The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O) was first established in 1885 by the Sarkies Armenian brothers, the creators of Singapore’s Raffles Hotel. A legendary colonial-style beachfront luxury hotel in Southeast Asia, it is hailed as "the finest hotel east of the Suez Canal" and remains one of Malaysia’s oldest surviving luxury hotels. Nestled within the core zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in George Town, Penang, the hotel faces the Andaman Sea directly and boasts an extensive seafront lawn.
The hotel consists of two main sections: the Heritage Wing (original heritage building) and the Victory Annexe. The Heritage Wing has been meticulously restored to preserve the original features of Victorian colonial architecture, featuring retro arcades, domed lobby, teak flooring and antique furnishings, brimming with nostalgic charm of a century ago. The Victory Annexe opened in 2013 with a contemporary classic design; most suites here come with balconies and offer sea views. Host to renowned literary icons such as Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling, it stands as an iconic luxury accommodation for cultural travellers visiting Penang.
This is an all-suite hotel with no standard guest rooms. All accommodation units are suites, totalling 232 suites.