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5.0
#3 of 82 guest houses in George Town
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Ren i Tang is the result of a 2-year long restoration project on a 19th century Early Straits Eclectic Styled Building located within the core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Penang Island: Malaysia. The name "Ren i Tang" is the phonetic spelling in Mandarin of South East Asia's oldest Chinese Medical Hall Wholesaler, Yin Oi Tong which is translated as The Hall of Benevolence. Located at the junction of China Street and Penang Street, the building now hosts a variety of activities - the upper floors:Ren i Tang (Heritage Inn); the ground floor: Tang Bistro, The Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall Museum, and Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall.
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
Business
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Malay
Location
82-A Lebuh Penang, George Town, Penang Island 10200 Malaysia
Ren i Tang
653 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.
We stayed here at the end February 2020. The rooms are quite spacious (we had a twin bedroom) with an equally spacious bathroom and both super clean. There's a big window that opens if you want fresh air. The beds and pillows are comfy and the room has A/C or ceiling fan if you prefer that. They offer a turndown service as well if you want it and have shampoo and body wash. There's a TV, ample electric outlets and good wifi connection in room and in the lobby/restaurant area. Just a note, the stairs are kind of steep but unless you are really old or immobile it won't be a problem.
They offer free breakfast which is awesome! You can have some fruit, cereal, toast with butter and jam, eggs and noodles. Coffee (a Nespresso type), tea and milk are available as well. Another huge perk is they have free water available in the lobby, it's a dispenser so you can refill a thermos or water bottle but they also provide a glass bottle to fill for your room and if you want you can take the bottle with you when you leave. They have a restaurant in the hotel so you can order lunch and dinner there, we didn't since we were out most of the days and evenings.
The location was perfect for us and most likely anyone who is visiting Georgetown, it's located in the Little India area. The noise of the street is pretty well insulated but unless you have never been to anywhere in Asia before it may seem loud to you.
The staff were great and helped us with anything they could, just a very genuine and friendly bunch and everyone spoke English well. A special thank you to Uma, the egg mayo was the perfect touch to the end of our trip and Teng (I hope your kitty is ok) for the amazing hospitality, we had a great stay at Ren I Tang!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
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.
So glad we followed a friend's recommendation and booked here as a base for time on Penang Island. The building is really interesting and has been well restored. Location in the heart of Little India is great for exploring the Heritage Zone. Some of the nearby shops are pumping out loud music from ~10am to 10pm, but that's only an issue if you intend sleeping early. Music got even louder one evening, and we looked out of the window to find we had a great view of a Hindu blessing parade passing by. As other reviewers have mentioned, the stairs to the rooms are steep and there's a no-shoe policy, so it is only really suitable for fit and healthy people. Loved the novelty of the pulley to lift the bags to the room rather than struggling up the stairs with them,
Being such a small hotel, the breakfast choice isn't extensive but everything is good - especially the hot dish of the day which is freshly cooked to order in one of the street food stalls opposite.
Good approach to sustainability by the owners. Drinking water in the rooms is provided in their own reusable glass bottles, with a dispenser to top them up in the cafe whenever needed.
Finally, all of the staff are amazing. They were so friendly and welcoming, and ready to answer any questions we threw at them. We didn't want to go to a big, organised event to see in the new year. So glad we accepted the invitation to join the staff and other guests in the courtyard for chat, music, dancing and gin instead!
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Date of stay: December 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Ren I Tang is an excellent choice for all who want to stay downtown in the historic city center (Little India). It‘s a renovated medicine warehouse with lots of historic Charme that still exists due to a thoughtful renovation. Public facilities like cafe/ restaurant in the Lobby. The cafe is an excellent place to watch the busy life going on in Little India. Rooms are upstairs and can be reached by a steep staircase. Rooms to the street are not quiet though earplugs will do it at night. Rooms are simple but nicely decorated with historic elements/ furniture. Rooms to the inner courtyard or Lofts are entirely quiet. Simple breakfast with a hot main dish that comes from the street vendors outside (like Char Kaw Teow or Roti Canai). The best is the uber friendly and helpful staff and owners that are always there for a chat and helpful advice. There are other more upscale/fancy or less expensive options. But the combination of the location, the building, rooms and personnel make it an unique place to stay.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip 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 place. Is such a treasure! From the moment you enter, you can feel the rich history, and the loving restoration, brought to a thoroughly modern, stylish present. It’s so calm, the staff so gently welcoming, and the ambiance so serene. My bedding was well above standard, which made for noticeably “sweet dreams.” The food is such a notch above, as well. From the breakfast Char Kway Teow fetched from the best vendor in town (who happens to be right across the street), to the incredibly complex, rich and delicious Laksa later in the day, every morsel was savored and appreciated for its quality. The little side garden is an oasis of cool and quiet, and the small museum of artifacts uncovered during the renovation is fascinating. I will certainly be back!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020
Room Tip:I had a loft room, which was fantastic! Full of light, spacious and completely stylish.
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.
Located in the heart of Little India, this boutique hotel was a heritage building converted from a former Chinese medical hall. Its location makes it easy for walks around the heritage enclave. Lots of delicious food to be had in the surrounding streets.
The ground floor of the building houses an all-day dining bistro, a check-in counter and a mini museum of artefacts from its past. There are 2 more floors of rooms above ground. As it’s a heritage building, there are no elevators. Stairs are steep. People with mobility issues will find difficultly climbing / descending the stairs. Your luggage are hoisted up/down with a manual pulley system. A very novel way to transport guests’ luggage!
The room we booked was a little cramped for 2 friends. There isn’t many room choices if you’re looking for 2 single beds. Ours came with a nice balcony overlooking an inner courtyard. The room is clean and bed is comfy. I love their shower gel; smells heavenly. My only gripe is the dated linen (bedsheets & towels). They could use some freshening up.
Breakfast was included in my booking. There’s a small buffet of the usual suspects. What I really like is that you get to order a main meal from the surrounding hawker stalls or restaurants and have them delivered to your table. It’s part of your free breakfast! I had char kway teow one morning, and nasi lemak the next. Both are yummy.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Recently stayed here for 4 nights and had a great time. The staff are lovely and super helpful, the bedrooms ample in size and everything is lovely and clean. The hotel is in an excellent location in George Town, with key sights of interest in easy walking distance - street art, Jetty, Love Lane, Red Garden are just a few of the things within a 3 to 10 minute walk. I will definitely be staying here again.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
The design and ambience is great. You can tell that it's a place that was crafted and is managed by people who care about aesthetics. There are also large windows with good air flow, but if you're going to use the windows at night, you might not be able to sleep in because it's located in the middle of Little India. Having said that, it should be fine if you shut the windows and use the AC. And I've also been told that there are rooms who don't face the street, and thus are more quiet.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2020
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.
The staff at Ren I Tang give excellent service that provide guests with friendly and relaxed environment. Uma was an excellent host being both personable and efficient. The hotel has been renovated authentically with much of its historical features preserved.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Check every box. Location, service, atmosphere, attention to detail, cuisine... the staff is always helpful and friendly and polite, but not too... you know, as they could be, too much, they strike the right balance. The rooms are relaxing and have this colonial vibe that for us was so exquisite and foreign. And the location is unbeatable, Little India is vibrant and alive, but also a perfect place to relax away from the tourist hellholes that you'll find around Chulia Street. One thing only: have more fruit;) Besides that just perfect.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The bathtub room was fantastic
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.
A charming restoration of a guest house. The hosts and staff were lovely and I couldn't have felt more welcome. If you're looking to stay within the Unesco zone I would happily recommend Ren I Tang.
Quite a few hotels in the area claim to be 'heritage' but that's a stretch for many. This place is genuine on every level.
BTW they have recently installed a lift to make the rooms more accessible and to make handling heavy bags easier.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
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.
Because all rooms are different they appear differently on different search sites and when I looked initially it appeared not, however it was available on another site.
Hi Janelle! Good to hear from you. All rooms have attached bathroom and both Penang and Loft 19 are on the top (2nd) floor. May I ask which dates you booked? The stairs are steep and if you prefer 1st floor rooms, let me know and I will check availability for you.
Hope to hear fro you soon.
Regards,
Karen
There are more places to choose from in the George Town area.
PRICE RANGE
RM 279 - RM 365 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
MalaysiaPenangPenang IslandGeorge Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
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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