Amari SPICE Penang

The gym is incredible, probably the best I’ve seen, and the pool is very nice too. The rooms are pleasant, and the price is good value. This location works well for airport access or business, though there’s not much nearby in the way of bars or restaurants. The food and drink service was the weak point for me. At sunset, one bar played gangster rap, which made it hard to relax with a drink. I moved to the lobby bar downstairs, where it was silent, the lamps were all off, and it was too cold. The lack of attention to detail made the space feel unwelcoming, so I left.

The building is new, so it looks clean and appealing, but the stay showed how much hospitality depends on the details. A few staff members were genuinely great and brightened my day, though their efforts were overshadowed by the wider lack of care. I’ve stayed at older and cheaper hotels in Penang where excellent hospitality made a big difference. That wasn’t my experience at Amari Spice Penang. The bed was uncomfortable too: my king bed was really two super singles pushed together, leaving a hard ridge down the middle. At breakfast, the bowls at the cereal station had visible dirt, and picking them up left a sticky substance on my fingers. That was a real turn-off. Parking caused repeated problems. Hotel staff failed several times to validate my car plate, leaving me stuck at the parking area or charged unnecessarily. I eventually paid for three days of valet in advance. The parking company staff handled the issue better than the hotel staff. Valet and security also seemed poorly coordinated. Even after photos had been taken of my car and plate, security waved me away because I was driving a more “economy” car. They didn’t believe I’d prepaid for three days of valet and told me to park underground. They blamed a shift change, but the same thing happened on two consecutive days with the same staff rotation. When I arrived with heavy bags, there was no porter, despite my calling ahead. The receptionist struggled with them, and I felt bad, so I offered to carry them myself. A porter eventually turned up much later. A new building’s shine fades, and the people handling the day to day details matter a lot. In this case, the hospitality fell short.

The food was a highlight. The executive lounge buffet was one of the best hotel buffets I’ve had in Penang. I don’t usually eat Hokkien Mee, but theirs was exceptional, and the Roti Canai and Western options were great too. Dinner is available there as well. The regular breakfast buffet downstairs was decent, with plenty of choices, and the staff were welcoming. The room was clean and cozy. I liked the bright, comfortable bathroom and its night light, plus the anti-slip floor in the shower. The air conditioning worked very well. There was a handy work desk, and the TV could be adjusted and mirrored to a screen; picture quality was alright and the sound was good. The bed and pillows were too soft for me and a bit uncomfortable, especially if that’s not good for your back. I also asked for the room to be cleaned at 4:30pm, but on two occasions they came around noon instead. Still, it was a nice stay for visitors or locals in Penang.

The staff made me feel at home, especially Syafiqah, who patiently took several photos for me and kept up a cheerful attitude. Amira also kindly offered me a buffet discount when I ran out of cash. The rooms are spacious, there’s a wide food selection, and they even had kuih raya. Lots to like about Amari Spice.