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Macalister Mansion

Boutique Hotels
Industrial & Imperial Era
5-Star
228 Jalan Macalister, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, 10400
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$129.00 /night for 2 adults View Deal

Highlights

Winner of the Asia Pacific: Best Small Hotel Award in the International Hotel Award 2013-14

Winner of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2025 for Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Penang, Malaysia

Popular Amenities

  • Swimming pool
  • Swimming pool [outdoor]
  • Bar
View All

Overview

George Town embodies the ideals of a multicultural Malaysia: diverse and prosperous, and made with the overlapping legacies of its people, built atop one another. The Macalister Mansion is one property that epitomizes this. Built as an Indian Chettiar's colonial mansion, it later served as a Chinese generational home until the mid-20th century and was eventually restored and opened as a luxury boutique hotel. It features eight distinctly themed guest suites, set in a lavish Colonial heritage setting. Since its opening, the hotel has won various awards and recognitions, including the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2025 for Best Luxury Boutique Hotel in Penang, Malaysia.

Superb 9.1
298 reviews
map 228 Jalan Macalister, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, 10400
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Local Info

Fort Cornwallis
(3.9 km)
Pinang Peranakan Mansion
(4.2 km)
Goddess of Mercy Temple
(3.8 km)
Nearest Airport
(16.9 km)
Nearest Transport Terminal
(2.1 km)
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History

The Macalister Mansion isn't just a prestigious luxury boutique hotel in George Town; it's a reflection of Penang's rich history and multicultural roots. Its story begins in 1880, as a colonial mansion of a Chettiar, an influential merchant caste in India. The property was purchased in 1890 by Choong Lye Hock, a prosperous Chinese-Hokkien businessman who then used the mansion as a generational home for his family. Although Choong Lye Hock passed down the mansion to his sons upon his passing in 1960, they eventually moved out in the 1970s. The property was then used by the Consumers Association of Penang as their office, and later as a furniture showroom and a bridal house.

The mansion's rebirth came about in 2010, when a local and successful business couple, Datuk Sean H’ng and his wife Datin Karen H’ng began restoring the property. This was part of their corporate responsibility initiative project, which involves transforming neglected colonial buildings into practical spaces and establishments. The restoration took about two years, led by Singaporean architect Colin Seah, from Ministry of Design (MOD). Aside from the interior design, they also worked to restore and reinforce the structure, such as the support columns, brick walls, and staircases.

The hotel finally opened in 2012, christened as the Macalister Mansion after Sir Norman Macalister, Penang's British Governor who served from 1808 until 1810.

History
Façade of the Macalister Mansion Agoda

Design and Architecture

As a late 19th-century colonial mansion, the Macalister Mansion features many architectural conventions used in Europe at the time. Its façade follows a Neoclassical design with many of its original aspects intact, such as the verandas, roof cornices, and arched windows. The white exterior has also been repainted, creating a Parisian Belle Epoque vibe.

The core concept of the restoration is Adaptive Reuse, which aims to repurpose old buildings, preserving their historical significance and sentimental value while providing a use for them. Both the architect Colin Seah and owners Datuk Sean H’ng and Datin Karen H’ng envisioned the Macalister Mansion as a symbol of splendor and as an ode to Penang's wondrous history and diversity. These ideas are reflected in the hotel's interior spaces and accommodations, as each has its own theme and aesthetics.

Monochrome is the unifying scheme for the hotel's color, creating a sleek and dignified contrast that embraces modern and classical elements. Contemporary furniture and decor set alongside the mansion's original wood and marble create a juxtaposition that says both the old and new, as well as the foreign and native, can blend in harmony, just like George Town.

Hotel image
The sleek, modern-chic lobby of the Macalister Mansion Agoda

Amenities

Popular Amenities

  • Swimming pool
  • Swimming pool [outdoor]
  • Bar

Dining

Restaurant Blanc

As the sleek and sophisticated fine dining restaurant of Macalister Mansion, Blanc promises a lavish dining experience served with refined French gourmet cuisine. Savor a course meal of French-Asian fusion delights, with items such as Nagasaki inada, foie gras, and free-range chicken. Complement the dining experience with a matching French vintage, carefully chosen by the sommelier from an extensive list. Each dish is as flavorful as it is visually impressive, indicating the skill and artistry of Chef Benny Yeoh and his team, and thus earned the restaurant a spot in the Michelin Guide.

Opening hours: 12 pm - 3 pm (Lunch); 6:30 pm - 10 pm (Dinner)

Dining
Extravagant fine dining awaits at Restaurant Blanc Agoda

Guest Lounge

Savor a tasty meal amidst the casual biophilic setting of the Guest Lounge. Sit down for an energizing breakfast, a light lunch, or a relaxing tea time. You can also grab a pastry or sandwich if you're on the go. Feel free to hang out with friends or family while enjoying one of their house blends of tea or coffee and basking in the abundance of natural light and views of the garden through the classic, filigree windows.

Opening hours: 8 am - 7 pm

Hotel image
The Guest Lounge offers a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere Agoda

The Cellar

Indulge in delectable drinks while unwinding in a refined and somewhat discreet setting. The Cellar offers a wide range of libations, from classic mixes to creative new cocktails, as well as an extensive list of over 300 wines, brews, and spirits. Listen to soothing jazz melodies performed by live bands every Friday and Saturday. Hotel guests are also invited to exclusive Evening MMadness sessions from 5 pm until 7 pm, complete with complimentary drinks.

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 5 pm - 12 am; Thu - Sun: 2 pm - 12 am

Hotel image
Surreptitiously delightful drinks await at The Cellar Agoda

Destination Wedding

Since it opened as a luxury boutique hotel in 2012, the Macalister Mansion has caught the eye of couples looking for a splendorous setting for their wedding. The hotel offers a variety of flexible wedding packages that can be tailored to your needs and preferences.

Ceremonies can be held in different settings, such as a garden or poolside celebration, a cocktail party reception, or an intimate lunch or dinner reception. As for the venues, couples have the option of outdoor spaces like the lawn, garden, or poolside, privatization of one of the restaurants, or booking the Norman Hall seminar room.

Included with the packages are event support staff, such as planners and decorators, as well as the customizable catering menu.

Book Venue

Events and Experiences

Cultural and Outdoor Experiences

Because of George Town's history as the administrative capital of Penang since the British Colonial times, the city grew into a cosmopolitan center and prime tourist destination.

Cultural landmarks are plentiful, showcasing the stories and lives of people who inhabited this giant melting pot. The Historic City of George Town is part of the Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within its old neighborhoods are many other famed cultural destinations, such as the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, and the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, two notable ancestral homes that have been repurposed into a heritage hotel and into a museum, respectively. There's also the Goddess of Mercy Temple, which was said to have inspired the Hokkien and Cantonese to find common ground.

Fort Cornwallis, next to the docks district, was a bastion fort established by the British East India Company. It was from this stronghold that they administered the island and eventually spread their influence in the region.

Events and Experiences
The moat and walls of Fort Cornwallis LEE 003

Other Celebrations

Aside from weddings, the Macalister Mansion also hosts corporate functions and private parties. The Normal Hall is a new addition to the mansion's facilities, offering a seminar or conference venue for up to 45 participants. For personal celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries, you can instead book a private table at Restaurant Blanc.

Book Venue
Hotel image
Celebrate with loved ones at a private table prepared by Blanc Restaurant Agoda

Local Info

Fort Cornwallis

3.9 km

Seaside bastion fort built by the British East India Company, and served as the stronghold as well as early administrative offices of the colonists. (9-minute drive)

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

4.2 km

Former residence of a merchant tycoon that has been converted into a cultural and heritage museum. It is dedicated to Penang's Peranakans - Malays with mixed heritage, such as descendants of Chinese settlers. (10-minute drive)

Goddess of Mercy Temple

3.8 km

Chinese Buddhist temple dedicated to Guan Yin, though it was originally built in 1800 for a local sea goddess named Mazu. (8-minute drive)

Nearest Airport

16.9 km

Penang International Airport (PEN) is the nearest major airport to Macalister Mansion, 30 minutes away from the property.

Nearest Transport Terminal

2.1 km

The nearest bus stop is the Komtar Bus Terminal, 7 minutes away from the hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Customer Reviews

Location

The location was great in the middle of the town, easy access.

Price

This was a great hotel with great value for money.