Eastern & Oriental Hotel

Opened in 1885, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel's seafront promenade was once claimed to be "the longest of any hotel in the world." The beautiful promenade is still there today, with old shade trees that were there before the founding Sarkie brothers began construction (they would go on to open famed hotels The Raffles and The Strand as well). The E&O opened a second building with its own marble-clad reception in 2013, while the restored Heritage Wing retains its original Moorish minarets and wide domed lobby, staffed with doormen wearing British Colonial relics. 

Right on the edge of downtown along a private stretch of waterfront, the hotel is close to dining, bazaars, and attractions within the city center, including the British Colonial architecture that awarded George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourist destinations like Fort Cornwallis, the Kapitan Keling Mosque, and the Penang State Museum are within walking distance. Penang International Airport is about a 30-minute drive to the southern end of the island. 

Split between historic grandeur of the original Heritage Wing and the modern Victory Annexe that pays homage to the hotel's storied style, all the suites share a colonial ambience -- expect billowy white curtains and hardwood floors with colorful Oriental rugs. Not all rooms have sea views; some face the hotel's garden. The original suites have private balconies or terraces at the Premier Suite level and higher, while all of the newer suites in the Victory Annexe have balconies. Posh sitting areas have vanities and writing desks with flat-screen TVs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard along with laptop safes, minibars, and coffeemakers. The bathrooms vary from green marble to black and white tile, with rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs.

The hotel's signature restaurant is the aptly named 1885 (the year the building dates to), and is well-regarded for its candle-lit colonial style, fine dining, and afternoon tea. The more casual Sarkies has a sprawling buffet with international dishes and an attached coffee shop with outdoor seating, while Planters Lounge provides a relaxed environment (exclusively for hotel guests) where the free breakfast is served. Cooking classes are available to educate guests in the culinary traditions of Penang. For an education in English libations, Farquhar's bar is styled after a classic gentlemen's club centered around a long hunk of dark wood, with brighter seating in the garden outside. There are two outdoor pools, one for each building, both facing the sea. The infinity pool at the Victory Annexe also has a cocktail bar on its surrounding terrace. 

For events, the hotel has six elegant meeting rooms and the old 400-capacity Grand Ballroom plays host to third generation (and counting) wedding parties. The E&O Gallery showcases cultural relics and historic objects as they relate to the area through the lens of this historic property, with guest-submitted items on display. The hotel also has a full-service spa and a 24-hour fitness center with a sauna, steam room, and yoga classes.