Hotels near The TOP Penang, George Town

The hotel is very new and currently in its soft opening phase. The linens and bedding are great, the room is spacious, and the facilities are brand new. The shower was also very comfortable. The only downside was that breakfast only started at 7 AM, so I missed it because I had an early flight. I asked if I could get a packed breakfast, but several staff members made various excuses to delay, which resulted in a very poor service experience. There was no bottled water provided in the room; you had to go to the corridor to get water yourself. I also didn't dare to use the cups, as I felt they might not be clean or safe.

Fantastic stay. The bed is comfortable and the lounge at level 1 has performance every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, 8:30-11.30pm. A good way to wind down with a drink. The food is a great portion and breakfast buffet is delicious too! It has a swimming pool, gym, spa services. The staff are polite and helpful. Great location with Gama shopping centre 5 mins away. It has a good supermarket and many other interesting shops and other shopping centres nearby.

I had a truly satisfying experience. First, let's talk about the location. There's a night market right downstairs. For breakfast, there's an excellent coffee shop nearby that serves Kaya toast and local specialties at reasonable prices – perfect for a morning meal. The night market offers a great variety of local food options for dinner, which is a fantastic experience. The hotel is also conveniently located for exploring all the attractions in George Town, whether you choose to walk or take a Grab. Now, a special mention for the hotel itself. Everything from the ambiance, room layout, and especially the concierge service and the professionalism of the staff, was outstanding. Although the rooms show their age, they are incredibly clean, well-maintained, and smartly designed. It was a wonderful experience overall, and I highly recommend booking here. If I visit Penang again, I will definitely stay at this hotel. Many thanks to the hotel for their thoughtful, attentive, and professional service!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really enjoyed my stay at SHO Hotel Penang. The hotel is clean, modern and well-maintained, with spacious rooms that are comfortable for both short and longer stays. Being a newly opened hotel, the facilities are still fresh and in great condition, with everything you need for a comfortable stay. The only downside is the location, which is quite far from Georgetown, so getting to the main attractions and city centre can take some time. Other than that, a very pleasant stay and definitely a hotel worth considering if you prioritise cleanliness, space and modern facilities.

Overall, it's pretty good and offers good value for money. Transportation: You can take a taxi to the Old Town or walk for 20 minutes. The hotel's area is relatively quiet and tidy. As an aside, I struggled with the accommodation area for a long time before my trip. I'm fine with the OZO area, but if I were to go again, I personally would prefer the Gurney Bay area. The atmosphere and cleanliness are much better there. Many parts of the Old Town are too old and chaotic. Cleanliness was satisfactory, even exceeding expectations. For service, I didn't encounter any Mandarin-speaking staff, but everyone was very friendly. Facilities: The rooftop pool has an excellent view directly facing the sea. It was wonderful to relax there every day. The breakfast restaurant also has a good view, and while the variety isn't huge, it's sufficient. In-room facilities are standard for a business hotel. I actually found it very convenient to get water from the water dispenser on my floor. There are two downsides: 1. The towels are very old and should be replaced; I used my own the entire time. 2. For some unknown reason, the Wi-Fi was extremely poor during my stay. My World Cup viewing corner's internet TV was almost unusable due to buffering. For tourists, poor internet is a significant issue.

Bishop Hotel’s greatest selling point is its impeccable location on Lebuh Bishop, right in the heart of George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage core zone in George Town. Within a 3–5 minute walk, you can reach landmarks such as St. George's Church, Pinang Peranakan Mansion, and the city’s famous Armenian Street mural trail. The hotel is surrounded by some of Penang’s finest dining options. Step outside and you are immediately in Little India, where authentic banana-leaf rice and fragrant curries abound. Popular spots like GEMS Restaurant and the refined Nyonya restaurant Kebaya Dining Room are only a few steps away. Despite its name, Bishop Hotel does not adopt a nostalgic Nanyang aesthetic. Instead, its interior design embraces a clean, modern industrial style. Rooms are known for being tidy and efficiently designed. Flooring typically features wood or polished tiles. While room sizes are relatively compact—consistent with heritage district buildings—the facilities are generally well maintained and fairly new. Given its location in the bustling old town, street-facing rooms may experience early-morning traffic noise or nearby commercial activity. Light sleepers are advised to book a windowless room (often quieter) or request a higher-floor, inward-facing unit. At a price range of MYR 100–150 per night in the very heart of George Town, offering an elevator, private bathroom, and air conditioning, Bishop Hotel delivers outstanding value for money. 🪴Points to Consider🪴 Parking Challenges: George Town’s old streets are narrow, and the hotel does not provide private parking. Guests arriving by car will need to rely on municipal street parking or nearby paid parking lots, which can be inconvenient. Limited Natural Light: Some budget room categories do not have exterior windows. In Southeast Asia’s humid climate, this may feel slightly confined to some guests. Limited Facilities: This is a hotel focused purely on accommodation. There is no swimming pool or large fitness center. For travelers seeking a resort-style “holiday atmosphere,” it functions more as a well-appointed base for exploration. 🪴Who It’s Best For🪴 Backpackers & Independent Travelers: Those who prioritize walking access to cultural landmarks. Short-Term Business Travelers: Visitors seeking a modern, convenient, and reasonably priced stay in the city center. Food Enthusiasts: Travelers who would rather spend their budget on Penang’s street art and culinary scene than on luxury lodging. 🪴Insider Tip🪴 On Sunday mornings, take a short walk to Occupy Beach Street, the weekly car-free event, to experience George Town’s most vibrant street culture and local market atmosphere.

Revisiting Penang this year, I chose to stay at Cititel Express again. The hotel had already arranged for early check-in via email, which I found very thoughtful and the service was perfect! Our family booked three rooms, and all of them were still clean and hygienic. Most importantly, there were no strange odors in the rooms. The bed linen and duvet covers were spotless with no dirty marks, and the air conditioning was excellent. The pool was even cleaner and more hygienic than last year. I also noticed many maintenance staff doing renovation and inspection work, which made me feel that the hotel management is excellent. Many new restaurants have opened near the hotel, reachable by foot without needing a car. A taxi from the airport to the hotel takes only about half an hour, which is very convenient. Next time we visit Penang, this hotel will still be our top choice!

The entire guesthouse was spotlessly clean, and the decor was warm and stylish. The host was very friendly and patiently answered all our questions about local attractions and how to get around. The location is excellent, with food, drinks, and entertainment all within easy reach.

This hotel is an excellent introduction to Penang as it was for me on my first day in town exploring and getting to know the main city area. Close to downtown center the hotel provides an ideal location for explorers who want to be close to all the major sites Penang has to offer. In the immediate area is George Town with venues including the Clan Jetties, UNESCO heritage sites, Armenian Street and a vast array of street art all worth stopping to visit. The hotel itself is clean and tidy with helpful and friendly staff who went out of their way to help accommodate me upon my early arrival (holding my luggage until check in time). The room was comfortable and for amenities there was an onsite laundry room that helped ensured traveler like me had the opportunity to refresh their baggage for the next adventures ahead. As a heads up to future travelers: the hotel is located near some stunning mosques that although were great to visit, do have prayer sessions throughout the day and night which all hotel travelers can clearly hear in their rooms. Not recommended for light sleepers or anyone who minds the sound. Overall the hotel was a great place to start my Penang stay and exploration.

The place it self was great, the cleanliness was very good and the service was excellent. The only downside we had was the neighbours upstairs kept making loud noises through out our stay, however credit to the agents they replied back to us promptly when we brought this up and had notified their landlord. Unfortunately this didn’t still resolve the loud noises. The building it self is nice, the pool is clean and well maintained, however the building does have a lot of regulations in place which we thought was quite excessive. Other than these minor issues we had a great time and the apartment is well kept.