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The Best Hotels to Book in George Town, Penang

Ren i Tang Heritage Inn is set in a former Chinese medicine hall and offers bright rooms
Ren i Tang Heritage Inn is set in a former Chinese medicine hall and offers bright rooms | Courtesy of Ren i Tang Heritage Inn / Expedia

A delightful melange of late 19th-century shophouses and other British Raj-era architecture, Chinese temples, Indian spice shops, gleaming skyscrapers, street art and night markets selling all manner of edibles greet you in the characterful town in Penang. You can easily lose track of your days here, exploring the narrow lanes of this Unesco World Heritage zone, dining out in trendy cafes and traditional Malay restaurants, bar-hopping or just soaking up the atmosphere. To aid you with your urban exploration, here are the best hotels in George Town, Penang – bookable on Culture Trip.

Cheong Fatt Tze (The Blue Mansion), for a characterful stay in a historic mansion

Hotel

Bright-blue exterior of Cheong Fatt Tze in Penang
Courtesy of Cheong Fatt Tze / Expedia
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.

Ren i Tang Heritage Inn, to sleep in a former Chinese medicine hall

Inn

Overhead view of a stylish room at Ren i Tang Heritage Inn
Courtesy of Ren i Tang Heritage Inn / Expedia

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.

The Edison George Town, for understated luxury

Hotel

Room at the Edison George Town with four-poster bed
Courtesy of the Edison George Town / Expedia

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.

The Eastern and Oriental Hotel, for views of the Penang Strait

Suite Hotel

Outdoor pool and palm trees at the Eastern and Oriental Hotel
Courtesy of the Eastern and Oriental Hotel / Expedia

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.

Seven Terraces, for striking Peranakan design

Boutique Hotel

Courtyard, walkways and wooden two-storey buildings at Seven Terraces
Courtesy of Seven Terraces / Expedia

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.

G Hotel Gurney, for contemporary comforts

Hotel

Contemporary bar and lobby at G Hotel Gurney
Courtesy of G Hotel Gurney / Expedia

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.

Campbell House, for a super-central location

Hotel

Rooftop terrace at Campbell House
Courtesy of Campbell House

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.

23LoveLane, for eclectic architecture

Boutique Hotel

Room with four-poster bed at 23LoveLane
Courtesy of 23LoveLane / Expedia

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.

Tropics Eight Suites, for self-caterers with wheels

Hotel

Family suite at Tropics Eight Suites
Courtesy of Tropics Eight Suites

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.

Macalister Mansion, for uniquely styled rooms

Hotel

Bedroom with spiral staircase at Macalister Mansion
Courtesy of Macalister Mansion / Expedia

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.

Georgia Platman contributed additional reporting to this article.

About the author

Michelle is your textbook freelancer. She writes on a 13'', visits boutique cafes in old rustic towns, and travels the world every 80 days.

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