No. 76 Jalan A.S Mansoor, Off Transfer Road, George Town, Malaysia | (888) 399-9863
Small, quiet property run by family owners
Charming rooms and suites peppered with antiques
In-room mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and air-conditioning
Fascinating private museum for guests only, and small library
Well-regarded restaurant, plus breakfast can be included in rates
Rooftop offers scenic views of the city
Tiny gym with a few pieces of equipment
Free parking and Wi-Fi throughout
Located outside city center
Rooms and bathrooms are on the small side
Rooms classified as being without a view are dark
No pool or spa, and gym is tiny
Located on a quiet street on the outskirts of central George Town, the mid-range Museum Hotel offers a blend of colonial architecture, antiques, and modern amenities. The lovingly restored early 20th-century building exudes elegant charm of days gone, and even includes a private museum run by the hotel's owner. Antiques are also peppered throughout the 29 individually decorated rooms, which have attractive decor, marble bathrooms, mini-fridges, and kettles. Rooms and bathrooms are on the small side, however. An on-site restaurant serves well-reviewed fare, and breakfast is available for a fee and can be served in a lovely courtyard. A tiny gym and free Wi-Fi are provided, but there's no pool or spa. Travelers looking for a similarly priced hotel in the hear of the city should consider the Nam Keng Hotel.
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Scene
Historic hotel with antique furnishings and modern comforts
The Museum Hotel occupies a refurbished 1929 shophouse filled with antiques dating back to the 19th century. The welcoming lobby features busily patterned floor tiles, stately wooden staircase, colonial furniture, and gilded accents. Other period decorations are liberally scattered through both the hotel’s public areas and 29 individually decorated rooms and suites. This, however, is not at the expense of modern amenities such as air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. A unique feature here is a private antique-filled museum run by the hotel's owner and only open to guests. A marble-filled dining room with one open-air side overlooking a water feature is pleasant, but that's about it in terms of common space. Couples on vacation are the primary guests, but solo travelers, families, and groups of friends also stay here.
Location
Quiet setting on the outskirts of downtown
Positioned on a quiet street, the hotel is a five-minute walk to bustling Penang Road lined with restaurants, shops, and bars, Guests are within a 20-minute walk of attractions such as Penang China Town, Fort Cornwallis, and Little India. Meanwhile, Penang International Airport is about a 30-minute drive to the southern end of the island. The hotel can organize airport transfers and provides free parking.
Rooms
Charming rooms with blend of antique furnishings and modern amenities
The individually decorated rooms and suites blend Old World charm with modern amenities, and categories are named after traditional Chinese symbols -- good luck, happiness, and prosperous life, to name a few. Decorated with antiques, rooms have Chinese-style mirrors, shutter windows, vintage artworks, colonial-era furniture, wooden floors, brass standing lamps, and rotary telephones. Painted teacups alongside kettles, antique rugs, and four-poster beds in some add charming touches. On the downside, some past guests have complained that rooms and bathrooms are small, lower-category rooms with no view are dark, and some units have unusual layouts.
Standard amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, safes, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Marble bathrooms come with showers, slippers, quality toiletries, and hairdryers, plus some have separate bathtubs. Rooms range from single to four-person units.
Features
Private museum, restaurant, and tiny gym
The crowning feature here is a fascinating guest-only private museum with an antique collection that includes Art Deco, Baba-Nyonya, and Victorian-era pieces. A tiny gym has a few pieces of equipment, bu there are no pool or spa facilities. An on-site restaurant is well-regarded, and many guests opt for the a la carte breakfast served in the bright marble dining room overlooking a water feature. Asian and Western choices are available. A rooftop terrace offers scenic views of the city, however, the space lacks furniture. A small library and free Wi-Fi complete amenities.
