It seems an editor over at Condé Nast has discovered one of Penang’s hidden gems: the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a late nineteenth century Chinese merchant’s house, lovingly restored and converted to a small boutique hotel. As the editor reports, the details sometimes appear too dated, but the overall effect is quite charming.
The Mansion isn’t the only place in Penang where you can get a feel for a bygone era. Many people have also raved about the Eastern & Oriental Hotel. Dating from the same period as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, the "E & O" was fully restored less than 10 years ago, and re-jigged to consist of just 99 suites. Staying here would be a decidedly different experience than staying at the Mansion, but it would be hard to choose between the two. Why not both?