The Best Hotels to Book in George Town, Penang

Traditional rickshaws artfully placed outside the royal-blue walls of the mansion, soaring ceilings, a wrought-iron spiral staircase and Cantonese timber lattices are just some of the striking features of this boutique hotel in George Town. The eclectic melange of Hakka and Teochew styles, combined with English art nouveau and Chinese calligraphy, reflect the life of its original owner and designer, self-made industrialist, politician and philanthropist Cheong Fatt Tze. Each of the 18 rooms is individually styled with antique furniture and looks out over the airy courtyard.

Right on the edge of Little India, this 19th-century shophouse – a former Chinese medicine hall – has been respectfully updated. The 17 bright, pared-back rooms overlook either the original shophouse air well or the greenery-filled courtyard and make terrific use of recycled hardwoods, with heavy wooden beams, polished wood floors and traditional wooden shutters. In the on-site museum you can check out Chinese apothecary items from the early 1900s, such as lipstick paste and old glass syringes. The hotel is an easy walk from many George Town attractions, such as Market Street (Lebuh Pasar), Kuan Yin Temple and the traditional stilt houses of Chew Jetty.

In a town already brimming with striking historical buildings, this meticulously restored, early 20th-century British-Colonial mansion still manages to stand out. Originally the home of a Chinese tycoon and a hotel since the 1940s, the Edison combines high ceilings, exposed brick walls, original tiles and a minimalist approach to furnishings to create a feeling of spaciousness in every room and suite. The location on one of the oldest George Town streets and curated street food recommendations from the hotel staff are among the many perks of staying here.

Here’s a hotel where even the toilets are steeped in luxury. Founded by the Sarkies Brothers in 1884, this British-Colonial hotel commands top dollar (or ringgit, rather) for its elegant interiors and extensive view of the Penang Strait.

Let it be known that the Peranakans (Straits Chinese) knew what they were doing. Open courtyards, high ceilings, slatted wooden screens and Chinese air wells are proof of the Peranakan ingenuity in functional architectural design; even in extreme heat, this heritage hotel is refreshingly cool and well ventilated. Suites are furnished with four-poster beds, black-wood cabinets and velvet-upholstered furniture.

Looking for Penang hotels with family rooms? Take a break from the numerous 19th-century landmarks dotting George Town by stepping inside this energetic urban space with floating light features and sleek button-back furniture. The executive lounge will impress your high-flying friends, while the deluxe room is perfect for couples and families. Staff are on hand to help if you require connecting rooms.

Few places in Penang will offer you a library, a rooftop lounge and a Colonial Room (think high wooden ceilings and heavy, old-school furnishings) if you’re on a tight budget, but Campbell House has it all, as well as a strategic location at the heart of George Town. Rooms are decked out with thick drapery, eclectic furniture and Peranakan tiles in the bathrooms.

Why not stay on the once-infamous Love Lane (once a brothel hotspot, but totally gentrified now, of course), and hear stories of what used to be? With five different architectural designs inherited from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, your stay at 23LoveLane will be as educational as it is fun. Discover Anglo-Indian interiors, 1920s Tudor Revival style and cosy duplexes with vintage furniture and contemporary paintings.

Located on Gottlieb Road, this aparthotel features a spacious modern design with optional low lighting and individual cooking units. Just 15 minutes by car from George Town, this aparthotel is perfect for families and out-of-towners who prefer a quieter scene free from tourist-ridden attractions. Request a view of the hills and you’ll get to wake up each morning facing the dense Penang rainforests. The Botanical Gardens are just a five-minute walk away.

This exclusive mansion hotel has only eight rooms, so book fast! The rooms feature wood-panelled floors and cabinets, louvred window shutters and — in the case of Room 4 — a wrought-iron spiral staircase leading up to a tiny private terrace.