Hotel: Macalister Mansion - Macalister Road, Georgetown (Top Pick)

MM location map

It’s rare these days that I find hotels to get too much excited about.  Most tend to be either corporate chain establishments with little to endear, increasingly popular boutique hotels, some of which manage to pull the concept off much better than others, or the ‘cheap as chips’ glorified guest houses.  All in all, a bit meh.  Once in a blue moon however you come across a truly outstanding establishment  which really impresses at every level.  One example is Macalister Mansion which, for ease of reference and conveniently, is located in Macalister Road, Georgetown, Penang.

I think it’s fair to say that the vast majority of visitors coming to Penang do not come for the beach experience.  While the option is there, with numerous hotels in the Batu Ferringhi area, its is clear that the ‘down-town’ experience is in hot demand with visitors in abundance at the numerous heritage sites and areas in Georgetown, soaking up the ambience, indulging in Penang’s famed street food, shopping in central Georgetown and the maze of ‘Komtar’ and wandering round the backstreets that make up Little India and the Chinese Quarter.  For many, this is what Penang is all about.  But where do you stay, or more pertinent to this article, where do you say if you want somewhere a cut above the rest, somewhere with some class and style?  And of course it’s not only visitors from afar who will at times wish to seek out the occasional gem of a hotel.  Local residents searching for somewhere to stay for that special occasion or celebration, a couple looking at a super-special place to host a wedding dinner and maybe even have a few special invited guests to stay a couple of days, or visitors from out-station just looking for somewhere special to spend a few days in the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.  So why is this hotel special, what makes it really stand out.  Read on…….

Reception

Macalister Mansion, or MM as it is known locally, is housed in a magnificent heritage building which is very befitting to its name.  Sweeping in from Macalister Road the driveway can swing you round right outside the front door with ample off-road parking for your car, a godsend in this part of town!  

As you enter the reception you will immediately be struck by its style which flows throughout the establishment (unlike many corporate boxes where the, ahem, ‘style’ comes to an abrupt halt once you go beyond reception), it exudes chic and elegance and yet is done in a very tasteful way which compliments the heritage exterior of the hotel.  Spacious, minimalist and tastefully lit, the reception area sets the scene well.  The staff are also worth a mention, friendly and welcoming with nothing too much trouble.

One of MMs superb rooms

Once checked in you will be shown to your room and I have to say that these are probably some of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen in a hotel, far better, for instance, than some of the (so called) 5 star gilt-heavy glitz that you see in some chain hotels.  

An equally superb bathroom

Spacious, beautifully designed and furnished, with big comfortable beds, large flat screen TVs (some of which spin to allow you to watch the super-size screen in the bath!) and outstanding bathrooms.  The beds are superbly comfortable and the rooms quiet!!  No thumping discos and adjoining nightclubs here!  The rooms alone are enough to warrant a true 5* rating IMO but there is so much more to Macalaister Mansion too.

MM's restaurant

Without doubt, one of the finest restaurants in Penang is also located at Macalister Mansion.  Again, tastefully decorated and appointed, the restaurant is definitely a place to linger with a partner or with friends as you savour some of Penang’s finest cuisine.  

Exquisite fine dining at MM's renowned restaurant

Under the watchful eye of head chef Lance U’reen the kitchen team produce some truly inspiring dishes with more than a hint of classical French influence fused with a distinctly Asian twist that gives the restaurant its unique appeal.  

Each dish a feast for the eyes and palate!

Reasonably priced and with an excellent wine cellar (the restaurant also serves a superb wine-pairing menu) Macalister’s restaurant is a great place to dine, whether or not you are staying at the hotel.

The Living Room cafe

The hotel also houses its own café, 'The Living Room', decorated in a fresh and airy ‘garden’ style, the café is open all day until turned midnight and offers a superb range of very reasonably priced dishes, delicacies and cakes for a great mouth-watering lunch, high-tea or supper.  

Delicious Hokkien Mee at The Living Room

The café also serves something which I find increasingly difficult to get these days, good coffee, you know, coffee that TASTES like coffee!!!  The café is a superb place to chill, chat and relax as you take a break from exploring town.  

The Living Room's 'Gourmet Shop'

The newly opened 'Gourmet Shop' at the cafe stocks and sells a wide variety of delicacies and you can even pick up a loaf or two of your favourite freshly baked bread when visiting.  

Fashion show at MM

Occasionally MM also plays host to themed events such as fashion shows.  Such is the quality of the food and environment at the restaurant and café they will both be subject to their own dedicated reviews.

The Cellar

Speaking of chilling, also housed within MM is ‘The Cellar’ wine bar, a modern and luxuriously furnished wine bar with an extremely well stocked cellar, a wide range of whiskies and spirits and also specialist imported beers.  

Lounge at The Cellar

You can choose to sit at the bar, at one of the tables with high stools (one of which can easily accommodate 8-10 people) or at one of the very comfortable low tables with leather armchairs or sofas, there’s even a sofa in front of flame effect fire that is very cosy.  

Superb cheeseboard at The Cellar

While talking about ‘The Cellar’, it would be remiss not to mention the exceptional cheeseboard here, available in two sizes, the largest costs just RM 35 for a great selections of cheeses, biscuits and accompaniments, great with a glass of your favourite wine and, given the price of imported French cheeses in these parts, exceptionally good value.

The Cigar Lounge

Moving on again, the hotel also boasts a very chic ‘Cigar and Wine / Champagne’ lounge, The Den, nestled near to reception it’s a great place to indulge one of the many fine cigars stocked at MM which I suspect will have something to appeal to even the most hardened connoisseur.

MM's pool and pool bar

Finally, and moving outside the hotel, despite its very convenient central location, MM boasts a very nice pool area and poolside bar, great if you fancy a cooling dip or an afternoon / early evening (or morning for the ‘early risers’!) relax with a cocktail as the sun goes down, and of course to work up an appetite for the superb restaurant!

That then is MM, a real gem of hotel, a cut above the rest, with an unrivalled air of style and panache, and right in the heart of Georgetown.  Whether it’s to stay, eat dinner, doing lunch or chilling at ‘The Cellar’, MM IMHO offers a 10/10 experience and is most definitely worth a visit.  Understandably it qualifies with ease for a ‘Top Pick’!  You can visit the hotel's website here and their Facebook Page here.

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Nylon Pink: Debut Night (Hard Rock Hotel)

So, by way of an appetiser for the Hard Rock Hotel Pinktober event on 6th October (see here) the following is a series of shots taken at Nylon Pink's debut night in Malaysia on Wednesday 3 October, and what a night it was!!  With their own numbers and some super K-Pop covers this band really rocks, oh and they look pretty darned hot too :-)





Nylon Pink sure created a buzz when they took to the stage as those not familiar with their work did not know what to expect.  I had checked them out some time back so was looking forward to some tracks that I hoped they'd play.











Now, I must say that for me, lead guitarists don't get much hotter than Kiki.












And amongst musicians I always find bass players the coolest.  But, bass players come in the 'hot' version too, none much hotter than Katt I think!!!











And........while we're at it.  Singers, for hot, Kaila takes the prize!!  Great voice, nice personality and really knows how to turn on the sultry look when performing.  Captivating :-)













And can they play and sing!!!!!!!















Jamie.  Sexiest drummer in the world?  Most likely I think.  Really good drummer too and she delivered a superb drum solo around half way through the set.













By now, it probably won't come as MUCH of a surprise to hear that DJ Shy on keyboards is also gorgeous.















Did I mention I thought Kiki was REALLY nice :-)  She really punched out some great sounds during the performance and is great to watch.  Must admit, if I wasn't shooting another event tonight I'd have gone to see them again!










So, how were they live?  Often a killer for bands as many sound great in the studio but range from mediocre to down right abysmal when playing live.  Thankfully this is definitely NOT the case with Nylon Pink.  They really were excellent. With a great mix of their own material and some outstanding K-Pop covers they really put on a great show!!  They played for around 1 hour and the only complaint I had was when they had to finish.  One of my favourite tracks is their English cover of the 2NE1 track "I am the best" which you can check out here.  I actually prefer Nylon Pink's take on this track, more of a punchy / rock vibe.

All in all it was a really great night and for those that missed Nylon Pink last night, you still have a chance, they will be playing at the Hard Rock on the 4th, 5th and 6th of October as per the previous post.  They REALLY are worth seeing and I think we are really lucky to have the band in Malaysia given that they are in very hot demand in the USA.

More pictures of the band's debut night can be found here.  Be sure also to check out Nylon Pink's Facebook Page and their Official YouTube Channel.  Enquiries about tickets for their shows can be made to the Hard Rock Hotel.  The combination of the band and a lingerie show by models from the Amber Chia Academy on the 6th is a sure fire winner and tickets are selling fast.  Contact the hotel early to avoid disappointment.

Hard Rock Penang: Forthcoming Events

Of the many F&B outlets in Penang the Hard Rock Hotel and it's various bars and eateries rank amongst my favourites.  Good food, good beer, good prices and pleasant staff.  All you need for a great night out.

NYLON PINK

Hard Rock is also locally renowned for hosting some very happening events and the next few weeks will see a couple more in their hectic calendar, events that I am particularly looking forward to.

The first of these events happens on 6 October and features Nylon Pink, a California based all-Asian female rock band that are currently on a Hard Rock special tour and most recently (in fact, right up until 30 September) were playing at Hard Rock, Macau, China.  Nylon Pink will be playing between the 3rd and 6th of October (inclusive) and I plan to slip up to the Hard Rock Cafe on the 3rd to get some early shots of the band in action.  Nylon Pink also have their own Official You Tube Channel.


The Full Schedule for Nylon Pink is as follows:

Weds 3rd October 10.30pm – 11.30pm: Hard Rock Cafe Penang

11.30pm – midnight (Meet The Fans photo session)

Thurs 4th October 10.30pm – 11.30pm: Hard Rock Cafe Penang

11.30pm – midnight (Meet The Fans photo session)

           

Fri 5th October 9.45pm – 10.45pm: Hard Rock Facebook 100K Pool Party

10.45pm – 11.15pm (Meet The Fans photo session)

           

Sat 6th October 9.15pm – 9.45pm & 10.00pm – 10.30pm      

Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Lingerie Fashion Show

I am particularly interested in the event of the 6th though as it will also feature a lingerie fashion show laid on by the Academy owned by my friend, and Asia's top super-model, Amber Chia.  Doubtless Kelvin (also of the Penang based, and ACA Penang affiliated, Iconic Model Management) and Nelson from the Academy will be going flat out to ensure the show is a success, as the Academy's events always are.  Details of the PINKTOBER event and how to book tickets can be found here.  It is a breast cancer charity event, so all in a very good cause, and tickets are currently RM 50 each, including one drink.  A very good deal indeed.

Following the above, the Hard Rock will also be hosting Miss Hard Rock SE Asia on Sunday 17th November from around 8pm and information about this event can be found here.  I think this will also be an event not to miss!

Finally, the Facebook Events listing page for the Hard Rock can be found here.

See you there!!!

UEFA Euro 2012: Copthorne Orchid Hotel, Tg Bungah.

I've just received details of some late night beer promotions being offered by the Copthorne Orchid Hotel in Tanjung Bungah for the duration of UEFA Euro 2012 between 9 June and 2 July 2012.  If you're a footie fan and enjoy the ambience of a big screen, company and a few beers, this could be just right for you!!!

New Bagan!!!!

One of my favourite night-spots in Penang has opened at its new venue!!

Bagan has relocated to Macalister Mansion in Macalister Road (near to Perak Road) and while the new club retains the charm of the old venue (complete with performances from a live band and DJ) and thankfully, most of the original staff, new Bagan is a vastly different concept with the heritage mansion being tastefully re-designed inside to provide a charming boutique hotel and a very stylish and sophisticated restaurant serving fine cuisine prepared by Head Chef Lance and his team.

Words don't really do the place justice so I plan to write a more complete and pictorial review in the next week or so.  I have attached a map showing roughly the location of Macalister Mansion below

Restaurant: Tamarind Brasserie - Batu Ferringhi

The Park Royal Hotel in Batu Ferringhi is well known in Penang and its 'Tamarind Brasserie' has an enviable location near the beach and is adjacent to the very relaxing pool-side gardens and bar.

I have eaten the buffet meals there a couple of times now and while I generally find I need to eat quite a lot to make most buffet meals worth the cost, the meals and setting of Tamarind make it a very enjoyable experience.

Presently the Hotel has a number of offers running (May / June 2012) which will no doubt provide a further incentive for people to try these buffet extravaganzas.  An overview is provided below:

SEAFOOD INDULGENCE (6:30pm - 10:30pm)

Weds: Island Style BBQ Buffet

Fri: East Meets West Buffet

RM 125++ with 35% discount for 'walk-in' guests and buy one get one free on Super Duper draught beer and cocktail of the day.

NIGHTS OF FLAVOUR  (6:30pm - 10:30pm)

Monday: Seafood Buffet

Tues: Middle East and Mediterranean Cuisine

Thursday: International

Saturday: Seafood Buffet

RM 125++ with 35% discount for 'walk-in' guests and buy one get one free  on Super Duper draught beer and cocktail of the day.

SUNDAY

Lunch (12:00 noon - 3:00 pm)

Buffet Lunch: International cuisine including  Italian, Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Western and Seafood.

RM 108++ per person.  Buy one get one free offer on lunch and also Super Duper Draught Beer or cocktail of the day.

Dinner (6:30pm - 10:00pm)

Buffet Lunch: International cuisine including  Italian, Indian, Thai, Indonesian, Western and Seafood.

RM 125++ per person.  Buy one get one free offer on lunch and also Super Duper Draught Beer or cocktail of the day.

So, if you have the appetite and fancy the variety of food at a reasonable price, Tamarind at the Park Royal is well worth a visit.

Restaurant: Muntri Mews Hotel, Muntri Street, Georgetown

I have previously provided a short write up about the very nice boutique hotel Muntri Mews which is located on Muntri Street (not far from Chulia Street) in Georgetown Penang. Previously the hotel only used to serve food on Friday and Saturday nights but that has now changed with evening meals being provided 7 nights a week.

In light of the change I visited the hotel again recently for an evening meal and to catch up with my friend Chona Bacani. It was a Thursday night and all the tables were full (I have since been during a public holiday week and the tables were again full) so it may be a good idea to book depending on which night you wish to go.

On this occasion I chose a chicken satay starter and a beef rib-eye rendang washed down with several bottles of Tiger at a very reasonable RM 8 per bottle. The satay I have to say was excellent and is easily on a par with that which I have had at my favourite satay hawker in New Lane. The chicken was moist, tender and VERY well marinated in a tasty blend of spices and soy sauce and was served with an equally delicious peanut and chilli sauce which made a for an exceptional starter. The rendang was also excellent. Again, tender pieces of meat served with a rich and fiery dark red sauce accompanied by steamed rice and enough salad to break up the dish with some variety. I finished off the meal with with a very nice banana fritter with ice cream with the fritter served in a crumb rather than a heavy batter coating which can at times be a little heavy. The whole meal, from memory, was only around RM 40 which was very good value for money.

I'm glad I returned to the Muntri Mews and will certainly do so again on a regular basis. They also serve a nice breakfast if you are in that part of town comprising either continental fare or tasty local Malay dishes with a range of hot drinks (an excellent latte), smoothies and juices. Very well worth a visit.

Hotel: Evergreen - Gurney Drive, Penang

Regular readers will be aware that I stayed at the G Hotel when I came to Penang in April and was most impressed. Despite the temptation to stay at the G Hotel when I returned to Penang full time in July I decided to give the Evergreen a shot, primarily to compare it and write a review. So, that's what I did, stopping at the Evergreen for two weeks from 21 July.

One of the things I had seen written about the Evergreen was the that reception staff were miserable. I have to say, that upon check-in and over the coming two weeks I did find that the staff were generally less smiling and welcoming than the staff at the G Hotel. Checking in though was reasonably efficient and the lobby is pleasant and airy with free wi-fi. Four lifts service the hotel which is enough but at times the wait times can be long. Up on to the floors and it has to be said that the corridors are looking somewhat tired and piped music is played which is unfortunately loud enough that it is audible in your room at times, albeit it gets switched off around midnight.

The rooms themselves are spacious and comfortable enough. I had a superior room with a sea view and I have to say that in terms of the room alone I actually preferred it over the G. The G is very stylish but there is VERY little storage and over time I found the minimalist style somewhat cold. In contrast the Evergreen uses a warm mix of wood, beige, brown and gold to create a very warm feeling. The king sized bed was very comfortable and the room was well equipped. Free internet was provided in the room but wired only. In this case there is ample storage (wardrobe and drawer), large TV and mini bar which, unlike the G, was not free (albeit the G was stocked with soft drinks and snacks only). The bathroom is a little on the small side but was well stocked with toiletries. There is a bath but it is a little on the short side.

The pool area was unfortunately closed for renovations while I was there so I am unable to comment on that. There is a large bar/cabaret room which seemed to be reasonably well used by guests while I was there with live music most nights. I often find these places somewhat overpriced and lacking in atmosphere though so didn't use it myself. The hotel claims four restaurants but those in regular use are the Chinese restaurant which I didn't use and the Cafe Laurel. This is where breakfast and the buffet dinner is served. While both of those are OK they are nothing to get too excited about. Breakfast is OK with a mix of some basic Malay cuisine (which didn't vary much), Western fried stuff, Continental (bread and cheese) and Japanese. Juice and hot drinks are also provided and the is also an egg section for omelettes. The buffet dinner was slightly more so so for me and nothing remarkable. Some of the food lacked taste and much was often luke warm at best. In addition, the restaurant got very busy at certain times and long waits could be expected. For me, the offerings at the G were just better. But then the G has a 'rack rate' of almost RM 200 more than the Evergreen.

Finally, we get to location. I found the G much better in this regard as you could literally walk into Gurney Plaza, something which, because of proximity, I found myself doing most days when staying there. At the Evergreen I often wanted to but couldn't be bothered at it's a good 15 minute walk and with the heat/humidity and/or rain it can make it uncomfortable. Was it a big problem, no, would I rather have done without it, yes. It is of course even further to Gurney hawkers which, from the G, are just a 2-3 minute walk.

Overall I found the Evergreen pleasant enough and I did enjoy the stay. If staying for 14 nights you will likely get a special long stay rate here, just as you will at the G, IF you ask for them in advance. This brings the price of the Evergreen down from around RM 250 ++ a night to around RM 200 ++ (the ++ being +10% service and +6% Government tax). For that the Evergreen will throw in 3 pieces of laundry per day and two dinners in the Laurel. However, given that I got the G for just RM 50 more (250++) per night, albeit there were no free dinners, I just found the location of the G much more convenient which led to a better all-round stay. The extent to which that location, and the style of the G, appeals to travellers will vary according to taste and need but it's worth remembering that the long stay rate at the G gets you RM 200 off the rack rate (a rate which due to demand the G can often command) versus an RM 50 reduction from rack at the Evergreen.

Hotel: Pacific Regency Hotel Suites - Kuala Lumpur

On the last few days of my recent trip to Penang I stayed over in KL for four nights before returning to the UK and rather than returning to the very good Melia Hotel I decided to try somewhere different. So, I booked Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, in Jalan Punchak near Jalan P Ramlee for around RM 260 per night, initially for 2 nights, through Agoda (see travel links).

On arrival in KL I had the misfortune to get a taxi driver who didn't know where the hotel was and KL was even heavier in traffic than normal due to a movie or something being shot near Jalan P Ramlee. Luckily I had purchased a voucher for the journey from KL Sentral otherwise the meter would have soared as we went round and round trying to find the hotel. The driver was also less than skilled at reading maps as I tried to point out the hotel on Google Maps saying, "we should turn here", "where?", "here", "where?", "back there", "but where", "too late now", you get the picture. In fact, had it not been pouring with rain I'd have got out and walked. Oddly, despite being monsoon season I found I got by without an umbrella in Penang. In KL though, come 4 or 5pm it did rain most days for between 1-3 hours and some days it rained really hard!!! Umbrella definitely needed for KL in monsoon season IMHO!!

Once we did arrive I checked in and both the entrance to the hotel and the reception areas are attractively styled and the staff were very helpful and courteous, if somewhat amazed about my ill-feted taxi trip that too 1.5 hours (in normal traffic, supposing a direct route, it would take more like 20 minutes). I was given a room on the 29th floor and had been upgraded to a Superior Room. So, what was it like?

Well, I have too say I wasn't THAT impressed. The room itself was very spacious but the decor it has to be said was somewhat lacklustre and all a bit dull. The room had a distinctive musty smell to it indicating it was perhaps less than regularly used with the air going slightly stagnant with the lack of air con. The furniture was also older in style, made of very dark wood which, alongside the beiges and browns of the decor made the room look somewhat flat. It was however VERY spacious, clean and tidy and the bathroom was enormous with a large walk-in shower and a bath. There was also ample storage. Being a serviced suite there was also a kitchenette with dining table and this area had the only window in the room. In fact it was the location of the window which did not help the light in the main bedroom as the kitchen area is much narrower than the bedroom and separated from it by a partial partition wall so the bedroom was never light really. The air -con was also quite noisy. Thankfully, after 3 years in the UAE and the 50 degree heat of their summers I found I rarely needed to use A/C while in Malaysia, probably a godsend in this case as I'm not sure I'd have been able to sleep with what sounded like a Harrier jump-jet with it's engine at idle just next to the bathroom!! Overall the room was OK to be honest but I can't say I really felt happy in it, it had a more utilitarian and functional feel to it than anything and failed to give me that relaxed and contented feeling that some hotel rooms are able to do.

Location wise the hotel wasn't brilliantly placed. It's walkable to the Bukit Bintang/Chankat area but did not feel as close as the Melia, it was also not so conveniently placed as the Grand Millenium, for the busier shopping areas around Jalan Bukit Bintang. That said you will likely pay RM 80-100 more for a room at the Millenium unless you were able to get a very good deal (but from stays in other Millenium hotels I suspect it would be worth it) but the Melia could be had for about RM 240 per night (at the time of writing). The location was OK but it just felt a bit out of it.

Facilities wise I didn't get to use much. I did eat at the restaurant in the Lunar Bar, a roof-top restaurant, disco and pool bar area which may well get popular at weekends (but maybe not so popular as the Sky Bar at Traders Hotel). The meal was somewhat unspectacular I have to say. I started with a wild mushroom soup which did seem to be lacking in one essential ingredient, wild mushrooms, and which was more rich and creamy than tasty, much too creamy for my taste. This was followed by a T-bone steak which was poorly cooked. I am a qualified chef so I have some idea of how steak should be cooked and my preference is always for a steak, regardless of how 'well' you want it done, be seared on a VERY hot grill or under a salamander such that it imparts a good flavour to the exterior and crisps any fat somewhat. The best that could be said for this steak was that it was cooked, just cooked, with a pale brown unappealing colour and an even more unappealing taste. Maybe other dishes at this restaurant are better, maybe at 11:00pm the grills had been turned off and were not so hot, but as a paying customer I do expect a degree of quality and if restaurants are unable to deliver to their normal standards, they should tell you.

I did have ocassion to use the Business Centre at the hotel to get some documents printed off and the staff were friendly and helpful. The prices were OK but if you were in town, as with any hotel, you could probably get printing and copying done for a tenth of the price at anyone of shops providing this kind of service. One thing that was very useful was that the hotel had a permanent executive (blue) taxi station right by the front door so getting a taxi at any hour was easy and the taxi company staff, and indeed the drivers, were very helpful and friendly. I'm sure I put on a kilo with all of the local take away delicacies they kept insisting I tried. A very helpful and pleasant bunch!! That said, I think most people are if you treat them with the respect, dignity and manners that you'd expect to be accorded to you rather than the, frankly, somewhat atrocious attitudes you see displayed by some people, but especially tourists and visitors some of whom have a vastly over-inflated view of their own self-importance!! As I have also said before the staff at the hotel were also very helpful. The only annoying factor, and this may be the same at some, but I know not all, hotels was that when I wanted to extend my stay by two nights for visa completion, they could not do the same rate at reception such that I had to book again through the internet. There were difficulties with Agoda that day so it was somewhat frustrating. Indeed I did even contemplate checking out and booking in at the Grand Millenium to give that a try but as I had a busy enough day the next day I couldn't be bothered to factor packing, check-out and check-in in to the itinerary as well. The staff clearly have their hands tied in this regard though and, other than that, service was faultless and all of the staff were very helpful and friendly.

Overall I wouldn't go so far as to say I wouldn't recommend the Pacific Regency Hotel Suites, it was an OK place to stay, just OK, depending on what you are looking for. If you need a kitchen it's maybe ideal but for me I would rather have the more attractively styles rooms of a normal hotel and would most likely opt for the locations of the Melia and Grand Millenium when visiting in future.

Hotel: Muntri Mews - Muntri Street, Georgetown (Top Pick)

I was taken to this hotel by a very good friend of mine one evening and thought I would post the details here as the Muntri Mews is another very nice boutique style hotel in the heart of Georgetown. Often I prefer these boutique hotels to the large corporate offerings as they generally offer a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and a more personal service. Some are better than others though and I am pleased to say that the Muntri Mews definitely falls into the 'better' category, much better.

The hotel is nicely designed with cooling whites and contrasting colours in a tasteful style which flows through the whole hotel from the Mews Kafe (the hotel restaurant and cafe which is situated at the entrance to the building), through the courtyard (where guests can also take breakfast) to the relaxing bedroom suites all of which have LCD TVs and seating areas which open on to the verandah of the Mews. The hotel is decorated with a nice mixture of local art and paraphernalia and free wifi is also provided for guests.

On Friday and Saturday the hotel also offers a restaurant style meal in the Mews Kafe. We tried the Nyonya specialities last night which comprised a very tasty range of dishes from the 'Top Hat" spicy starter with Asian vegetables and spices in a light and crispy pastry basket, through to the nicely presented and tasty Nyonya mixed plate (curry, vegetables, salad, and rice), finishing with a very light and tasty caramelised banana fritter with ice cream. The price is very reasonable indeed and the meal can be accompanied by a range of wines, beers and/or soft drinks with a bottle of Tiger at RM9.

I have to say that the Muntri Mews is a lovely find and thanks to my good friend for taking me there. Much of the time you will be in the good hands of the very welcoming, charming and helpful Chona who will I'm sure ensure your stay is a pleasant and relaxing one. I would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for the more quaint, atmospheric and relaxing type of hotel, particularly one located so close to the heritage sites of Georgetown. At around RM 300 a night I will certainly look to stay there in the future.