Jawi Peranakan Mansion

The room was large and had more character than a standard hotel room, and the building was interesting too. But the room was in a poor state: stained bathroom tiles, marks and cracks on the walls, stains on the bedding and sofa, dusty spots, and marked mirrors. The bed was extremely hard, and the thin pillows felt like lying on pillowcases without any pillow. Shower pressure swung from normal to very high, then low or almost nothing, making it awkward to shower. The heavy room door needed a slam to close, so neighbors coming and going early or late could wake you. We arrived late in the day to find the reception door locked. After we knocked, a staff member got up from the sofa, apparently asleep, instead of being at the desk. He barely greeted us, and we had to lift our own heavy bags over the door lip. Check-in itself was routine, then we were shown upstairs and left to figure things out. Nobody explained the building, pool location or hours, or other facilities. On the first night, dozens of bathroom moth flies were all over the sinks, mirror, shower, and toilet. Housekeeping had missed them. We reported it the next morning and were told they might have come in from outside through an open window, though we hadn't opened the windows. We explained that these flies come from moist, decomposing organic matter in household plumbing and drains, but were told housekeeping would check while cleaning. After the day-one cleaning, the flies were still there. There was no room phone or WhatsApp contact, so we messaged through the booking platform, where they'd previously replied about our late check-in. Hours passed without an answer. When we returned from town, reception said they'd never had this issue before and had spent extra time finding a 'special' liquid to pour down the drains. They'd done it without replying to tell us. We checked and still found at least 20 flies in the sinks, toilet room, and shower room. We cleared them ourselves and stayed that night rather than pack and move all our stuff at short notice. More flies had appeared by morning, so we asked to change rooms. They agreed and moved us to a room without them. No one later told us what further steps they'd taken in room 9. At checkout, after all our complaints, there was no apology or any check-in about whether the new room or stay had gone better. Customer service felt lackluster throughout.

Ms. Priya made our four-day, three-night trip to Penang especially memorable. She was warm, attentive, and knew the area well. She sat down with my wife and me to share useful local advice, including good times to visit temples and which hawker stalls felt authentic. Her recommendations led us to food spots we wouldn't have found on our own. She's a real asset to the mansion and an ambassador for Penang. We stayed in Room 6 at Jawi Peranakan Mansion, and it was spacious, peaceful, and comfortable. The big windows looked onto George Town's charming streets, while the AC worked well, hot water came right away, and the period-style amenities were practical. The room had everything we needed. The building is a carefully preserved piece of living history, with Malay, Indian, and Chinese influences in its architecture. Beautiful carved wooden doors, detailed tilework, high ceilings, and dark timber give it a striking feel. We spent hours wandering the common areas and inner courtyards, watching the tropical light come through the upper windows. It felt like being in a museum while still having the comforts of home. For anyone who values heritage, architecture, and personal service, it's a memorable place to stay.

We spent four days here as a family and all thought it was a wonderfully elegant, historic place to stay. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and everything we needed was provided. Having a swim in the pool each day was a lovely bonus.

The hotel had a distinctive design and decor full of antiques, and the location was good. The downside was that breakfast wasn't provided.