Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Conveniently situated within the UNESCO World Heritage buffer zone and walking distance from the central business district, Areca Hotel offers families and travelers the opportunity to experience the rich history and vibrant culture that George Town and Penang has to offer. Areca Hotel is named after the Areca Palm (Areca Catechu), also known commonly as the Pinang palm and from which Penang island derives its name. Our family hotel features 50 rooms located across twelve newly renovated shop houses in a private enclave along Khoo Sian Ewe Road. The original pre war shop houses (and the land on both sides of Khoo Sian Ewe Road) were once owned by Khoo Sian Ewe, philanthropic businessman, landowner and during his time one of the wealthiest men in Penang. The Majestic Theatre, located directly opposite our hotel, was the first cinema in Penang to screen Chinese sound films. We offer a variety of rooms ranging from spacious family suites, cozy garden rooms to luxurious heritage suites. Modern furnishings provide guests with the comforts of home. Additional facilities in the hotel include a cafe, children’s room, conference/meeting room, library and computer lounge. We invite you to stay with us and enjoy our family-friendly hospitality. Fancy a bowl of Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul but long queue and hot sun? Courtesy from Areca Hotel, in-house guests can now enjoy it when you savour your Complimentary Afternoon Tea with us.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Filipino, Malay
Location
No. 5, Jalan Khoo Sian Ewe, George Town, Penang Island 10050 Malaysia
Areca Hotel Penang
4.5 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled in the heart of Penang, Areca Hotel emerges as a charming retreat with its colonial-style architecture and serene courtyard, as travelers often commend. The hotel's location is not just strategic but also offers convenient access to local attractions and transportation, enhancing its appeal for those exploring the area.
Guests have called out the comfort and cleanliness of the rooms, despite some being on the smaller side. The service at Areca Hotel, especially the complimentary afternoon tea, receives high marks, although there are suggestions for a more varied breakfast and upgraded bathroom amenities.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Detailed Reviews
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We slept in this hotel for 3 nights. We had 2 rooms on the ground floor. The rooms were very spacious and attractive. Hygiene was good and the sheets were clean. Staff is friendly and the entrance/walkway to the rooms is nicely decorated.
The breakfast is limited, but sufficient. It was noticeable that coordination was sometimes somewhat chaotic. Almost every time there were no more plates or cups, and the breakfast itself sometimes also had an empty bowl. Not a very big problem, but it is a point of attention for the hotel itself that there needs to be a little more leadership and coordination in managing breakfast. Location of the hotel is very good, everything is within walking distance.
Then there are 2 critical points: the rooms on the ground floor are very noisy. A bit too noisy in my opinion. And secondly: we had a car and upon arrival there was hardly any room left in front of the hotel. We were asked to park the car in a mall somewhere further away. Fortunately, a spot became available, but I would advise the hotel to look at the possibilities of creating a few spots for guests.
In short, an attractive and nicely decorated hotel with good and spacious rooms. Breakfast is sufficient and the staff is friendly. But if you are on the ground floor, take into account some outside noises.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Kom je met een huur auto, vergeet dan niet parkeerkosten te betalen. Dit is namelijk verplicht....
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Recommended for those who like small accommodations, enjoy walking around town, and want to experience the local atmosphere. Conveniently located, you can walk to both the tourist shopping area and the local shopping center, Komtar (women should not go alone around Komtar at night), and there are also delicious local food stalls and restaurants nearby. The free bus stop is close to both the back and front of the hotel, so it is convenient to access anywhere. The guys at the front desk are also kind and will show you on a map. The free tea time may not have many sweets, but I liked the local snacks. The old building is used while retaining its charm, and there is an open ceiling in the middle and it is surprisingly spacious. Also, there was a note on the hot water pot above the refrigerator in the room! It said in English, "If you want fresh milk for your tea or coffee, please let us know." I gratefully asked for it every day. Of course it was free, and it was delicious.
The only drawback is that the hot water sometimes smells a little. If you brush your teeth with bottled water (two bottles are provided every day), it doesn't bother you.
The local food stall in front of us is full of locals from the morning, and the food is simple and delicious. Even though it's a food stall, they always serve coffee by cloth drip and toast the bread with charcoal. I'd like to go again.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
Wonderful stay for two in a second floor garden room! The facilities are very clean and cozy, with truly well preserved details with the right amount of updates to keep it feeling modernly comfortable. The staff accommodated with a complimentary honeymoon room welcome, very sweet and my wife was surprised and afraid due to fear of bigotry but we had only a warm welcome from the staff. We were offered a delicious nutmeg juice upon check in and they helped us up with our baggage. The location is wonderful, right around the corner is a little hawker area with seating selling a wide variety of foods including roti of every pairing, and we had breakfast there several times. We were also in walkable distance to many museums, food markets, and shops. When we didn’t feel like walking, it was very easy to call a grab. The bed was very comfortable and I slept very well! Everyday from 3-5pm is a complimentary afternoon tea time which we could only be around for twice but it was delicious both times! It was a truly lovely stay and I will remember it fondly.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 26 Dec 2024
Dear emilylK2750DX, Thank you for sharing your heartfelt review! We’re so glad you had a memorable and comfortable stay with us. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the thoughtful touches in your garden room, the warm welcome from our staff, and the convenient location near local delights and attractions. Your kind words inspire us to continue creating positive experiences for all our guests. We hope to welcome you back for another lovely stay in the future! Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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Decided to book the hotel to experience living in a conservative building. This is definitely not a luxury hotel with the usual hotel facilities.
What you get is a basic lobby with a nice courtyard which is set up with comfortable sofas. There is a cafe at the end of the building which serves breakfast and lunch.
Booked the basic room category. Very small room with comfortable double bed, aircon, TV and powerful shower. There is a empty fridge which is useful to store items and coffee/tea making facilities.
The room was clean and dust free. There is no carpet on the floor and I must commend the Housekeeping team for an excellent job cleaning the floor.
No doubt the windows are not sound proof but there are hardly any noise as the windows were facing the back of another building.
Will certainly recommend if one only needs a room to sleep as its located off Penang Road which is the old part of town and its walking distance to the popular hawker stalls.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 9 Feb 2023
Dear shawnng76, Thank you for choosing to stay with us and the pleasure is ours to have been at your service. We thank you and look forward to welcoming you back again for another great stay soon. Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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Anyone who is rating this less than 3 stars is a hotel snob. This place was charming, pretty well located, and had a fantastic staff. The rooms were not sound proof but we never had any issues with noise. It was overall quiet there. The rooms were not huge but two people could spend 4 nights there comfortably. And the price was fantastic. High Tea was a little bit underwhelming and could be highly improved - but it was free (or included)
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear clvaughn199, Thank you for your honest and supportive review! It’s great to hear that you had a comfortable experience and that our team made a positive impression. We also appreciate your feedback on the afternoon tea and will take it into consideration for future improvements. We hope to welcome you back again! Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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Great hotel in its own style (dark furniture, Chinese vases, lots of plants, very nice courtyard) with extremely friendly and helpful staff. Personal requests were always fulfilled in a very friendly manner. The most important places in the city can be reached within 10 - 15 minutes on foot. Breakfast is offered à la carte including a small buffet. We really liked it, clear recommendation!
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Areca Hotel was delightful and full of character, so much nicer than a high rise hotel. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, not only with a welcome cold drink, but an invitation to enjoy afternoon tea each afternoon of our stay. The room was small but adequate and freshened daily, including clean towels etc. The location was great and we could walk to the main sights and several good restaurants, although as it was so hot we did make use of the free shuttle bus around the town. Altogether a very enjoyable stay in George Town.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 9 Jun 2024
Dear Scenic47058386846, Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience at Areca Hotel. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the character of our hotel, the hospitality of our staff, and the convenience of our location. It was our pleasure to have you stay with us, and we hope to welcome you back to George Town soon! Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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Areca was a lovely hotel with lots of character. We stayed in the Heritage room it was tasteful decorated and suited our needs. The location of the hotel was great within walking distance for attractions like clan jetties, street art and food hawkers centres, or you can use CAT buses (free). For attractions further afield it’s easy to hop on the local buses or get a Grab cab. Staff were always pleasant and helpful. Thank you for a lovely stay 😀
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Bus stops just around the corner or main terminal 10 mins away. Plenty of good places to eat near...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 10 Jul 2024
Dear Ochilview, Thank you for your kind words and for choosing Areca for your stay! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the character of our hotel and found the Heritage room to be tastefully decorated and well-suited to your needs. It’s great to know that our central location made it easy for you to explore the nearby attractions and enjoy the local culture. Our staff will be pleased to hear your positive feedback. We hope to welcome you back for another wonderful stay soon! Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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Staying at The Areca Hotel was a delight from start to finish. From the very warm welcome we received on arrival, including a welcome drink, to the beautiful decor, spacious rooms and lounge area, we felt immediately at home. The staff were courteous, helpful and friendly, the breakfast was very good, including hot and cold dishes, fruit and cereal and the added bonus of complimentary afternoon tea was a great treat. The bedroom and all the communal areas were immaculately clean and the location was perfect for exploring Georgetown and its surrounding areas. We'd love to come again!
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 2 weeks ago
Dear K4713OPelaineh, Thank you for your kind review! We're happy to hear that you had a great stay and felt at home from the moment you arrived. We appreciate your kind words about our team and the cleanliness of our spaces. We hope to see you again soon! Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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as the hotel is by the street, for us , it was too nosiy, even during night time, could not get good sleep at all. it would much better if they put double glasses to stop those noise . if possible, also double glasses along corridor window, we could hear people taking breakfast clearly every morning too, change the toilet door to a normal close door , so the smell cannot come out to the whole room when someone going to the toilat, ,
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Areca Hotel, General Manager at Areca Hotel Penang
Responded 10 Jan 2023
Dear frankN2209FN, Thank you for having chosen Areca Hotel Penang as your choice of accommodation during your recent trip in Penang. We are perturbed that you have undergone such inconveniences that you have highlighted and we would like to offer profound apology. Not withstanding above, I hope that you otherwise had memorable stay with us. Looking forward to the pleasure of welcoming you back. Best Regards, Wah Eng Hong General Manager
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Dear Hwee Yen Swan,
Greetings from Areca Hotel Penang.
Please to inform that we do provide service for airport pick-up. The charges will be MYR 60 for 2 person. 50% of surcharge will be implemented within 11 pm to 7 am for midnight surcharge. Kindly provide us your flight details if you wish us to arrange the airport pick-up. It normally takes about 45 minutes from the airport to Areca Hotel depending on the traffic.
Best Regards,
Reen
Front Office Team
Dear Jay Loon L,
Kindly be inform that limited on-street parking is available outside the hotel. You may purchase the parking coupon with us at RM6 per day.
Thank You
"Ask for earplugs if you have an odd number room, as the call to prayer from nearby mosque might stir you. The hotel offers these, but some guests may overlook the message. "
There are more places to choose from in the George Town area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 236 - RM 320 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MalaysiaPenangPenang IslandGeorge Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
48
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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