Luxurious Staycation at Victory Annexe
Ask
where to stay when in Penang and the name of Eastern and Oriental Hotel (E&O) immediately comes up to mind. On
a recent trip to Penang, we had the honors of staying at the acclaimed E&O
Hotel at their new wing of Victory Annexe.
Started
out as The Eastern Hotel by the Sarkies Brothers – Martin and Tigran,
back in 1884, the hotel later merged with another hotel, The Oriental Hotel in 1889 and became the E&O Hotel we know today. Maintaining their classic colonial
architecture despite having seen two World Wars, E&O has also incorporated new life with the new wing of Victory
Annexe today, giving new breathe while maintaining its origin at heart at its
Heritage Wing.
Despite
growing up in Penang, I have honestly never stayed at E&O Hotel although I have visited the hotel countless of times
for their popular buffet dining at the hotel with my family. After 4 hours of
driving from Penang, it was a blissful sight of the sea as we turned into the
parking of the Victory Annexe where we were supposed to stay for a few nights.
Parking was a breeze and we head over to the lobby of the hotel easily.
The
lobby at Victory Annexe was
beautifully spacious, making check-ins at ease. Coupled with the friendly
service at the reception, it was truly a short and sweet check-in experience
before we sashayed to our room.
The
moment we step into our Studio Suites,
one of the 118 available, we stood in awe of the gorgeous spacious room, lite
up with natural rays of sunshine. Designed with elegance and simplicity of
modernity in mind with lots of natural elements incorporated, the Studio Suite
evoked warmness of comfort and easement at sight.
We
know it’s going to be a good night of sleep right away when one feels such
comfort at first sight. Space is luxury in hotels and this one definitely
epitomizes plushness with its space and large King-size bed flanked by two
night tables with lamps.
Themed
with natural shades of wood and natural warm colours against white paneling,
the suite may looked relatively simple but has lots of details if one look
closely. At one corner of the room, there is a beautiful pastel flowery print
armchair flanked by a stylish tall lamp. It’s perfect for a little reading or
relaxing moment at the end of the day. At sight, I wanted to lounge there, curl
up comfortably with a book.
The
bed looked utterly inviting. I like simplicity of whites when it comes to
bedding and this one was perfect for me. Plush bedlinen thread counts feels good
upon contact. Firm support with comfort, the bed and fluffy pillows were plus
points for me, alluding a good night sleep to come as well.
Equipped
with the usual – flat screen tv, mini fridge with complimentary sodas, water tea
& coffee amenities, there was also the added bonus of mini-capsule espresso
coffeemaker. Snacks and milk are not included as these belong to my little one
who enjoys snacking on treats.
There
was a work desk set with basic business amenities and stationary set. A simple
plate of complimentary fruits is always a nice gesture and a reminder to eat
our fruits daily.
We
were not prepared for the charm of the bathroom though. Designed spaciously as
well, we like how the sight of the claw-footed long bath stood in retro
grandeur against the checkered floor, flanked by a tall mirror panel. There was
also a glass sectioned shower room equipped with rain shower.
The
bathroom has a sectioned off twin vanity with the usual amenities such as hair
dryer, mini safe box, iron, cottony room slippers, bath robes and even sarongs
for that extra Malaysian touch.
Other
bathroom amenities include the usual toothbrush kit, shower cap, vanity kit,
nail filer and even sewing kit that is rarely seen much in hotels nowadays.
We
headed down to 1885, the colonial
style restaurant that was established together with the hotel for their famed English Afternoon Tea, served from 2pm
to 5pm daily. Savor a wonderful array of high tea delights with pots of English
tea fit for royalty. Stay tune for this post coming up!
After
our delicious English Afternoon Tea at 1885, we took a leisure stroll to check
out some of the facilities of the hotel. Courtesy of the hotel, we were also
given a guide of the Heritage Wing.
The
Heritage Wing offers old world charm,
beautifully maintained with colonial elegance. The foyer alone warrants a few
minutes of admiration with its high dome architecture, Italian tile flooring
and spaciousness of the interior design. The lobby has exquisite wood finishing
with a room key board that dates all the way back to its early opening years.
Elegant
sofas graced the lobby of the Heritage Wing, echoing grandeur charm with other
furnishings as the world continues to evolve beyond the hotel.
If
there is one thing I remember about E&O
Hotel when I visited when I was a kid, it was this old Waygood-Otis cage
lift. I am pretty sure it’s one of the oldest one in Malaysia after reading about
it somewhere. I was told it is still in mint condition though it’s not being
used anymore. Just glad to say that I actually experience this lift when I was
much younger when my parents took me here.
At
the lobby, there was also a time capsule sealed during E&O Hotel’s 130th
Anniversary on 2015 by Michael Saxon, Director Group Hospitality & Lifestyle
to be open in 2145.
As
we tour some of the rooms of the Heritage
Wing, featuring 100 suites, we got a sneak peek at the Premier Suite and Straits
Suite. Both room types are exceptionally spacious and faces the Straits of
Malacca.
Restored
with the East meets West themed, there are European accents with some additions
of Oriental wood cabinets as well as Persian rugs in these rooms. Perhaps what
truly gave the rooms its own unique character are all the small details of
fixtures restored from the original hotel such as this light fixture.
There
are also special services provided when one stays in Heritage Wing such as complimentary
valet parking, personalized check-in by a butler, your very own 24-hour butler
at your service, free yoga services and breakfast at Sarkies Annexe.
One
can also enjoy the gorgeous swimming pool with an amazing view of the Straits
when staying at the Heritage Wing. With the sun shining brightly that day and a
gentle breeze in tow, I wanted to chuck my lens away, put on my swimwear and
simply lounge by the pool to soak up the dazzling day!
We
stroll through the hotel’s compound and was greeted with lots of greenery set
amidst the hotel’s architecture and blue sky. It was certainly a pleasant
stroll to catch some sunshine…
After
our little hotel tour, I headed over to their award-winning Panpuri Organic Spa Penang for some
luxurious pampering session. Stay tune for this spa review in the coming post.
Besides
spa, there are other things to do at the hotel. One can utilize the fully
equipped gymnasium to work out some sweat or head over to the hotel’s in-house
library for some good reads.
When
one stays in Victory Annexe, one is
also entitled to daily evening cocktail hour at Planters Lounge where small bites are perfect with your own DIY
cocktails. We only managed to visit the cocktail hour briefly and even then, it
was packed with people enjoying themselves to all the goodies that weekend.
What
I really enjoyed was the swimming pool at Victory
Annexe. Featuring an infinity deck pool with spectacular view of the
Straits as well but from a higher level, echoing a very different vibe from the
other wing’s swimming pool.
There
was an element of romance as well as Zen-ness to this swimming pool. Lots of
lounge chairs, well-shaded for comfort relaxing, surrounded by landscape of
lush greenery of palm trees and small bushes was utterly impressive and
alluring at sight.
It
was a glimpse of safe haven for my sanity. As one relaxes and enjoy the
gorgeous blue skies filled with cotton candy clouds and azure water, I never
wanted to leave this moment then. The whole ambiance also makes perfect view
for picturesque social media pieces.
Hotel
guests were literally snapping away while I watch in delight before succumbing
to taking a few pictures for my own with my little one too!
If
you’re up for a little historical tour, do visit the E&O Gallery located within the Victory Annexe retail arcade to
learn about Penang’s social and cultural milestones as seen through the eyes of
the hotel and its patrons. The glitz and glamour of those days of all the grand
parties, banquets, weddings as well as entertainment with distinguished guests
as well as the changes of the hotel are all displayed at the gallery. I heard
Rudyard Kipling, a famous writer, was even staying here at the hotel too.
It
was opulence all the way when E&O was the centre of social life in the
Pearl of the Orient. Ladies dressed up in beaded gowns, clinging on to the arms
of their gentlemen dressed up in tuxedos, enjoying the social life of sipping
cocktails and catching up updates as well as meeting new friends and business
opportunities. There are certainly plenty of information at the gallery to keep
on busy for a few hours.
Can’t
resist shopping for some sourvenirs? Check out Emporium…
There’s
also complimentary Shuttle Service
from E&O hotel to Lone Pine Hotel and Straits Quay for some sightseeing as
well as shopping daily.
Last
but not least, E&O Hotel offers plenty of good eats at all their dining
outlets. There’s 1885 where we had
our English Tea. 1885 also serves fusion dishes to be enjoy with wines set in
fine traditions of colonial style dining.
For
casual dining, there’s Sarkies Corner
as well as Farquhar’s Bar. One
serves local and international cuisines set in colonial coffee shop ambiance
while the other features pub fare and English Sunday Roast with a typical
English bar setting named after one of Penang’s Lieutenant-Governor, Robert
Townsend Farquhar.
There’s
Sarkies, a popular hotspot, offering
their famed buffets and selections of local and international fare as their
all-day-dining restaurant. This restaurant is what Penangites flocked as the
hotel is famous for their luscious spread of buffet filled with loads of scrumptious
dishes. We dined here for lunch during out stay and wait till you check out the
spread in my next post.
As
the evening sun goes down, the view from my Studio Suite was absolutely
stunning!
We
turned in comfortably for the day and woke up early the next morning to catch
sunrise as well as a lovely breakfast at Planters Lounge. Stay tune for the
breakfast post.
Sunrise
view from Studio Suite
Our
stay at E&O Hotel at Victory Annexe was truly relaxing and
satisfying from service to the hotel’s facilities and room. Even though we
stayed at the new wing, there’s something truly charming about the hotel as we
wandered along the spacious beautiful corridors of the hotel. From the
pith-helmeted bellhops on the khaki-clad doormen to the smartly dressed wait
staff, they would be smiling and greeting me as I walked pass them. My suite
was very comfortable and rendered a very satisfactory stay with a gorgeous view
of the Straits. If you’re looking for fine comfort and services, The E&O
Hotel has certainly lived up to its reputation of the finest on the isle.
EASTERN
& ORIENTAL HOTEL
10 Lebuh Farquhar
10200 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +60 4-222 2000
E&H
Hotel Staycation Stories
·
E&O
Hotel 1885 English Afternoon Tea
·
E&O
Hotel Planters Lounge Breakfast
·
E&O
Hotel Sarkies Buffet
