Eastern & Oriental

The clue to this hotel is found at the entrance: two doormen dressed in knee-high socks, khaki shorts and brimmed hats greet arrivals as if they’re the nineteenth-century founders of the original Eastern hotel. Everything here harks to an opulent British past but the old-fashioned (intentionally so) rooms do now come with TVs, telephones and every conceivable modcon. Sundowners at the Farquhar bar are an absolute necessity before checking out the many eateries and bars located just a short stroll away. While you're at it, take a trip on the private water limousine to the nearby Straits Quay mall. The first of its kind in Penang, the service is available for hotel guests for a fee of RM10 per return ticket.