Nam Keng Hotel

The room was clean and updated, and the AC worked well. The hotel has a lovely southeastern charm, too. Staff were super helpful and friendly, and did their best to accommodate us. Fantastic stay, highly recommended. Great for solo travellers, too.

The noise was what ended my stay: there’s a bar around the corner that blasts music at night, and the room’s insulation couldn’t block it. As a light sleeper, I couldn’t get a good night’s rest, so I moved out after the second night. I know the hotel may not be able to control the bar, but it’s really unfortunate given how strategic the location is. I wanted to love this hotel. The room was very clean, the service friendly, and the shower was great. It’s near Penang island’s collection of great food streets, with everything reachable on foot.

I stayed three nights, and machine noise near the hotel kept me awake for the first two. It was extremely loud, starting around 3 AM, and after I got up I barely slept. Hotel staff said they were fixing electricity wires because of a power outage a couple of days earlier, and unfortunately the work happened during my stay. I’m speechless. Doing noisy repairs when people should be sleeping is crazy. If you want a good rest in Penang, I’d suggest looking at bigger hotels or chains. To be fair to this lovely hotel, though, I’ve never had a pleasant stay anywhere during my travels in Malaysia. Sorry, Malaysia doesn’t feel like a tourist-friendly place.

The old building gives the hotel a lot of character, and it’s in a handy spot for exploring Penang on foot. Our room was roomy, clean, and comfortable, with a closet, desk, and a couple of chairs. The shower was great, and the staff were friendly and helpful. There’s also a good massage place right across the street. Breakfast was pretty limited. Fruit would help, and with so many nearby cafes serving nice breakfasts, I’d probably book without it next time.