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The Best Heritage Hotels in George Town, Penang

Relax at one of the gorgeous heritage hotels in George Town, Penang
Relax at one of the gorgeous heritage hotels in George Town, Penang | Hotel Penaga | Courtesy of hotels.com

The good life isn’t always about fancy lounge areas and cutting-edge architecture. The old and worn has its charm, too — especially in Penang.

If you need to crash, make sure it’s at a pad with history.

Jawi Peranakan Mansion

Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel, Hotel

A bedroom at Jawi Peranakan Mansion, with a four-poster bed, armchair, table, rug, wooden floor and staircase
Courtesy of Jawi Peranakan Mansion / Expedia

Artfully restored, this Anglo-Indian mansion is all about wood lattices, lime plaster walls, and Peranakan floor tiles. The hardwood furniture is softened by Kashmir throws and Kilim rugs, and the brass Mughal mirrors give this mansion an upgrade in fashion. If you’re an aspiring novelist, you might even get a room with a vintage roll top desk, not unlike Jane Austen’s.

Yeng Keng Hotel

Boutique Hotel

A bedroom at Yeng Keng Hotel, with a bed, rug, window, lamps, desk and armchair
Courtesy of Yeng Keng Hotel / Expedia

This deluxe heritage establishment will be the reason for extending your stay in George Town. With wooden panel floors, vintage rattan-woven furniture, expansive Persian rugs, and a vibrant color scheme, this hotel makes everything brighter — especially your day. Close to the Hainan Temple and the Camera Museum.

Eastern and Oriental Hotel

Suite Hotel

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

Established by the Sarkies brothers in 1885, this elegant hotel features chandeliers, marble floors, Moorish minarets, and an echo-dome lobby. No extravagance is too much for this hotel — welcome cocktails, valet parking, and a 24-hour butler service are all par for the course. The “E&O,” as it’s fondly known, commands a private seafront location, which means that you’ll have luxury and privacy when enjoying the vista.

PalanquInn Heritage Suites

Suite Hotel

A bedroom at PalanquInn Heritage Suites, with a four-poster bed, coffee table, rug, seat, fan and windows
Courtesy of PalanquInn Heritage Suites / Expedia

Welcome to Bangkok — the street, not the city. Furnished with Chinese screens, ceramic basins, and four-poster beds made of expensive dark wood, this hotel is a handsome delight on the quiet street. It’s super close to the Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram and the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, and if you want to see how local housewives — and husbands — make their grocery rounds, the Pulau Tikus wet market is just four minutes away.

Hotel Penaga

Boutique Hotel

A stylish bedroom at Hotel Penaga, with a cushioned four-poster bed, a red sofa and bedside tables
Courtesy of Hotel Penaga / Expedia

This place doesn’t do cheap — and we don’t mean for your wallet. With a pool, restaurant, bar and full-service spa, you might forget that this isn’t a resort hotel, but the eclectic mix of old and modern furniture will assure you that you’ve come here for the skilled massages as well as the cultural heritage. You’ll also be pleased to know that the WiFi here is speedy.

Seven Terraces

Boutique Hotel

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

Step into Seven Terraces, and you’ll step right back into the 19th century. With open courtyards, gold-gilded doors, and marble-on-hardwood chairs and cabinets, this boutique hotel is Anglo-Chinese architecture at its best. If you’re just married, be sure to ask for the room with a complete set of Peranakan bridal furniture! The hotel also houses the Kebaya Restaurant, which is arguably the best Nyonya fine dining experience in town.

23 LoveLane

Boutique Hotel

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

Love Lane may be short on lovin’, but love may be all you feel for this hotel. This cheerful, well-maintained establishment features architecture from five different periods since the early 19th century, and includes a Chinese-Indian terrace, a lush garden courtyard, and a library in an Anglo-Indian bungalow. If it sounds too cool to be true, wait until you check out their SteakFrites@23 Restaurant — it’s steak, frites, and pre-war curios and architecture.

Muntri Grove

Boutique Hotel

A light bedroom at Muntri Grove, with a four-poster bed, large windows, a mirror and desk
Courtesy of Muntri Grove / Expedia

Part of the Georgetown Heritage Hotels collection, this hotel will make you want to create your own Peranakan quarters. High ceilings, burnished wood corridors, courtyards with thick vegetation, and 1940’s teak-wood dressing tables are all part of its charm, and the upper floor boasts a small swimming pool with deck chairs in the lounge. Don’t confuse this with Muntri Mews or Muntri House; it’s the Grove you should be getting groovy with.

Spices Hotel

Boutique Hotel

A stylish seating area at Spices Hotel, with an exposed brick wall, a red swinging sofa, table and large windows
Courtesy of Spices Hotel / Expedia

Even if you’re not Buddha, you might still want to take a look at this famous Bodhi tree, which affixed itself to Spices Hotel’s party wall and is now part of the building. Rooms are vintage-feel, with simple furniture tastefully put together. It’s close to Armenian Street (home of the highest number of street art), the Acheen Street Mosque (founded in 1801), and the Khoo Kongsi (a heavily-ornamented clanhouse).

Museum Hotel

Boutique Hotel

A spacious and stylish bedroom at Museum Hotel, with a four-poster bed, a red sofa, chandelier and chairs
Courtesy of Museum Hotel / Expedia

This hidden gem is located a little further away (about 10 minutes) from the main attractions, which means you have to exercise your feet a little more, but which also means you won’t be kept up all night by younger travelers painting the town red. Breakfast is a tasty affair, after which you should check out their antique collection.

Fancy discovering more plush hotels in Penang? Check out our pick of the best hotels to book in George Town, Penang, bookable with Culture Trip.

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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