Recently, we’ve been suffering from a bit of a mid-year slump and needed a short break to replenish our energy levels. Fortuitously, Rojak Daily was invited by Ascott Gurney Penang for a 3D2N staycation at the sea-front property.
Opened in March 2022, the hotel was almost fully renovated and breathed new life into the former Gurney Hotel (not to be confused with G Hotel). As a Penangite, its predecessor was honestly a blemish on the affluent Gurney Drive as it started to look dilapidated towards the end of its tenure.
Managed by The Ascott Limited and owned by Plenitude Berhad, the 37-storey property comes with 271 luxury studio apartments and two-bedroom apartments with fully furnished kitchenettes. What makes it different from other hotels is that it is actually a collection of serviced apartments so that guests can also choose for long stays to feel at home while on their travels.
Its unpretentious exterior doesn’t quite give justice to the interior of this ritzy hotel. As you enter the lobby, on the left is the opulent Jo’s Bar ornamented out with bottles of spirits reaching the ceiling framed by an emerald green bar. A small art gallery makes up the opposite corner of local and international artists’ works depicting various scenes around the island. Gold accents and plush chairs are spread over the swanky dual-volume lobby with a grand staircase (past visitors of Gurney Hotel will recognise this updated key feature) leading up to its all-day dining facility.
Location, Location, Location
There are several high-end hotels situated in Batu Ferringhi which is rather far out and others right smack in the middle of bustling Georgetown, but we find Ascott Gurney Penang’s locale to be perfect. Its proximity to Gurney Plaza and Gurney Paragon Mall, two of the island’s most fashionable malls is a mere 5-minute drive away. At the end of the road a 2-minute walk away, there is a tiny stretch of beach for you to walk along the sand and dip your toes in the ocean.
Although we used our own car or walked to get around, a quick check showed us that most e-hailing rides to city landmarks cost less than RM10 for one way while a trip to the airport during peak period only cost RM24. The hotel also offers a free one-way shuttle to Chowrasta Market in the morning and Batu Ferringhi Night Market in the evening.
There is also a direct link from the hotel to Gurney Walk, a fairly new retail location on the island with a healthy selection of restaurants such as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and the Areoma Boutique Spa (with discounts for hotel guests) within the same building.
A Room with A View (hands up if you get the reference)
The hotel has six different apartment types ranging from Studio Deluxe to Two-Bedroom Premier. We checked into the 1-Bedroom Premier which was divided into a living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
Our reaction upon stepping into the 657 square feet space was shock because of the sheer amount of space, which was almost as big as this writer’s whole apartment. The space is decorated in contemporary designs and warm tones and has a two-seater sofa and a dining table for four.
For those wanting a home away from home, it comes with basically every amenity that you would need: refrigerator, electric hob & hood, glassware, crockery, cutlery & utensils, microwave oven, coffee & tea making facilities, toaster, washing machine & dryer, and an oven which made us feel like randomly baking a cake to make full use of the room. This includes a filtered 3M water tap, which we appreciated because we need to be more concerned about saving Mother Earth y’all. You can even request a rice cooker (according to availability).
It has a home entertainment system that came with TWO flat-screen TVs but unfortunately doesn’t include Netflix. One of the most important aspects of the room and hotel was that it came with a strong WiFi connection which is unfortunately still lacking in some accommodations nowadays and so vital especially for business travellers. I streamed my 720p YouTube video with no lag at all.
The best part was of course the insane sea view which had us feeling like a Crazy Rich Asian for a couple of days which could be enjoyed from the living room, bedroom, and best of all the bathtub we lounged in while staring out at the ocean. The only thing that marred this view slightly was the ongoing construction below of the upcoming public park, Gurney Wharf set on the Gurney Drive foreshore which is estimated to complete in 2025.
The sizeable bathroom comes with His & Her Sinks, a rain shower, and Australian Apelles Apothecary & Lab hair and body range which smelled and felt great. It even comes with bath salts which was the first time we’d seen this at any hotel.
There are multiple USB ports and 3-pin plug sockets throughout the room to suit our multi-device lifestyles. And for those who value privacy, there is a door
between the bedroom and living room in case of a lover’s tiff with individually controlled thermostats.
The mattress and bed linen were so comfy that I slept through the night without waking up for the first time in months. Plus, the bedroom slippers were so comfortable and soft, unlike the thin sort you sometimes come across.
The room was clean (a real plus point because even some atas hotels can be unsanitary) and quiet because we couldn’t hear any noise from the adjacent rooms.
Good Nosh
This is the only Ascott’s hotel in Malaysia with in-house F&B outlets and we found that their dining facilities were underrated and deserve to be hyped-up more because the spread was scrumptious yet value-for-money.
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Timur Coffee House (Breakfast is served from 6.15 am to 10.30am)
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Our stay came inclusive of a buffet breakfast for two (RM40++ for walk-ins) at the Timur Coffee House which also serves all-day dining. We were pleasantly surprised by the extensive spread of local and international fare where the items were served fresh.
There was a coffee machine, an egg station, a roti canai station on our second morning, a cheese platter, dim sum (salted egg bun, anyone?) and even an array of milk options including oat milk for y’all health enthusiasts. We personally preferred the local delights including nasi lemak (including tempeh) and mee rebus station and the roti canai was one of the best we’ve had ever. We were so full after walking away from the buffet that we couldn’t even go for lunch!
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Jo’s Bar
Although we didn’t try it personally, the aforementioned bar at the hotel lobby offers a superb environment for those who enjoy people-watching and a happy hour from 6-9 pm.
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Glass Bar
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This little-known poolside spot is open for walk-ins despite being located on Level 7. We recommend coming here to watch the sunset and soak up the ambience with the poison of your choice from the friendly bartender Adam who we even assisted him to come up with a name for a new concoction during a chat.
We had a taste of the Jo-jito (RM38+), a mix of Roselle and Rose Syrup, fresh lime juice, and Schweppes Soda which had an interesting flavour profile and came with a healthy amount of liquor which was a bit strong for us. We also sipped on the Deep Sea Blue of Blue Caracao Syrup, Lime Juice, and Sprite which was gorgeously refreshing.
They also have a menu of selected mains and sides. We dug into the satay (RM26 for 10 sticks) which was tender and well-marinated and Chilli Lemongrass Chicken Wings (RM26) which were quite literally mouth watering with a spicy kick.
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If you’ve your fill of their offerings, you can take a walk to the hawker stalls and eateries along the seafront promenade.
Exploring the Facilities
Most of the business & recreational facilities are located on Level 7, with the stunning infinity pool being the crown jewel of the hotel.
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Infinity pool
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I barely felt like leaving the hotel with the pool offering breath taking views of the waterfront. The glass panes also don’t obstruct the view, unlike certain hotels. It was haven of relaxation where guests can sunbathe on the wooden deck, and I made a point to visit it both in the morning and the evening.
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Gymnasium
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The problem I had was not knowing to choose to go to the gym or the pool. Although I’m admittedly not a fitness junkie myself, the fully equipped fitness centre comes with top-of-the-line Technogym equipment helped to inspire me to workout.
The Excite Live Run treadmill (priced at an approximate whopping Rm62K) had a cool feature that allowed you to select options on the touch screen that made you feel like you were running outdoors in cities like Rome in real-time. Opposite the gym is a spacious yoga room with yoga balls and mats.
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Children’s Swimming Pool, Playroom, & Playground
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On the same floor is a sizeable pool with slides and a huge rain bucket for the little ones. I had one foot in the pool to try it out but sadly couldn’t enter as it was only for those below 12 years old. The cosy playroom is also well-equipped with books and games for toddlers and kids can also head right outside to the playground.
Also on this floor are Meeting Rooms, Barbecue Terrace with two barbecue pits, a Launderette (coin-operated with washers and dryers), as well as a Residents’ Lounge (only for long-stay guests over 28 days).
Over on level 3 is the Plenitude Grand Ballroom which this writer may bear in mind if I ever get hitched *coughs*.
Service
The staff––with most of the bellboys wearing songkoks as a nod to our local heritage––were polite and greeted guests with one hand placed over their heart. The housekeeping service was also quite prompt, with our requests for more bath salts being attended to within 10 minutes at most. We experienced a smooth check-in by the polite Miss Suzuki which had us heading up to our rooms in less than five minutes.
Packages
You can check out the Sip & Snacks Staycation Package here inclusive of a complimentary upgrade and a free flow of drinks from 5.30pm – 6.30 pm which ends 31 August. Those looking for a pet-friendly serviced apartment can also read about their package here.
Our Verdict
Our only complaint about our stay was that it is quite a hassle to get to the car park as you must change lifts to get there, and the lift only goes to the fourth floor, and you have to climb the stairs if you park any higher.
So far, we’ve stayed at several other 5-star hotels in Penang and this one takes the cake for us in terms of value for money, locality, and the little details and comfort of the rooms. We’ll definitely be back for the buffet and another staycation in the future!
Address: No. 18 Persiaran Gurney, George Town, Malaysia, 10250
For more information: follow them on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website.
For enquiries, email them at [email protected] or call 04-370 7000.
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