What a lovely staycation! This was my first time at this heritage boutique hotel that looks like a private mansion with a Chinese arch out front. A very personable place with a sense of history and a light touch of luxury. The main building was originally a bungalow, now elegantly restored and decorated like the home of a successful colonial-era merchant. The two blocks at the rear used to be a gentlemen’s social club. My little room with a Queen size bed is upstairs towards the back – nice and snug with a view of the pool. My bathroom is tiny, but clean and adequate. The hotel is located along a busy street, but being inset a bit makes a world of difference. You feel completely insulated from the traffic outside. The location is excellent – Penang Road and other popular streets are just a few minutes’ walk away. The Yeng Keng Restaurant next door looks posh but I ate there only once simply because there were many interesting restaurants, cafés, coffeeshops, bars and hawker stalls nearby, many of which are popular with locals (always a good sign!). If you want to know what’s good to eat nearby, ask one of the front office guys – Raj, Adly and Nanda, all very friendly and efficient. They can even buy it back for you. Wonderful!
