Penang, MalaysiaGeorge Town
Seven Terraces
Restored Peranakan mansion
George Town Penang, Malaysia
Opened
2012
Price
$$
Rated for
Heritage Local DesignOutside the door
The house
George Town Heritage HotelsRestored Peranakan mansion
Seven joined shophouses recreate the life of a grand Straits Chinese residence, centered on open courtyards and family antiques.
“the romance of a bygone era is alive and well courtesy of opium beds, chinoiserie cabinets, furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and Straits Chinese porcelain ware.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Seven restored nineteenth-century Anglo-Chinese shophouses salvaged from neglect inside George Town's historic core.
Notable
Open-air courtyards paved in granite ballast salvaged from nineteenth-century trading junks.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and Wallpaper*.
He restored seven of them into eighteen suites, furnished with pieces from his collection of Peranakan antiques: blackwood chairs with shell inlay, lacquer cabinets finished in gold leaf, and porcelain kamcheng jars.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Stewart Lane puts George Town's historic core at the door, with the Goddess of Mercy Temple just around the corner.
The rooms
Suites spread across split-level timber lofts, furnished with four-poster beds and mother-of-pearl inlay cabinets.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
A plunge pool lines the open-air courtyard terrace, flanked by rattan armchairs beneath the shophouse facade.
Restaurant
Kebaya Dining Room
Marble tables sit beneath crystal chandeliers and scarlet drapes, with four-course Nyonya dinners accompanied by live piano music.
Occupying a row of pre-war shop houses, which have been carefully restored, Seven Terraces is a grand tribute to the past with lots of period details from tall wooden doors to traditional winding staircases.
At the table
Baba Bar serves cocktails and craft beers at a carved wooden counter set beneath red velvet curtains.
How it began
Hotelier Christopher Ong bought the row in 2008 after bird's-nest harvesters had taken over the rotting upper floors.
Penang
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.