Recommended Heritage Hotel in Penang

At the Pearl of the Orient, otherwise known as Penang, there are many things that one can do besides eating, and therefore, to complete your UNESCO World Heritage Site experience, accommodation is one of the important factors not to overlook.

After visiting this incredible island many times for various reasons, I decided to explore a recommended heritage hotel in Penang that would give me a different experience from staying at the usual hotels. I decided to spend a few days at 23 Love Lane, close to the famous Chulia Street but far enough for some much-needed privacy.

Say Hello to 23 Love Lane

Yes, that’s the official address, but the owners decided to use it as their business name, and hence, it’s catchy enough to remember: 23 Love Lane. On arrival, the thing that got to me was that the entire structure was a beautifully refurbished Anglo-Indian-style bungalow (some might say Strait Eclectic style) that stood majestically after the arched entrance.

I’ve seen these kinds of buildings before in other states, but this one in Georgetown came complete with a well-manicured garden and overall simplicity. Walking in the main entrance was like travelling back in the 1800s, even though this boutique hotel was established over a decade ago.

As I was still in awe of the bungalow’s overall preservation, a lovely young Indian lady greeted me and asked me to sit down at her quaint wooden table for my check-in, which was a breeze.

Talking to her, I was informed that this award-winning Penang heritage hotel only offers 12 rooms, which were all boutique and maintained elements of the past in each of them. As I made my way to the room, I couldn’t help but notice the little things that completed the hotel’s overall theme.

The room was fairly large, with most original fittings, like doors and windows, and a strong touch of wood for the flooring and cabinets. Modern facilities like a flatscreen TV, telephone, and mini bar were carefully blended.

Entering the bathroom was again like walking into a time tunnel, except the shower and toilet were clearly from the 21st century. However, the original tiles were still prominent, taking you back into history, and this blend of old and new was rather interesting.

Overall, I discovered that each room played a different part in the decor department, ranging from the Anglo-Indian, Jack-roof, and Straits Eclectic to the uniquely themed suites, some single and some for families.

Come teatime, complimentary tea and local cakes were served in the main entrance lounge area, where guests could sit on nostalgic living room chairs from the 1960s or 1970s. There was even a Chinese-themed ceramic chair and table set available.

From my first day experience, I can only imagine exploring Georgetown on foot and returning to a cosy heritage hotel without feeling that you are in the city, which is precisely what I did. The feeling was somewhat so different compared to my usual travels.

As I did not spend too long here, I could only explore Love Lane and its surroundings for two days, keeping me busy. I returned after lunch to take a break from walking and then continued just before sunset to see the nightlife of Chulia Street.

In the morning, I left early to go birdwatching at the Penang Botanical Gardens, which is highly recommended for those with a soft spot for nature. The gardens are also one of the best in Malaysia, having been established in 1884, making this one of the oldest lake gardens in Malaysia.

Also to add, the Penang Botanic Gardens is part of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO as the third Biosphere Reserve in Malaysia listed in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Photos of 23 Love Lane

As I don’t want to ruin all the fun, I am giving you photos of this beautiful heritage hotel, which were taken with only my smartphone. I will leave all the discoveries to you when you are personally here. I know most hotel reviews tend to try to include everything in the article, but let’s do this differently.

23 Love Lane
23, Lorong Love, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04 2621323
Check-in time: 3:00 pm
Check-out time: 12:00 pm
Website: 23 Love Lane

Conclusion

Before concluding, I have written hotel reviews in Malaysia and Asia for over ten years, writing about hotels and resorts I have visited in the last decade. Since I started focusing more on food and travel, I have created a lifestyle section for hotel reviews for this site.

If you are looking for a recommended heritage hotel in Penang, I suggest 23 Love Lane. The location is perfect, and the overall experience is simple yet sophisticated in a very unique way. Again, this location is just a minute’s walk to the main street, where you can also find the famous Chulia Street Night Hawker, serving some of Penang’s best local food.

There are many hotels in Penang, but the ones that stand out don’t try too hard to be noticed. Therefore, 23 Love Lane, a boutique heritage hotel, caught my attention when I was looking for something different, and ultimately, it won my trust.