Amidst the rows of vintage colonial-style buildings and traditional Chinese shophouses in Penang historic capital state, George Town, sits an elegantly designed homegrown luxury hotel.
The Prestige Hotel is Penang’s newest option for seekers of opulence and affluence. First opening its doors in October 2019, the homegrown hotel is inspired by a simple concept — Victorian architecture.
To put it succinctly, the 162-room luxury hotel reminds one of a Victorian building of days past. With heritage floor designs and an abundance of lattice patterns adorning every corner of the property, one would be forgiven to assume that they’ve stepped onto one of the set locales of Downton Abbey.
And as if cut from the same cloth, the Prestige meshes well with its 19th-century neighbours. But make no mistake about it, The Prestige Hotel is more than just another heritage hotel.
The Prestige Hotel
First and foremost, the Prestige Hotel is a four years project in the making. The hotel was brought to life by the efforts of esteemed Singaporean firm, Ministry of Design. During its creation, the firm adopted a contemporary approach to classic Victorian design. This approach, layered with verdant shrubbery creates a unique contrasting appeal.
The juxtaposition of the Victorian interior combined with local botany does indeed offer a stunning facade. Talk about a feast for the eyes!
But other than its deeply entrenched Victorian roots, the newly built hotel also pays homage to the art of magic and illusion. In particular, the name of the hotel takes a cue from the movie of the same name — The Prestige (2006).
And along with that, the hotel’s event venues are also named after the film’s lead characters. For instance, the Angier and Borden Function Rooms and the Olivia and Julia outdoor gazebos come to mind.
If you’ve seen this Christian Bale/Hugh Jackman film, you’d know that the movie — set in the Victorian era — is all about the illusory art of sleight of hand.
A Magical Victorian Journey
Upon entering the hotel, you’ll be greeted by a grandiose ground-floor splattered with Victorian influences. The majority of which encompasses both the retail and dining spaces.
Elsewhere, the indoor alfresco areas are also filled with lush greenery. Rattan furniture and natural lighting then wonderfully round off the hotel’s colonial theme.
As we’ve said, illusion plays a huge role in creating the Prestige Hotel’s spectacular design. Due to its long and narrow layout, elements of visual trickery breaks the monotony of its lengthy corridors — with rotating lights projecting an intricate lattice pattern to animate the journey.
The illusionary aspects are also subtly found throughout the hotel, including in the furniture details. For example, the custom mirrored reception desk looks precarious albeit stable as it balances on chrome spheres.
Meanwhile, hidden doors in guestrooms open up to reveal toilet cubicles and pantries. And the inclusion of “levitating” beds and side tables draw on the thematic magic and illusion influences as well.
But the most notable feature of the hotel has to be the custom Shower and Wardrobe Enclosure. Found in the Premier Deluxe Suite, the shower piece is appropriately inspired by Houdini’s escape box. The shower is positioned smack dab in the middle of the room which means you’ll be the centre of attention inside.
The Prestige Hotel’s Grand Offerings
As for its facilities, you can expect the standard luxury hotel affair at The Prestige Hotel.
Specifically, the retail arcade occupying the ground floor is a sight to behold. The checkered floor patterns offer a unifying feature between the reception lobby and retail spaces.
Here, you’ll also find an excellent lineup of dining and shopping options. Some of them include coffee shops, a fine dining restaurant, a clothing store, a dessert café, a florist, and even a pharmacy.
Of note, found centrally within the arcade is the Glasshouse restaurant. This luxurious eatery is modelled after an English Victorian glass conservatory. The 110-seater restaurant offers one of the most beautiful spots for casual dining. And with its floor-to-ceiling windows that allow natural light to flood the joint, you’re bound to come out with tons of IG-worthy pics.
Atop the hotel, guests may discover the ultimate spot for some R&R and sunset watching. An infinity pool boasting gorgeous views of the quayside including the Church Street Pier is also found here. And as a tribute to its culture and location, the magnificent pool features Malaysia’s national flower laid out in mosaic tiles.
A Prestigious Locale
As far as location goes, The Prestige Hotel is located in the heart of the food mecca of Malaysia — Penang. More particularly, the hotel is nestled between the banking district of Beach Street and the Weld Quay area.
And this strategic locale makes The Prestige Hotel the ideal accommodation for visitors. The hotel is within walking distance from a ton of major attractions. The Heritage Trail of Penang is one such attraction that you will definitely need to visit while you’re on the island.
Otherwise, the close proximity to Penang’s cultural hotspot and popular gourmet spots like Church Street also makes this hotel the perfect starting point for your next adventure.
Address: 8 Gat Lebuh Gereja, 10300 Georgetown, Penang
