the mee sotong stall is also nice!)

Air itam laksa, as others have mentioned =))

Penang Road Cendol and laksa @Lebuh Keng Kwee (I really love the cendol here! Dayummm )

And many many more. Do comment if you need more suggestions!

For epic sceneries you can go up to Penang Hill where you can have spectacular views of the entire Penang Island =)) It is quite tourist-y and the queues can get quite long especially during peak seasons as of now but it is quite worth it IMO. Recommend to take the tram at around 4 p.m. and stay till the sky turns dark so you get to see how Penang's like both in day and nighttime.

New Year spot in Penang includes Padang Kota Lama and Straits Quay.. Not too sure about any other "hotspots"

You're welcome, brightshade! =)) For banana leaf you can try Sri Ananda Bahwan in Little India, which is also within walking distance from Love Lane. Uhm I guess Penang is indeed kinda small. Hahah

Not too sure about Malay rendang and pork free thai food.. Hmm maybe some other Penangites here can help?

Pork free chinese food is indeed hard to come by here. Most of the famous delicacies like Char Koay Teow, Hokkien Mee, Loh Mee etc are non-halal. I remember having a big headache when my Muslim friend came for a visit last month haha. But we came across Bee Hwa Cafe in Lebuh Dickens which serves pork-free version of Chinese food (Pretty close to the cendol place which I mentioned earlier). One dish which particularly stood out was the Hokkien Mee (Prawn noodles soup). I heard that the Char Koay Teow is also nice though. Also, there is a roadside stall selling fresh and delicious samosa nearby which you would not want to miss. The best route would be to go to Bee Hwa cafe first, then pick up some yummy samosa on your way to the Penang Road Teochew Cendol place. And also a bowl of assam laksa, if there is still room in your stomach =) Oh and the main bus terminal, Komtar is just a few steps away as well=))

For beautiful temples I would suggest Kek Lok Si Temple (https://www.google.com/search?q=kek+lok+si+temple&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjLy9aK2IHKAhVHCo4KHURKDjgQ_AUIBygC) which is very close to Penang Hill. Could easily combine Penang Hill + Kek Lok Si temple for a half/full day trip.

If you're interested in New Year countdown then it would be Padang Kota Lama or Straits Quay. Straits Quay on its own is quite a cool place to be in, considering that there are plenty of restaurants and bars or you can just take a stroll and look at the yachts there. The New Year Countdown there will start at 8 p.m. this year (https://www.facebook.com/StraitsQuay/photos/a.175843579099126.47311.174240635926087/1288614927821980/?type=3&theater) so you can just join in the crowds. Or you can go to the bars nearby if you change your mind later on =))

P/S: While you're in Penang it is worth looking into the Peranakan or Baba Nyonya culture, which is unique to Penang, Malacca and Singapore. Perhaps a visit to Peranakan Mansion and yes definitely try some Peranakan food, which is basically a combination of Chinese and Malay cuisine. You can try the pork free version at Ivy's Nyonya Kitchen, Chow Thye Road or Hainantown Restaurant at Weld Quay (Slightly pricey).

toh soon have a simple menu...search around for whats famous
air itam is famous for laksa and if u go sunday, its full of ppl...its a market

welcome to penang,
these days penang have alot of those musuem museum thing that u can go take picture and have fun with friend (taking picture fun only).
But all need to pay admission fees with min RM15 - RM20.

sg are ( tepi masjid sg ara) got famous tomyam halal restaurant u can try but sg ara is far from town area.. ( more towards industrial are/housing area)

enjoy your holiday