First Impressions: Indigo Walls, Old Memories

When I booked a stay at the Blue Mansion in Penang, I wasn’t chasing Instagram points. I wanted the experience of living in a house that reminded me of visiting my grandmother in Pekalongan, Java. Her home was not painted cobalt blue, nor did it ever make a cameo in Crazy Rich Asians, but the layout was similar; an open middle atrium with plants, side spaces where everyone sat and talked, and a rhythm of life shaped by the courtyard.

Her house always smelled like Cap Lang ointment and eucalyptus oil, the Indonesian cure for everything from headaches to mosquito bites. That smell was soothing. It meant family, comfort, and our legendary vergadering sessions. A vergadering, borrowed from Dutch, technically means “meeting.” In our family, it meant talking about family gossip, world news, everything and nothing, and coming to no conclusion whatsoever. No action plan, no decisions…just endless chatter. That was the joy of it.

Walking into the Blue Mansion’s courtyard, I felt the same echo. The tiles, the plants, the way the open space seemed to draw people in; it stirred up Pekalongan in my memory. Only here, everything was magnified; imported glass, Scottish ironwork, an indigo paint job vivid enough to make the neighbors squint.

When the Museum Comes to You

Check-in was smooth. The reception hall looked like a set from a dynasty drama with antiques everywhere. Yet the atmosphere was warm, not stuffy. Walking in was like stepping into a museum, but the staff were welcoming, not stiff or hushed. We were not just visitors. We belonged there, at least for the night.

A half an hour after we checked into our room, a knock came at the door. A staff member handed us a bamboo box filled with different kinds of Nyonya kueh. They were small, colorful, and delicate. The gesture was simple but it made the stay feel personal. We thanked them, set the box aside for later, and carried on with the evening.

We closed the door but did not lock it, we figured that nobody was around because the hallway seemed empty. It was a heavy old door with even a genuine old key. Sometime later a tourist wandered in, convinced our room was part of the museum tour. They froze, startled, and immediately started apologizing.

I shrieked and said, “this section is not a part of the tour.”

Without missing a beat Cary added, “But for ten bucks I will tell you where they keep the good snacks”

The tourist retreated like they had barged into a crime scene. We locked the door for real this time. Cary laughed until his shoulders shook, while I sat there waiting for my heart to calm down.

Inside Penang’s Blue Mansion: History with a Happy Chi

In the morning, Cary and I joined the in-house tour to learn about Cheong Fatt Tze, the tycoon who built the mansion. His story read like a script: Chinese immigrant, empire builder, a man with enough ambition to import goods from Europe. I wandered through with my camera, taking far too many pictures of old cabinets, staircases, and porcelain details. Old houses and old things had always pulled me in.

The Blue Mansion was old, but it never felt haunted. It carried weight, history, and shadows in the corners; but not the kind that followed you. Cary said, “This place felt like it had a happy chi. The air was light, not heavy. It wanted you to stay.” Leave it to Cary to feng shui my ghost worries into a wellness retreat. That was Cary’s way of balancing me out. Where I saw shadows and memory, he saw brightness. I still left the bathroom light on that night, but I slept fine.

Nasi Lemak and a Courtyard View

Morning brought breakfast in the courtyard. Guests had a buffet food spread out plus the option to order hot dishes. I chose nasi lemak and Cary chose an American Breakfast. Between the kaya toast, coffee, and endless buffet plates, breakfast turned into its own kind of vergadering: long, chatty, and settled only when we admitted defeat and waddled out of the courtyard.

Final Thoughts: Staying at the Blue Mansion in Penang

The room itself was clean, spacious, and comfortable. The bed was solid but not too hard, the AC cool, the bathroom modern without feeling out of place. The staff managed to keep the balance of hotel guests and museum crowds seamless. We never felt like part of the exhibit, except for that one afternoon mishap.

Would I stay again? Probably not. The Blue Mansion was a one-time deal — an experience, not a regular hotel. For the same price, other places offered more comfort. Once was enough. The memory earned a lifetime lease in my heart; a mix of history, heritage, and the smell of eucalyptus oil in my grandmother’s courtyard

Pro Tips

Do the tour. Tours began on the dot, come early and the courtyard was a lovely spot to wait and soak in those cobalt vibes.
Booking in advance is key. The mansion is both a popular tour and a hotel stay. Space fills up fast, especially in peak season (December - February). So book early to secure your slice of indigo heritage.
Eat Out. We glanced at the hotel restaurant menu, nodded politely, and then ran for the exit. Penang’s food scene was way too good (and waaay cheaper) to waste a perfectly good stomach slot on hotel dining.
Foreign travelers, expect an extra tourism tax plus heritage fee.

Slow Rush Travels Review

Room & Bathroom Comfort & Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
The bed was solid, the AC was cool, and the bathroom modern without breaking the heritage spell

Service & Ease: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½☆ (4.5/5)
Check-in was smooth and easy. The staff were welcoming. The bamboo box of Nyonya kueh delivered to the room? Sweet, colorful, and gone in a jiffy. Minus half a star because clearly, the hotel underestimated Metta’s commitment to kueh.

Hotel Facilities & Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
The mansion was the facility; all indigo walls, imported tiles, antique furniture we could touch. And when we stayed there we had hours to enjoy the old building and its glory.

Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆(3/5)
The Blue Mansion was expensive. Yes, we were paying for bragging rights. Where did you stay in Penang? At the crazy blue mansion from Crazy Rich Asians. But for that price, it was more of a once-in-a-lifetime splurge than an “I would come back every year” deal. The buffet added a second hidden cost to the waistline, but at least that one was delicious.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
History nerds, architecture lovers, and anyone who ever said “I love old houses” would have eaten this up. We got culture, comfort, and comedy (especially with Cary in the room making kueh jokes).

Cheong Fatt Tze - The Blue Mansion

Official Website: https://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com

Address: 14, Leith Street - 10200 Penang, Malaysia