The George Town Heritage Hotels collection is known for its perceptive works on heritage buildings. Hotelier Chris Ong made a name for himself by taking over buildings sorely in need of renovation and returning them to their former glory with the addition of contemporary details.
A recent addition to the group is the Jawi Peranakan Mansion, which differs slightly from the group's other hotels as it's located on the edge of the heritage zone on Hutton Lane, which was once known as the 'Malay Millionaires Row'. Location-wise, this is the quieter part of town, and quite the oasis after a day of exploring. A slice of history: Peranakans Jawis are a locally-born people with a mix of South Asian and Malay Muslim blood, and were considered elite in 19th century Malaya.
The minute the gates open, one gets the sense of returning home to a privately owned estate. The hotel sees a refreshing departure from the Peranakan theme that pervades George Town. Architecture aficionados will be pleased to note original details like wood lattices, cornices and columns, as well as Mughal influences. There are eight mansion rooms and four family suites decked out with daybeds, Kilim rugs, Kashmi throws, king-sized beds, roll-top writing desks and brass lamps.