Best Boutique Hotels in George Town, Penang Island

Yeng Keng Hotel is a cozy boutique hotel offering a charming stay in a 19th-century building with period-style furnishings in the historic George Town of Penang. Tucked off a bustling street, this three-pearl hotel is elegant in design with 20 rooms outfitted in antique decor, mini-fridges, and kettles. The cafe offers a free breakfast of local and international cuisine, and similar meals throughout the day. There’s an outdoor pool, but that’s about the extent of the amenities, apart from spotty Wi-Fi. As an alternative, travelers may want to consider the nearby Bayview Hotel Georgetown Penang which has a gym, rooftop bar, modern rooms, and views of the bay for lower rates. 

The 53-room Chulia Mansion is a value boutique hotel that occupies a prime location in the UNESCO World Heritage district, close to several top tourist sites and plenty of dining options. A number of freebies perk up a stay here, including daily happy hours in the hotel's inviting rooftop bar that include free wine and ice cream. Buffet breakfasts with hot dishes are also free here, as are Wi-Fi and on-site parking. A rooftop hot tub rounds out the features. Guest rooms are clean and bright, with pleasant contemporary decor, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and mini-fridges -- but some of the units can be small and wet room-style showers could use an update. Nevertheless, it's a fine choice in a great location. For an alternative with a swimming pool, check out the Hotel Continental.

With its grand white exterior and stunning designer interiors, the four-pearl Macalister Mansion is a special merger of Penang's British Colonial legacy with a luxury lifestyle experience. Guests can live like pampered lords in the eight unique rooms, each with their own architectural quirks and commissioned artwork. Proper amenities can be found in appropriate places throughout the mansion, from inventive tasting menus in the Dining Room, to a stylish wine bar in The Cellar, to a sleek outdoor pool on The Lawn. It's a bit far from the main attractions, but this 100-year-old mansion is a destination unto itself.