Go Beyond Luxury With Penang's Coolest Hotels

With its vibrant blend of cultures, world-beating street food and high-end hotels, Malaysia’s melting-pot state beside the Malacca Strait boasts some seriously cool places to stay in Penang.
Penang’s intoxicating blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures has produced some of the most beautiful architecture in Malaysia. No surprise then, that the northern state is home to some of the nation’s most striking accommodation options. From tropical resorts tucked away on hillsides to Chinese shophouses converted into contemporary hotels, Penang offers a selection box of cool places to stay. Let’s take a look at some of the best Penang hotels – all bookable with Culture Trip.
Ren i Tang Heritage Inn
Inn

Housed in a beautiful wooden-shuttered Chinese shophouse, this Penang hotel retains original 19th-century design features like recycled wood, restored furniture and antique rugs. As befits such a historic building, there’s a museum on-site exhibiting household items left behind from its original incarnation as a medical supplier, while the peaceful herb garden is a lovely spot to relax. Refreshing fruit juices are on offer at Bistro Tang, while local handicrafts are available to buy at the in-house boutique.
Fig Tree Hill Resort
Resort

As the name suggests, this hotel is set on a verdant hill overflowing with tropical greenery and is one of the best resorts in Penang. Blending into the organic surroundings are a collection of wooden villas, beautifully carved in the traditional Malay style. An outdoor pool and gym facilities mean there are plenty of opportunities to get a workout in, while every villa has its own karaoke machine, so you can sing the evening away.
Spices Hotel
Boutique Hotel

A renovated collection of four age-old shophouses in George Town’s Unesco-listed historic core, this property’s grand old age – over 200 years – is best symbolised by the huge tree that grows through one of the exterior walls. Rooms at this Penang boutique hotel have a tasteful design that fits with the historic feel, while the old jetties, buildings and vibrant street art of central George Town are right on your doorstep.
23 Love Lane
Boutique Hotel

With a lovely name befitting a heartfelt hotel, this property sits in an 1800s Chinese building and has lovely wooden beams and four-poster beds in the supremely comfortable rooms. Cocktails on the Chinese Indian Terrace, overlooking the tiled roofs of George Town, are a fantastic way to begin an evening, while the Anglo Indian Bungalow features a cosy library where you can get stuck into a book or enjoy a board game.
Noordin Mews
Hotel

As one of Penang’s best hotels this property elegantly wears its 1920s heritage with a wooden staircase, colourful tiled floors and four-poster beds. An outdoor pool and shaded garden are on hand to help you relax, while breakfasts in the fan-cooled cafe include classic local dishes like roti canai (Indian-influenced flatbread). The staff will happily advise you on nearby street food, which includes some of the best in Southeast Asia – be sure to try the local speciality, asam laksa (a Malay fish-based rice noodle soup).
The Prestige Hotel
Hotel

Prestigious by name, prestigious by nature; this five-star hotel in Penang has a beautiful Art Deco design complete with brass fittings, cube-like showers and mod cons such as Nespresso machines and smart TVs in every room. The Glasshouse restaurant sits within a Victorian arcade and features a wide-ranging menu, from slow-roasted Korean gochujang chicken to Malay classics like nasi lemak (a rice dish cooked in coconut milk) – though the highlight is the lavish afternoon tea. A number of other cafes, restaurants and boutiques also sit within the arcade.
Seven Terraces
Boutique Hotel

The Lone Pine Hotel
Boutique Hotel

Muntri Mews
Hotel

Malihom Private Estate
Hotel

The Blue Mansion
Hotel

Macalister Mansion
Hotel

Museum Hotel
Boutique Hotel

Set in a restored early 20th-century building, each room at Museum Hotel features a unique design. For example, the Ba Bao room takes its name from the eight traditional Chinese symbols for good luck and features old English brass light switches and colonial-era furniture, while the Colonial Suite is furnished with blue glass chandeliers, an art deco-inspired bar cooler and a late 19th-century snooker table. Guests at this hotel also have exclusive access to the owner’s private antique collection, which includes an 18th-century ivory carving depicting Buddha’s head and a lacquer altar box dating back to the 19th century.
Coffee Atelier
Hotel

G Hotel
Hotel

Hotel Penaga
Boutique Hotel

Still not found the perfect Penang hotel for your stay? Perhaps our guides to the top hotels in Penang for every traveler or the best accommodation and heritage hotels in Penang’s George Town district can help.
Jessica Dawdy contributed additional reporting.
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