Macalister Mansion — Restaurant in George Town

My hotel room is very clean and awesome! Check-in with no issue and thanks to Ms Fiona for being helpful with my check-in and my luggage carried to my room with her team. Very great customer service! Room and toilet are so awesome! No compain at all. Great job and compliment to Ms Fiona & the rest of the team member at the front desk including the uncle who open the door to welcome hotel guest. The facility like swimming pool actually looks great but should have swim early in the morning. If you’re in-house guest, they offer a fine dining experience with a reasonable price for each person. I didn’t check out the gym but heard from my wife it’s kinda depressing but it’s ok as we did not use the gym. The guest wifi coverage is just ok, not to say very good but I know the speed has been shape to each hotel guest per client hence speed is ok but again, coverage is just ok but need improvement definitely! The hotel came breakfast beside the cafe. The breakfast they served, really really bad! I had a very awesome big breakfast in Kuala Lumpur (western breakfast) but this is really the worst I ever taste! Myself & my wife could not or unable to eat “the original” and the turkey ham breakfast from the menu and it’s really terrible! The bread toast at the back are not fresh as I find it moist and hard to toast. Salad bar is just plain salad, and dressing is just not good enough! I tried the cafe latte and really not that good too while apple juice is more like water + syrup! I stayed 3d2n and my 2nd morning onwards, I never wake up early for their breakfast! Room services are very fast and superb polite and professional! Love they offer the fridge bar for free by the way. Convenience car park space provided and this location just in the town of Penang. Love the stay here! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ minus ⭐️ = ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - please do something with the...

Had the opportunity to stay in this restored colonial-era mansion on Macalister Road in Penang, in the Georgetown heritage zone. Georgetown is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and since its listing, plenty of heritage and historical mansions have been restored or converted for use. This one here was likely a former residence of a tycoon but has been converted into a boutique hotel named Macalister Mansion, after the historical road it's on and in tribute to Norman Macalister, the first British Governor of Penang. The hotel has only eight rooms. Yes, eight. And apparently all of them have their own unique layout which marries a contemporary touch that comes straight out of modern art magazines. I was in Room 8 which is basically the last room at the back. Not the largest but the space is still pretty huge. A sofa set the corner, a working panel that doubles as a desk behind the bed. The high ceilings add the sense of spaciousness to the room. The mood lighting of the bathroom was what stands out to me. Complete floor to ceiling glass (which can be covered with draw curtains), two basins and a bathtub. I love all the little trimmings: storage bins that looks like a book, design magazines, Bang & Olufsen sound system and chrome lamps. Like many hotels I love, and this is one feature I hope all hotels move to practice, is a complimentary mini bar. The hotel has a small pool in front, a guest lounge, a cellar bar for that hangout with with a great glass of wine and 2 restaurants. Location wise, it's on the fridge of the heritage zone and getting to the historical center of Georgetown is easy. Uber and Grab both serve Penang. It's also near the famed hawker centers on Lorong Selamat and close enough to Gurney Drive. The hotel recently just joined the Design Hotels group which makes Macalister Mansion the first Design Hotels property...

This has to be my favorite hotel stay in Penang so far! 🩷

What makes it really special is its boutique charm — only 8 rooms in total, which gives such a personal and cozy vibe. The service is excellent, definitely 5-star level. The check-in felt so warm and welcoming, and I loved being greeted with fresh coconut water — such a thoughtful touch and so refreshing! The bar is another highlight: the cocktails are professional, very well-crafted, and the bartenders take time to explain everything patiently, which I really appreciated.

Another thing I absolutely love: parking is available and completely taken care of. I never had to worry — the hotel prepared everything for me, which is such a relief in Penang where parking can be stressful. Honestly, this is one of the best parts of staying here.

The overall environment is just lovely. Every time I step into the hotel, there’s this subtle, pleasant fragrance — not too strong, just right. The room and the bed both smelled fresh and clean, making the whole stay feel extra comfortable. Honestly, I definitely see myself coming back here again!

The only small downside is the soundproofing in the morning. I could sometimes hear doors opening and closing from nearby rooms, which startled me a few times. It wasn’t a big issue, but improving this would make the stay absolutely perfect.

Overall, an amazing boutique hotel with outstanding service, cozy atmosphere, hassle-free parking, and details that make you feel cared for....