1881 CHONG TIAN HOTEL Review

1881 Chong Tian Hotel lobby- Penang

Elegance. Opulence. Class.

These sensations wash over me as I entered 1881 Chong Tian Cultural Hotel in Penang, Malaysia. Chong Tian’s lush lobby is furnished with dark wood antique Chinese chairs inlaid with ivory and adorned with vibrant silk pillows, a large decorative vase displaying an elaborate flower arrangement, an intricately carved and gilded antique Chinese screen, and many valuable antiques. The receptionists are clearly refined individuals, attentive to their savvy guests’ arrival.

Chong Tian is an historic heritage Chinese hotel originally built and designed for visiting upper class Chinese, and recently superbly renovated and brought back to life.

Continuing on from the lobby, I quickly realized that it’s not just the hotel entry that’s so lavishly furnished. The entire hotel is filled with a vast collection of rare and valuable Chinese antiques, the private collection of the owner. In fact, the hotel is actually considered a museum, the antique collection is so vast and impressive.

The heritage building is set around a central open-air courtyard sporting a granite-slab floor and rimmed with heavy wood pillars.The hotel’s main floor consists of the lobby, an antique collection room, three dining areas serving Chinese or Western cuisine, and a foyer area. A beautiful round doorway set in the wall below a wood staircase leads to a tiled room featuring a fish pond and a waterfall that delivers the fantastically soothing sound of falling water throughout the hotel.

courtyard view- 1881 Chong Tian Hotel- Penang Hotel Reviews

courtyard view of upper rooms- 1881 Chong Tian Hotel- Penang

Guest rooms are set around the open courtyard on the second and third floors. In evenings, the sounds of laughter and light banter float up from the restaurant below, lending a charming touch to the otherwise quiet and peaceful surroundings. If you prefer silence, then simply closing your room’s courtyard windows blocks out all noise surprisingly well.

As for the rooms… Ah, the rooms! Polished dark wood floors, vibrant satin bed coverings accented with equally vibrant pillows of all sizes and shapes, antique Chinese furniture, an intricately carved wood screen acting as bedhead, and brightly patterned Chinese vases with flowers all adorn the lavish rooms. Even a large red Chinese lantern hangs from the ceiling. Each room and suite are uniquely decor-ed. If Chong Tian’s rooms don’t make you feel like a prince or princess, I doubt any place will!

Add to the room’s plush Chinese decor all the standard modern western amenities: a tiled bathroom with bathtub, toiletries set in a traditional basket, LCD TV, fridge, tea and coffee service, a/c and room phone. A clever sound system pipes music into each room and throughout the hotel, with volume adjustments in every room.

Their Chinese restaurant serves absolutely delicious cuisine at surprisingly reasonable prices, given the opulence of the setting. In fact, the restaurant was up for an award at the time of my visit. The only issue- and it’s a big one for westerners- is that they serve shark’s fin, and lots of it.

While the Chinese cuisine is devine, I’m not so sure about the quality and taste of their western menu. Based on my breakfast, I’d give it a miss myself, especially considering that the Chinese food is so superb. A disappointing breakfast was really my only gripe about Chong Tian, aside from the staff tending to talk quite loudly and even shout to each other through the hotel and up/down the central courtyard. Such behavior I’ve encountered in budget accommodation and home stays around Asia, but it certainly isn’t appropriate in such a refined boutique hotel. I alerted the manager to the fact, which he had already started noticing himself. I’m confident he straightened it out quickly.

1881 Chong Tian Hotel- Georgetown-Penang- Malaysia

1881 Chong Tian is located right in the heart of Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage district, within easy walking distance of restored mansions, museums, a plethora of temples, Chinese clan houses, Little India, and Georgetown’s quaint streets, which are lined with Chinese shop houses and many local eateries.

Chong Tian offers guided tours of its vast and impressive Chinese antique collection that is on display throughout the hotel. The tour is free to hotel guests and 10 RM for outside guests.

If you’d like to experience a night or a week surrounded by opulent Chinese architecture and furnishings, I highly recommend booking into 1881 Chong Tian. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience Penang’s traditional Chinese culture first hand and feel like a prince or princess.

1881 Chong Tian Cultural Hotel

38-40-42 Jalan Pintal Tali 10100

Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

+6. 04. 263. 1881

You might also enjoy my series of Penang travel tips and photos

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