23 LoveLane Penang

The team were wonderful and helped us every step of the way, from planning each day and guiding us through Georgetown’s food to arranging a beach swim at their sister hotel 20 minutes to the west. They helped with snacks and food too. Our room was large, and the bed very comfortable. There were big patio and garden areas with plenty of space to read or work. With its great location, history, and rich variety of art on the walls, this hotel was a wonderful choice.

Right in the middle of Georgetown, 23 Love Lane is just steps from food stalls, nightlife, and the streets of Penang we came to see, yet it felt quiet, peaceful, and homely inside. The gardens and seating areas made it feel like an oasis, and we had a perfect family get-together and holiday. Our rooms were spacious, clean, and comfortable, filled with antique pieces and interesting art and furniture. There’s even a traditional-looking restaurant in the hotel. Sal and Janet were especially helpful, friendly, and accommodating to all our needs. Thank you for such a lovely experience. We’ll stay here whenever we’re in Penang from now on.

The location is very central but still calm, and we’ll definitely be back. I was in the original house, though apparently a couple of nearby houses have since been added. The beautifully renovated boutique hotel is full of interesting original artworks, with colourful, individual rooms furnished in period style. There’s a lovely garden and nice places to sit in the lobby and lounge. Afternoon tea with delicious nyonya cakes was excellent, as was the restaurant next door, which belongs to them and serves breakfast too. Best of all was the super friendly, helpful young woman at the front desk. We enjoyed chatting with her, and her recommendations were excellent without her pushing anything on us.

Janet welcomed us warmly and showed us around. The clean, traditional hotel has a beautiful garden and communal spaces, with an eclectic collection of furniture and bits that works well together. Our room was spacious, the aircon worked brilliantly, and the bathroom amenities were lovely, especially the great-smelling shower gel. When the gates are shut, the place has a secret-garden feel, like you’re hidden away. The location is brilliant: we walked from the ferry port in 15 minutes. It’s on the same street as some bars, but far enough away that we heard no noise. We left our keys when going out so they knew we were back. As a female traveller, that made me feel incredibly safe. There was indeed a gentleman waiting on the porch just after 1am. I don’t know if they stay there all night, but it was reassuring. Breakfast was great, and the French Toast was lovely. We’d planned two nights in George Town but decided over drinks to bring our trip forward so we could do a couple more tours in Langkawi. We overslept and rushed out the next morning without much chance to talk to Janet, so sorry for checking out so abruptly. She messaged as soon as breakfast service ended to check everything was okay. You can tell she cares about her guests and service. We’d book here again in a heartbeat.