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Eastern & Oriental Hotel

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Traveler (6363)
360
Panoramas (21)
Room & Suite (1519)

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About

#22 of 119 hotels in George Town
Location
4.6
Cleanliness
4.6
Service
4.4
Value
4.3
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel is the embodiment of both a special time and a special place. For well over a century, this remarkable hotel - known simply as 'The E&O' to generations of travellers - has stood as a testament to the grand elegance of the British colonial era. In many ways, it has also come to represent Penang itself; its story inextricably woven into the island's history, its traditions an indelible part of many a traveller's treasured memory, its name synonymous with the magical island once known as The Pearl Of the Orient.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Free breakfast
Bowling offsite
Children's television networks
Kids pool
Valet parking
Wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Infinity pool
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Bar / lounge
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Complimentary welcome drink
Outdoor dining area
Snack bar
Special diet menus
Poolside bar
Highchairs available
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Car hire
Taxi service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Photo copier / fax In business center
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot bath
Foot massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
Salon
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Executive lounge access
Gift shop
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shops
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
Butler service
Doorperson
First aid kit
Umbrella
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Shoeshine
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Dining area
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Bidet
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Seating area
Sofa
Telephone
VIP room facilities
Wardrobe / closet
Bottled water
Iron
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Minibar
Refrigerator
Electric kettle
Walk-in shower
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
City view
Pool view
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
5.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Luxury
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,045 reviews
Reviews Summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled in Georgetown, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel garners appreciation for its old-world charm and prime waterfront location, which guests have called out as ideal for exploring local attractions. The hotel's rooms are frequently lauded for their spaciousness and stunning views, though issues with noise have been noted. While the hotel's cleanliness and range of amenities like various breakfast venues receive praise, travelers have experienced service inconsistencies. Reviews reflect mixed feelings regarding value, with some guests finding the experience justifies the cost, while others disagree.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Historic
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Abundant
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5,045Reviews100Q+A100Room tips
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Fabian B wrote a review Mar 15
2 contributions
Unfortunately overrated. The service does not do justice to a luxury hotel. No interest in the guest, neither from the reception staff nor from the breakfast service. The rooms are nice but you get the feeling that you are sleeping in the middle of the lobby as it is incredibly noisy . You can really hear everything. Also the canapé hour is a disaster. You sit in the room like in an airport lounge and fight over mediocre appetizers with a hundred others. My expectations were disappointed and I think my next stay on Penang will be in one of the other hotels.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Anke B wrote a review Mar 15
8 contributions
This iconic hotel has long been on my bucket list. High Expectations were even exceeded. We stayed 4 nights in a lovely room with balcony, sea view and a huge bathroom. Staff was always friendly. Yummy breakfast and lunch. We loved the drinks and atmosphere in Farquhar’s Bar. Unacceptable that you cannot order coffee at the pool terrace before noon.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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NickGi wrote a review Mar 10
Germany23 contributions
Wonderful hotel with a history and atmosphere. The room is very spacious with a great view. The staff are very helpful and friendly. There are a number of restaurants and nice lounges. The afternoon tea is a must do and the food is always delicious. The infinity pool is extremely refreshing on the 6th floor.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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WilfG wrote a review Mar 10
UK73 contributions
A great 5 night stay, charming, pleasant and efficient staff, always willing to please. Excellent room, spacious, clean, quiet, comfortable bed, well equipped bathroom with exceptional water pressure. Great nights sleep. Food is really good and there is a good choice. Hotel is ideally located for a walk to George Town. If you want to stay in a classic hotel with modern facilities, similar to Raffles in Singapore or the Galle Face in Colombo then this is the place to stay but at a much more competitive rate.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: The suites come with additional free extras, such as drinks and canapes etc.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Passenger14653486421 wrote a review Mar 9
1 contribution
A heritage hotel with a blast from the past! It was a real privilege to have been selected by my organisation to stay here for 1 week for business meetings. I have always wanted to experience staying at an exclusive heritage hotels. The food was SUPERB!! From breakfast, lunch, dinner, you name it! Unfortunately I didn’t get to explore the poolside or the gym. One feedback was the mattress was a bit hard and I ended up with a body ache Other than that I appreciate the gallery and the old photos around the hotel. I find it intriguing that Charlie Chaplin used to stay at the hotel!
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ndser wrote a review Mar 4
Vancouver, Canada379 contributions
We stayed at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Georgetown, Penang for 3-nights in late-Feb ($192 Can; R654/night). The E&O is a venerable, historic hotel on the Georgetown waterfront, a landmark from the British colonial era filled with the memorabilia that you would expect. Our studio king suite in the Victory Annex was large, comfortably but sparsely furnished with a very firm bed, side tables, an upholstered chair, cabinet with the TV and mini-refrigerator (stocked daily with pop, water), and a desk and chair. The bathroom area, encompassing a third of the suite, had separate sinks and vanities, each with their own clothes cabinets, leading through a second doorway to the stand-alone bathtub flanked by a walk-in shower and toilet. There was a small balcony (chairs and table) with an ocean view. Breakfast, served either in the main restaurant or 6th floor lounge, had an egg station, sausages (generally dry and over-cooked), fresh fruits, yogurt, baked goods, a variety of coffees, and a very large selection of Asian dishes. The annex had an L-shaped pool on the 6th floor, good for laps as well as the view but with limited loungers (almost all in use). The hotel's location was within walking distance to the attractions, albeit it a sweaty walk in the heat, and only a couple of blocks from convenience stores, a hawkers food court, and restaurants. The staff were generally good, but check-in was slow, reception staff generally unhelpful, and the doorman rarely greeted or opened the door (even at our 6 am departure, struggling to get our luggage to the taxi).. When I booked at the E&O, I had naturally assumed that it was a single hotel with two wings or annexes. I was surprised to discover that, in practice, it is managed as two distinct hotels, the Heritage and the Victoria Annex, where the guests of the latter do not have full access to the amenities of the former. For example, annex guests cannot use the heritage pool or its breakfast area, nor are they invited to the nightly canopies and drinks at the Cornwallis Lounge. Had I known this at booking (I booked six months in advance and could have easily had a heritage room at similar price), I would likely have gone with the heritage side. Instead, I was made to feel like an intruder simply walking through its public areas. So, the E&O annex provided a comfortable stay in an elegant, well maintained hotel with all of the amenities, a good value for the price paid. Its two tiered policy, however, was a surprise for one who found himself in the lower tier.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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June L wrote a review Feb 2024
1 contribution
uch a pity. The building and interiors were stunningly beautiful until we looked closer. The amount of grime, dust and pure dirt at the lobby, public toilets and rooms are disgusting. The staff...oh dear. There was no greetings, no warmth. Just pure indifference. All looked either sooo bored or in their own world...I cannot believe we stayed for 4 nights, went in and out of the hotel several times a day and never had one greeting!!! We felt we were just a disruption to them whenever we approached the front desk!! We were celebrating my partner's big 50th. The reservations informed us there will be a celebratory cake. When we finally arrived in our room, no cake was seen. I went to ask. Front Desk stated, yes will be coming. After our return from dinner a slice of cake was placed next to my laptop on the desk....(why there when there's a huge coffee table beats me) and to our surprise, there was no cutlery nor napkin.....Sorry but we didn't bother with the cake then. At Palm Court, I wanted a pot of earl grey tea. I was given a pot with tea bags! Yet they had loose tea leaves in Palm Court! I enquired the reason and was bluntly told yes, you didn't have the high tea set...oh dear. She could have charged me extra for a good pot of loose tea and I would have gladly paid for it! We really did not enjoy our time at this hotel and outlets like Sarkies and Cornwallis were just filled with dirty crockery and cutleries. The staff were either crowding at the bar or just not pro active in keeping the areas clean. At Cornwallis, we had to practically carry our own tea to our table...... Perhaps it is our fault too. We have been so used to staying at the Four Seasons and Grand Hyatt we totally cannot comprehend how E&O can have such standards... and having a sister hotel at the Raffles Singapore...... it is truly sad. Never again.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Passionatehawker wrote a review Feb 2024
Melbourne, Australia274 contributions
We have just had 6 nights at the E and O hotel after 2 weeks travelling in Sri Lanka. A wonderful hotel to finish our holiday. Every need was met, breakfast was fresh and plentiful, pool was lovely and refreshing after hot mornings exploring Penang. This is our fourth trip to Penang but first at the E and O but we will not stay anywhere else from now on. I think the hotel is very good value when I consider similar properties in Australia. We had occasion to contact reception with 2 small issues and they were wonderfully responsive, dealing with both promptly and to our satisfaction. I would not hesitate to recommend to others travelling to this lovely island. Ps we stayed in the newer Victory wing and was more than happy with our room.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Leong S wrote a review Feb 2024
Perth, Australia73 contributions
The inclusive breakfast venue is huge! Spoilt for choice of many International & local dishes. Staff quite excellent. Unfortunately restrictions on use of pork products on usual Hawkers foods & Malaysian/Peranakan/Nonya dishes made dishes not as good & tasty like we were used to before.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Quite hard to get into & out of the two annexes. Traffic can be very challenging &...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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KodoDrummer wrote a review Feb 2024
Buenos Aires, Argentina65207 contributions
Very nice, classy, gorgeous hotel with a great location for George Town sightseers. Lovely sea views. The guest rooms are colonial-style and spacious, with a touch of luxury. The Heritage Wing rooms were renovated over the past few years, and are the most sought. Excellent service by the friendly, attentive staff.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
$151 - $227 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
eastern and oriental hotel, eastern oriental georgetown, eastern oriental hotel
LOCATION
MalaysiaPenangPenang IslandGeorge Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
232
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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EASTERN & ORIENTAL HOTEL - Updated 2024 Prices & Reviews (Penang, Malaysia)

Frequently Asked Questions about Eastern & Oriental Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Street Art in George Town (0.2 miles), Cheong Fatt Tze - The Blue Mansion (0.2 miles), and Penang Time Tunnel (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Yes, free parking, a parking garage, and valet parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Indigo Restaurant at The Blue Mansion, Mews Cafe, and Kimpo Famous Roasted.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness center, and locker rooms available in the fitness center during their stay.
Does Eastern & Oriental Hotel have airport transportation?
Yes, Eastern & Oriental Hotel offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does Eastern & Oriental Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Eastern & Oriental Hotel?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil.