The Japanese & Oriental resort in Penang’s George City is without doubt one of the extra historic locations now we have stayed. Checking in is like stepping by a time portal to nineteenth Century colonial Malaysia. At any second, Rudyard Kipling or Noël Coward would possibly settle into one of many wicker chairs simply off the marbled foyer, ready for inspiration to roll in on a tropical storm.
We had been definitely beginning our 21 day journey by Malaysia and Thailand in model. I didn’t like to say to the receptionist that one in all our later stops could be a £58-a-night seashore bungalow.
However as we made ourselves at house on the balcony of the Planters Lounge, sipping wine whereas coconut palms rustled within the breeze, this indulgent first cease felt like a superb determination.
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What’s the historical past of the E&O in Penang?
The E&O, as it’s broadly recognized, was established by the Armenian Sarkies brothers – additionally behind the Raffles resort in Singapore – in response to an nineteenth Century uptick in journey to Asia. It grew to become a social hub for well-to-dos with wanderlust and continues to draw travellers with a style for luxurious. A duplicate of Robb Report – a flick e book of excessive finish jewelry, watches and automobiles – in our room hinted on the calibre of visitor it normally attracts.
Again within the early 1900s it hosted stars of silent films Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin, in addition to writers like Hermann Hesse and Kipling. In more moderen years King Charles III and Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh have stayed. There’s a wall of honour within the Heritage Wing.
The resort has modified palms a number of instances over the centuries, with extensions and refits taking place as lately as 2019. There’s all of the mod cons – wifi, a health club and roof prime infinity pool – in addition to classic interiors with Asian flare that match completely with the E&O’s lengthy historical past in Penang.
One of many resort’s most well-known options is the Twenties echo dome within the Heritage Wing foyer. There’s no probability of a discrete gossip right here as even the quietest conversations are amplified by the arched ceiling. Clearly, our ladies needed to check it for themselves with just a few squeals and squawks whereas we waited to seek out out if we might get an early examine in. We had been quickly shuffled off to the Cornwallis Lounge whereas our suite was hurried alongside.
Our keep
We had taken a purple eye flight from our then house in Muscat, Oman, to Kuala Lumpur earlier than connecting to Penang. After 12 hours of journey it was a aid to have a pre-booked mini van ready to ship us to George City.
We frequently select a cease and flop resort on the finish of our longer household holidays, however this time we had completed it in reverse because of a tip from our associates and Penang expats, Jenny and Jay Lynn.
Once we had been planning our three week itinerary beginning in Penang, Jenny had talked about that there have been some good New Yr offers available, which helped justify the splurge on a 4 evening keep within the E&O’s Heritage Wing.
Our room
Our Deluxe Suite got here with two queen beds, and an additional baby mattress at our request, with an adjoining lounge. Sure, sharing a queen mattress was just a little comfortable for Mr Tin Field and I – neither of us a small people.
To make up for that, the toilet was big with a big tub, twin sinks and separate bathe. Subsequent to that was a walk-in dressing room full with sarongs, dressing robes and sufficient storage for a grand tour’s price of trunks.
I hadn’t been satisfied when wanting on the pictures on the resort’s web site – there weren’t any rooms pictured fairly like ours – however there was loads of room for the 4 of us.
We had been even in a position to put the youngsters to mattress, dip the lights and have a quiet drink in our lounge on the finish of every day.
Included in our Heritage Wing promo bundle was entry to the ocean facet swimming pool, entry to the Cornwallis and Planters visitor lounges with free scorching and smooth drinks, breakfast, mini bar, espresso machine and a welcome bottle of wine. As well as there have been inclusive pre-dinner drinks and substantial canapés within the visitor lounges.
The one factor our room lacked was a balcony. However whereas gazing out of our window on the Andaman Sea and listening to the wind rustling the coconut palms, I made a decision I might let that slip.
Eating
We made full use of the free drinks within the Cornwallis Lounge once we arrived and ordered from the lunch menu as we had been barely early for afternoon tea.
Youngsters can solely use this area throughout the day, so we sampled the inclusive night drinks and canapés in Planters Lounge within the extra fashionable Victory Wing. From the balcony right here we watched unbelievable lightening storms illuminate mainland Penang.
We additionally ate dinner in Planters one night – the noodles and rice bowls had been scrumptious.
The Sarkies worldwide buffet was our best choice for breakfast with an array of dishes from cereal to curry and an ice cream bar, a lot to our ladies’ delight. The restaurant was busy however the meals stations had been consistently refreshed and the employees had been very attentive.
We additionally began one morning on the terrace of the Heritage Wing’s quieter Palm Courtroom restaurant, which felt altogether way more relaxed.
And, for those who’re not staying with kids, a pre-dinner cocktail within the moody Farquah’s Bar is a should. Youngsters can be a part of you on the out of doors seating.
Amenities
I’ve received to confess that we didn’t make as a lot use of the resort amenities as we would have if this had been a cease to flop. The E&O is a vacation spot resort that’s worthy of your full consideration for a superb few days. However we spent most of ours exploring Penang quite than lazing by the Heritage Wing pool, luxuriating within the spa and even testing out the trendy health club tools. Extra cause to return!
What we did do was discover a spare few hours to devour our books beside the Victory Wing’s sixth ground infinity pool, with views of Straits Quay to the left and the Malaysian mainland to the fitting.
Palm bushes add extra shade to the pool space which, had it not been cloudy, would have gotten the perfect solar within the morning.
Desire a memento of your keep? The E&O Emporium has all types of branded merchandise. We resisted straining our instances in the beginning of our 21 day journey and oped for a magnet so as to add to our assortment.
Issues to do in Penang
I had completed little or no exercise planning forward of keep in Penang, having moved home within the days earlier than we flew to Malaysia. Fortunately for me I knew I might depend on our associates and their On Penang web site to information us throughout our first three full days of this journey.
Our first cease was Penang Hill, the place we explored the Habitat and climbed as much as the Nest viewing platform for panoramic views throughout the island. From there we explored the Nationwide Park, stopping for drinks at a bar on Monkey Seaside and dinner at Frandy Seaside Bar on Batu Ferringhi.
The children’ favorite day – and one I believe Noël Coward may need missed – was Escape – Penang’s out of doors exercise park with Guinness World file breaking rides.
And our ultimate journey was exploring the jetties and road artwork of George City – a should for any customer to Penang.
Find out how to discover the perfect E&O deal
I at all times cross-check lodging web sites and reserving.com to seek out the perfect offers when planning our holidays. Generally reserving direct can get you higher costs and inclusive advantages. This was the case with the Japanese & Oriental.
Reserving a Heritage Wing Promo for 4 nights together with breakfast for 3 adults and an baby (our then 12-year-old was classed as an grownup and we added on breakfast for our nine-year-old), free mini bar, welcome wine, night canapés and drinks (which might have simply been dinner), plus an airport switch got here out at underneath MYR 5,400 (roughly £965 in 2025). This isn’t a funds resort – these got here later in our journey – however we felt it was nice worth for what we received.
There are different offers together with financial savings while you e book upfront, dinner packages and reductions for stays of three nights or extra.
However for those who simply desire a room or would favor checking into the Victory Wing check out reserving.com pricing.
Last ideas
The Japanese & Oriental resort in Penang provides luxurious environment that transport you again to the Penang that attracted guests from the worldwide West to Malaysia 140 years in the past. Should you’re right here for a historical past lesson, you gained’t be disenchanted.
Is the E&O a family-friendly resort? It was by no means designed to be however does accommodate households comfortably. Our suite labored properly for our household of 4 with tweens and the Sarkies Restaurant has one thing for even the fussiest of eaters.
Households with younger kids ought to look extra in direction of Batu Ferringhi for seashore inns with splash parks and youngsters golf equipment. And, in case you are visiting Penang with the primary intention to see the sights and discover, there are way more economical locations to remain.
The E&O is a vacation spot in itself!
Discover out the place we went subsequent in our itinerary island hopping from Malaysia to Thailand.