This article is sponsored by E&O Hotel.
Images via E&O Hotel
It’s a visit you won’t forget.
For many years now, the Eastern and Oriental (E&O) Hotel in Georgetown, Penang has been indulging guests with a stay that’s nothing shy of luxurious. Couple that with the heritage hotel’s colourful history and British colonial architecture, the result is an experience you’ll be recounting for years to come.
It’s the Grand Dame of Georgetown
Established in 1885, E&O came to be associated with elegance and the who’s who of society in the early 1900s.
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
As the only hotel in Georgetown with a seafront—it still is the only one—it quickly became the place for weddings, banquets and affluent travellers. Its hallways have been graced by the likes of actor Douglas Fairbanks, poet Rudyard Kipling, and the then-Prince Charles.
Over the decades, E&O embraced the winds of change by introducing more modern comforts to the hotel yet stayed true to its British old-world charm—as is apparent in its architecture and services.
Every room in E&O is a suite!
Having outgrown its humble 80 guestrooms, E&O now houses 232 suites spread across two wings: Heritage Wing and Victory Annexe, with each one having its own pool.
Heritage Wing is where it all started
Image via E&O Hotel
Suites on this original site of E&O feature bespoke amenities that accentuate the hotel’s promise of luxury. These include authentic bone china teacups, exclusive toiletries by Panpuri, Egyptian cotton towels, and a 400 thread-count bedroom linen with a satin finish.
For a truly indulgent stay, you can also opt for the Writers Suites. These spacious suites come with a separate living lounge, boast picturesque sea views, and are fitted with a vintage-style claw and ball long bath.
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Then came the 15-storey Victory Annexe
Image via E&O Hotel
Opened in 2013, this part of the hotel is made with modern travellers in mind. It includes the Studio Suites and Corner Suites, with the latter offering more space: a separate living area, and an expansive balcony and dining area facing the sea.
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Image via E&O Hotel
Its dining options are equally tantalising
If you’re looking for a midday break from all the sightseeing, do as the Brits do—have a cup of tea and scone! E&O’s Palm Court offers you the quintessential British experience with its three-tiered English afternoon tea, available daily between 3pm to 5pm.
Image via E&O Hotel
Other dining options include Sarkies, famed for its local and international buffet spreads available for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Planters Lounge, which offers breakfast, hi-tea and barbecue dinner; and the semi-formal Java Tree.
A stay here is like a little visit to the museum!
When you’re done with your meal, take a stroll along the grounds of E&O and you’ll find history at every corner. See if you can spot the manually controlled Waygood Otis lift with sliding grill—it’s one of the first to be installed in Malaysia during the 1920s, that was featured in Crazy Rich Asians.
Meanwhile, on the seafront garden lawn, you’ll notice a large shady Java Tree. Older than the hotel itself, the centuries-old tree was planted before E&O existed and has served as the centrepiece for many grand garden weddings of yesteryears.
Image via eohotels/Facebook
Along the seafront facing the Andaman Sea, you’ll also be greeted with decommissioned cannons from Fort Cornwallis that were purchased in the 19th century by the founders of the hotel.
Image via eohotels/Facebook
So, how about that walk down memory lane?
Really, there’s much to love about the E&O Hotel. Its location in the UNESCO World Heritage Site—perfect for history buffs; architecture and décor that transport you back to the glamorous 1900s; and service and amenities that scream comfort and luxury.
Image via E&O Hotel
So the next time you’re looking for a place to stay in Penang or simply wanting to be pampered, think of E&O. To make a reservation, visit bit.ly/EOH_BookNow or for more information, head over to their official website.