Macalister Mansion

I stayed here for three nights and was so sad I wasn’t here longer. Everything about this hotel was top notch, I had Room 1 and it was so spacious, comfortable, and lovely. Air conditioning worked very well, complimentary mini bar had a nice selection. Housekeeping was wonderful and I was well restocked every day. I had breakfast included in my stay and the meals were flavorful and filling, I loved that you ordered them from a menu instead of a buffet. As beautiful as the hotel is, the service stood out the most. Everyone was so kind and helpful, but Kemala who checked me in and out was particularly wonderful and an absolute delight to talk to. I can’t wait to return to Penang and this hotel.

My family and I stayed here for one night. It's a beautiful mansion and service was good, the room was also lovely, a good mix of modern comfort and colonial vibes. I would rate it 5 stars if not for the bad experience at night. My family and I were bitten by bugs in the bed while sleeping and my forehead was covered in bites when I woke up. Very disappointed in the hygiene of this place as it is not a cheap accommodation. I have complained to the manager on duty the following day but nothing was done except for a verbal apology.

I recently visited the hotel's cafe with two close friends for lunch. The ambiance and decor were stunning, with a lovely sunny garden vibe. However, the air conditioning could have been cooler. I opted for the lunch set, which offered great value with an appetizer, main course, and coffee. The salad and chicken I chose were both delicious. My friends ordered à la carte, trying the Konichiwa fish and chips, as well as the beef stew. The fish and chips had an innovative Japanese twist and tasted great. Unfortunately, our experience was marred by poor service. Despite our waiter repeating our orders, the beef stew was forgotten, and we waited for a considerable time. When we inquired about the dish, the staff showed no apology or sincerity, which was a major letdown. Due to this disappointing experience, I wouldn't plan to return.

Went for Dior's prestige & ambiance - left utterly DISAPPOINTED. Service worse than a HAWKER STALL! Pretty setting, but zero comfort - only frustration and disrespect. ❌ Reservation Useless: Arrived on time - NO table! Waited 30 MINUTES! Reason? "Previous guests won't leave" (staff did NOTHING!). Their excuse? "People won't leave." EXCUSE ME? What's the point of reservation then? ❌ Unreasonable Arrangements: After 30 mins of suffering, got a "sauna experience ticket" 🥵 - 1:30pm forced to sit in the BAKING outdoor area. Staff promised indoor seats "soon" but NEVER delivered. Horrible experience! ❌ Hypocritical Management: They claim "NO walk-ins" 🙄 but FAILED to protect booked customers' rights! WE got punished for THEIR failure: Still have to “Leave ON TIME" after wasted 30 mins waiting. It's not that we can't afford it - it's ABOUT VALUE & RESPECT. This place offers NEITHER.

Beautiful place. Rooms are always fully booked so have to book in advance to stay here. We came for lunch and the food was not too bad. The baked Brie was great however the tandoori chicken could be better. The wait was also really really long. The atmosphere of this hotel is really pretty and I can see why this place is famous online.

Went to the restaurant at Macalister Mansion. Best meal I have had in years. We had the set menu for RM840 per head. We brought our own wine for a cockage fee of RM80. The bread was amazing, warm and the inside bit was so soft it almost melts in your mouth. The 3 starters (entree) test followed were also fantastic - the Amuse Bouche caviar just popped in my mouth and the cuttlefish were all delicately delicious. This was followed by the Hokkaido Scallop and Crispy Scale Marble Goby, both succulent and satisfying. For main course, we had the chicken and beef. Chicken was tender and moist while beef was saucy and juicy - both most enjoyable. The Pre Dessert was also beautifully decorated and yummy. The dessert was not as good as the rest of the meal and did not feel as fresh as it could have. The service was excellent and we had Sommelier Anson looking after us. His knowledge of wine was pretty good. Overall a most enjoyable meal and well worth the money. We saw a Michelin Star 2025 on the wall - well deserved. Will definitely come again if the opportunity arises.

Though I couldn’t spare enough time for a full sit-down experience—or secure a reservation ahead—I managed to soak in the sun-drenched splendour of Dior’s seasonal showcase at Macalister Mansion. This limited-time Dioriviera pop-up transforms the heritage mansion’s lawn and pool area into a whimsical tropical escape, curated with Dior's signature elegance. From rattan-sculpted giraffes and panthers to custom bicycles and pastel-hued Vespas with sidecars, every corner feels like a living postcard. Iconic motifs like toile de Jouy resurface on parasols, pool floats, and limited-edition handbags, while the pop-up bar offers couture-inspired cocktails and mocktails with a local twist—think yuzu, pandan, and winter melon cider (though I didn’t get to try any, the menu alone felt indulgent). Even without a full experience, the visual spectacle itself—set against Macalister Mansion’s colonial façade—was more than enough to savour. Highly recommend booking in advance if you’d like to lounge poolside or sip a “30 Montaigne” in the shade of a Dior umbrella.

My recent stay at Macalister Mansion was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the grandeur of the mansion and the impeccable service. The staff were friendly and helpful, especially the front desk manager, Faris, who went above and beyond to assist me when I had trouble starting my rental car. Faris took care of everything, going above and beyond to help by coordinating with the rental car company to get the car repaired and returned while I took a taxi back to Kuala Lumpur. The room itself was stunning, a beautifully appointed space that exuded luxury and comfort. I was particularly impressed with the grand bathroom and the balcony overlooking the front of the hotel. The mansion's intimate atmosphere, with only eight rooms, added to the feeling of exclusivity and personalized service. I would highly recommend Macalister Mansion to anyone seeking a luxurious and unforgettable stay in Penang. The exceptional service, beautiful rooms, and intimate atmosphere make it a truly special destination. I would particularly like to commend Faris for his outstanding assistance, which exemplifies the dedication and professionalism of the entire staff.

If you've ever wanted to live in a mansion, Macalister Mansion will let you experience just that. With only eight rooms on the property, you may never even run into another guest, letting you keep up the ruse that it's yours for a moment. It's an absolutely stunning hotel. Part of the Design Hotels series, the rooms are just gorgeous. Comfortable beds, complimentary minibar (juice, soft drink and snacks only) and an enormous glass lined bathroom...albeit with absolutely no privacy. Seriously, even the toilet has clear glass and looks directly into the shower and room. There had to be some negotiation as a couple of toilet breaks. We were on our honeymoon and weren't quite ready to be 'that' couple yet. The hotel itself is what we really enjoyed. The staff and service was terrible. With so few guests (16 max really!) there were more of them than us, yet every interaction was so laboured. We got off on the wrong foot from check-in, with staff being extremely unhelpful in trying to rectify any problem, opting to fight us instead. There had been an issue with the web site when booking that kept defaulting to 1 guest instead of 2 - which we counteracted by including notes about travelling as a couple on our honeymoon. They kept insisting that we would only get breakfast/mini bar/water supply for 1 person because of the booking...but then there was a cake and congratulations note on our honeymoon for when we arrived. My husband asked how exactly they thought he was celebrating his honeymoon solo and the staff still insisted it was our fault. There is a pool outside that promises a swim up bar - but don't get excited about that. With so few guests around, it's never manned and we had to go back into the hotel to find someone to help us with a drink. They got us one and then never came back. Location wise, it's a fair distance from the action in town and it's on a one-way street, so cabs will need to take a longer round about route to get there (many didn't know where it was so bring the address in Malay and be prepared for this). If you opt to walk, there are some food vendors along the way and it's worth doing once, but the roads aren't very secure so you'll mostly need to cab around. Overall, a stunning hotel but that's where it begins and ends. We enjoyed our stay but were happy to leave and wouldn't return.

Macalister Mansion is an internationally renowned luxury hotel that is housed within a beautifully restored heritage building. It has eight rooms, each has its own design and character, supposedly inspired by the life story of Sir Norman Macalister. The story and heritage definitely adds to the charm of this property, and staying here was truly an amazing experience. Being a 5-star luxury property, its service, staff, comfort, and room conditions all exceeded expectations. What I found to be the most captivating thing about the stay was the interior / art decor, which is world-class. The design and fittings of the rooms sit nicely within the sweet spot between authentic heritage charm and modern / chic design - one thing so many heritage / boutique hotels strive for but don't get right. The exterior of the mansion when lit up at night is rather magnificent, while its pool and garden look like a scene out of a movie. Definitely worth a stay, but rooms don't come cheap.

Macalister Mansion is a really good hotel in Penang. The rooms are very spacious and are very clean. Also, they have a really big bathroom that's unfortunately see-through, but still is really nice. They provide you with a free snack bar consisting of a lot of things like muesli bars, crisps, cookies and so on! The staff are very helpful and friendly and there's also a bar for you to smoke and drink in. The only let-down was the restaurant where they served breakfast, which didn't taste so good and we had to wait a long time for our breakfast to arrive. My father wanted some nasi lemak to eat as he saw a packet on the cashier table and he asked how much the price was. It turns out that it was actually the staff's nasi lemak that he bought for himself, but the staff agreed to give it to my father for free, but in the end, my father paid him some money.