Hotel Penaga, Penang: Memorable Stay, Forgettable Service
Hotel Penaga caught our eye because it offered history with air conditioning, a combination we will never say no to. The lobby was all dark wood and vintage lamps, like a movie set for an old colonial drama, except we were the ones hauling luggage through the scene. Right away we knew this was not a resort designed for perfection. It was a heritage hotel with charm and character.
Check in went smoothly, though the staff were polite in the way people are when you interrupt them during something deeply important, like sorting paperclips by color. The receptionist handed over the key without a flicker of warmth, leaving us feeling less like guests and more like uninvited relatives turning up at dinner. We felt that same vibe throughout our stay, each day marked by service that was technically courteous, but never quite welcoming.
It was not until the third day that one staff member surprised us with genuine warmth, politely checking us out, asking how we had fared, and sending us off with the kind of smile that made us wish he’d been at the desk all along.
I told him he was the best staff in the building. He looked startled, as if no guest had ever said such a thing before, and for a second he seemed both proud and slightly suspicious of the compliment, like someone who had accidentally won a raffle they did not enter.
Room and Facilities: Heritage Comfort and Vintage Quirks
We stayed in the Hutton Deluxe Room which came with a king size bed. The bed was plush and supportive, the linens crisp, and the air conditioning a blessed relief in Penang tropical heat. The bathroom jacuzzi felt like a private spa retreat, the sort of luxury that almost convinced us to skip sightseeing.
The antique furniture and restored timber floors added heritage charm, though the floors had their own personality. Every step came with a creak, as if the building itself insisted on having the last word.
On the second day, the elevator decided to take a holiday of its own. When we asked when it might return to duty, the receptionist just shurg. Thankfully, it was only gone for a day, but after wandering hot, humid Georgetown, Penang, climbing the stairs felt like a punishment we had not signed up for.
Each time we climbed the stairs to our room, the floors beneath us responded with dramatic creaks and sighs, as if they, too, were questioning our life choices
Cary: “Why are you walking so carefully? Are you worried about falling through the floorboards?”
Metta: “No, I am waiting for a ghost auntie to appear—you know, the kind who silently judges whether we’re respectable enough to stay here.”
Cary smirked: “Respectable? She doesn’t care about us. She’s just waiting for someone to finally explain why the elevator has been slower than Penang traffic, when it is even working at all.”
Hotel Penaga strength lies in its atmosphere. The corridors and common spaces were filled with vintage touches that made it feel like stepping back a century. It was not spooky just full of character like a heritage auntie keeping an eye on you.
Breakfast at Hotel Penaga: Where Flavor Took the Morning Off
Breakfast at Hotel Penaga was technically food, but just barely. A few trays of rice, eggs, and vegetables sat in warming pans that looked like they had been in a long-term relationship with disappointment. It was not terrible, but it was the kind of okay that made you wonder why you had wasted precious stomach space in Penang of all places. A city where the smell of curry drifting out of a side street at sunrise feels more exciting than anything sitting under a silver buffet lid.
Nasi Kandar
Across the street was a completely different story. Nasi Kandar Pokok Ketapang offered steaming trays of chicken, curries, and vegetables, all fragrant and unapologetically bold. You picked what you wanted, the sauces flooded together on the plate, and somehow it all worked. Service came with an easy smile, which by that point felt almost radical after the blank politeness back at the hotel.
The choice was obvious. Stay inside and nibble on a buffet that seemed to resent its own existence, or cross the street and be reminded why people travel to Penang in the first place. By the second morning we had stopped pretending. We skipped the hotel spread entirely and walked straight to nasi kandar, trading bland efficiency for food that actually tasted alive.
Verdict
Hotel Penaga was not the polished resort experience some travelers crave, but in George Town, Penang, it offered heritage, atmosphere, and plenty of stories. The creaky timber floors narrated our every move, the vintage furniture whispered of another century, and yes, the elevator occasionally took a personal holiday. Breakfast? We skipped the buffet and crossed the street for nasi kandar that reminded us why Penang is a food paradise. We hadn’t come for perfection; we came for character, quirks, and the kind of memories we knew we’d laugh about later. For slow travelers and couples over 50 looking for culture wrapped in history (with a side of ghost auntie jokes), Penaga delivered exactly that—flaws and all.
Would we return? Doubtful. Same facilities can be found all over Georgetown, minus the chilly reception.
Pro Tips
Opted out of the hotel breakfast
Skipped the Grab queue and went straight for an airport taxi. It offered fixed fares. You pay at the counter, get a coupon, and that’s what you pay, no meter involved
Too worn out to chase street food? GrabFood and Foodpanda deliver Penang’s best straight to you.
Used the airport taxi booths at Penang International Airport. It offered fixed fares. You pay at the counter, get a coupon, and that’s what you pay, no meter involved
Foreign travelers, expect an extra (tourism tax) plus heritage fee) per room per night.
Slow Rush Travels Review
Room and Bathroom Comfort and Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
The king size bed felt like it had been designed by someone who actually slept in beds. Supportive, plush, and paired with crisp linens, it won us over. The jacuzzi added a spa-like touch to the bathroom, even if Penang’s warm climate made it better admired than used. The restored timber floors creaked at every step, but instead of annoying us, it felt like the house wanted to comment on our movements. Old, yes, but charmingly so.
Service and Ease: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Check-in was quick, but the staff’s warmth was missing, with smiles offered sparingly. When the elevator broke, their response was a shrug, which is not exactly helpful for guests with creaky knees.
Hotel Facilities and Ambience: ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆
This was where Penaga excelled. The building oozed history. Corridors felt like stage sets for a heritage drama, the antique furniture played its part, and the restored details made every corner feel lived in. You come because you want your hotel to tell you stories while you brush your teeth.
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
The rate was fair for the chance to stay inside a restored heritage building. Aloof service, a temperamental elevator, and a breakfast that did not deserve space on your plate made the price feel steeper than it should. What saved the value was location. Penaga sat in a central spot within George Town, surrounded by food that was infinitely better than anything on the hotel buffet.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 out of 5)
Hotel Penaga was not flawless, but it was memorable. If you want polish, stay elsewhere. If you want a hotel that feels like part of George Town itself, this is your stop.
Hotel Penaga, Penang
Address: Corner of Jalan Hutton & Lebuh
Clarke 10050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
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