It is the heritage building that helped put George Town in Penang on the map.
It’s eclectic. It’s colorful. It’s a home filled with such an illustrious history. It is one of the best places to learn about George Town’s heritage and history.
It’s the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also famously known as the Blue Mansion. And you can actually stay here and immerse yourself into Penang’s heritage history.
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Staying at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
We arrived in the early afternoon to a cheerful Shiro at the front desk who was ready to check us in. The process was seamless and quick, with a check and copy of the passport and some signing, but otherwise we were all good to go.
She offered us a cool towel and fresh nutmeg juice – a delicacy of the Penang region. Interestingly the nutmeg juice tasted like flat coca cola, which while on a food tour of Penang, I found out that nutmeg is actually a key ingredient in coca cola.
As soon as the check in was complete, Shiro walked us to our room, where she then introduced the room and its facilities.
The Blue Mansion is a boutique hotel. The original mansion was made up of 38 rooms, and so no new rooms were added during the restoration process. Today there are 18 boutique rooms available to stay in for hotel guests. Every room has been restored and decorated in a style that would have fit with Cheong Fatt Tze’s style. Talk about immersing yourself in history!
A Brief History of the Blue Mansion
The Blue Mansion was originally the home of Cheong Fatt Tze, known as the last Mandarin and a great Capitalist who originally came from China. Built in 1890, the home became Cheong Fatt Tze’s main business headquarters. Essentially during Cheong Fatt Tze’s era, the Blue Mansion was the pivotal heart of the city.
It wasn’t until 1989 when the Blue Mansion came up for auction, after the youngest son of Cheong Fatt Tze passed. Unfortunately, the mansion fell into disrepair after Cheong Fatt Tze’s death, and so upon its auction in 1989, the Blue Mansion was a mess. Thankfully Mr Lawrence Loh became the new owner, and so started his tireless work to restore the Blue Mansion back to its old glory.
You see, back in the 1980’s, many of the heritage houses of George Town were being demolished to make way for modern high rises and commercial buildings. But Mr Lawrence Loh had a very different idea for the Blue Mansion.
What makes the Blue Mansion ever so special today is that the restoration team was so pedantic in ensuring that the Blue Mansion was restored in such a way that you would be seeing it the way Cheong Fatt Tze would have seen the mansion the many years ago.
While it took 7 years to build the mansion in the late-1800’s, it took almost as long to restore the Blue Mansion. The restoration team were so very meticulous in ensuring no detail was missing. They even brought workings all the way from China because many of the skills needed to restore the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion hadn’t existed anymore in the region.
With very little support from the local government at the time, the restoration of the Blue Mansion was the very first of its kind in George Town Penang. And it was this very project that put George Town on the map where it gained the attention of UNESCO. This opened the eyes of the local government to the potential that George Town would have on a global scale should it work to restore more of its buildings.
Today George Town has gained international status as a UNESCO World Heritage City, with the Blue Mansion winning the prestigious UNESCO Conservation & Heritage award in 2000…the first of its kind in Malaysia. And it all started with the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.
The Room: Scholar
We stayed in the Scholar room, which was on the ground floor and part of the Liang Collection. Every room has been specially named, paying tribute to Cheong Fatt Tze’s very colorful life.
Why Scholar you might be wondering? Well Cheong Fatt Tze was committed to the pursuit of knowledge. It was his enthusiasm and passion for continuous learning and improvement of skills that added to his extremely successful life, making him one of the most powerful and influential Mandarins outside of China in the 19th century.
The Scholar room is beautifully and tastefully decorated using antiques and artworks that came from the collection of Cheong Fatt Tze’s family – which means you’ll be sure to experience the aura of 19th century George Town, whilst still having access to modern comforts – a perfect combo.
There are no spare keys for each room, because all the keys are the original. So, when you leave to explore the many things to do in Georgetown Penang, it is best to leave the key with the front reception.
The room is spacious. A very large king-sized bed (which is oh-so comfortable) sits in the heart of the room. And while the room is exquisitely decorated with antique, the room also comes with modern features including air condition, a flat screen TV, room safe, mini fridge, coffee and tea making facilities, hair dryer…you name it. All items in the mini bar is included in the room rate and is there for you to enjoy at no additional fee. We even have a speaker set, where you can plug in your iPhone and play music while your phone is charging.
The bathroom has been modernized, while still keeping with the overall theme of the mansion. The shower has a great shower, and there was plenty of amenities….so don’t worry if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush!
Hotel Facilities: Restaurants
There are two restaurants at the Blue Mansion. The restaurant in the central courtyard is where hotel guests enjoy their breakfast. It’s a lovely part of the mansion, because it’s filled with natural sunlight…and it is even said to have the best chi point and is actually 1-2 degrees Celsius cooler than other parts of the mansion.
Room rates include daily breakfast, which consists of a small buffet and a menu selection of main breakfast meals. I try the chicken curry with rice, which came in a good-sized portion and is delicious. And ohhh my favorite – the house made jams. In fact, we love the jams so much that we actually end up buying 4 bottles to bring home! A must try is their Coconut & Caramel Jam.
Then there is the Indigo Restaurant, which is the star of the Blue Mansion.
It’s located on the first floor of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, which is actually the original location of Cheong Fatt Tze’s master bedroom.
Headed by Executive Chef, Beh Weng Chia, the menu in the Indigo Restaurant in George Town Penang is a beautiful fusion between east and west, which perfectly reflects the man that Cheong Fatt Tze was. Combining classic French and Japanese techniques with a finesse and respect for Penang and Malaysian cuisine, the result is a menu filled with skill and creativity.
At lunch you can enjoy three-course lunch, which is priced at RM65 (A$22 | U$17) per person, quite reasonable considering the quality of the food. The menu is seasonal, so you can expect only the freshest of ingredients. I recommend making a booking though, because it is quite a popular restaurant. And good news for all hotel guests – you can enjoy a 10% discount on all food and beverage purchases at the Blue Mansion.
Hotel Facilities: Swimming Pool
So, there is one thing to take note about Penang – it is hot. And after a day of touring the town – walking here, cycling there – jumping into the cool swimming pool at the Blue Mansion is the perfect way to end the day.
It’s a great sized pool considering there are only 18 rooms available, and it is located to the right of the Mansion as you enter into the courtyard from the lobby.
So on your next trip to Penang, don’t forget to bring your swimsuit!
The Verdict
What an amazing way to embrace the history of George Town. The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has such a great aura, and I really appreciate the meticulous detailing that had been put into restoring this beautiful piece of history.
A truly special place to stay while you’re visiting George Town Penang. Rates start at RM620 per night for 2 adults (A$210 | U$160). It is best to book in advanced to secure your room as they only have 18 rooms available.
And fear not, if you are unable to stay here, you can still visit this beautiful building and learn all about its history. Daily tours of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion are available also, where you can learn more about the history of George Town, about Cheong Fatt Tze, and the meticulous restoration project which put George Town on the map.
No compensation was received for this review, however we were guests of the Blue Mansion in Georgetown Penang. All opinions remains my own and I only promote products/services that I love.
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I'm Soraya, travel & food blogger and sunshine chaser at Hello Raya. You know that travel bug? I have been well and truly nipped, infinite times.This is my online nook to share my lifelong experiences of travel & food in hopes to inspire you to explore our beautiful world. 26 Comments on Paint the Town Blue at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion – the Blue Mansion in Georgetown Penang
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This post is so timely for me. I am headed to Penang in June and have been looking at places to stay! This hotel looks wonderful – filled with so much history! Do you have a post about other things you did in Penang?
It really is wonderful, and I totally think you should try to stay here if you can when you visit Penang :-). And for more ideas on things to do in Penang, you can read my post: https://helloraya.com/2016/10/01/things-to-do-georgetown-penang-malaysia/
This is one of the wonderful things about travel – to find hidden gems with rich history. I’m glad someone came along to restore this building. It’s beautiful If I ever visit Penang, I would definitely want to stay there. Stunning accommodations!
The Blue Mansion really is quite a gem in George Town, and a must-visit while in Penang.
I haven’t been to Penang yet but this looks like a good place to stay when in Penang… Although the whole hotel is actually a mansion I loved the way they have incorporated a modern swimming pool. It surely just have been a great time staying at the mansion and enjoying that pool
I love the whole ambiance and interior of this Blue Mansion (at first when I read your post, I thought you are pertaining to the Blue Mansion of Korea (the president’s official residence).
It look gorgeous with personal appeal, and traditional. I want to visit this place soon!
This is a gorgeous hotel. I really love places with history and I’m glad to hear they were very meticulous with the restoration. I’m very intrigued about the nutmeg juice and the coconut and caramel jams! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Wow, I had no idea about nutmeg being a key ingredient in coca-cola! Thanks for enlightening me on that little piece of information!
I absolutely love the vibrancy of this hotel and am so glad that someone was able to restore it to its glory. It sounds like the rooms are a wonderful mix of history with all the amenities required by the modern traveller. I love the fact that the keys are all original! That’s pretty neat. I must admit, I’d be spending a good amount of time by that swimming pool though. That looks like a heavenly escape from the heat.
How sad I had been to Penang and missed visiting this! The color ambiance and interiors all so grand! I am glad they have maintained this heritage property so well. The pool and restaurant facilities too look good.
What a beautiful mansion, and very blue too! I like staying in these different types of accommodation, and if they have a great history too, it’s even better. I’ve yet to visit Georgetown, but see so many photos it makes me want to visit! Beautiful photos as always.
That bright blue color is gorgeous! And I love those detailed doors of The Scholar Room. The rates sound pretty reasonable, especially for being at a historic place. We haven’t been to Penang yet, but hope to soon!
I am all about finding colorful places when I travel, so this mansion is definitely going on my bucket list! I loved hearing the story behind this hotel, boutique hotels are always my favorite and seem to have the most unique histories. I’m dying to take a photo at that adorable spiral staircase 🙂
It’s been on my bucket list for a long time, and was so excited to be able to check this off.
I would definitely want to stay here when I go to George Town. It’s great that Mr. Loh was so meticulous about restoring it. The blue color is spectacular. The food sounds delicious too-especially the jam!
Such a special place to stay – you should definitely consider it on your next trip to George Town.
This looks like such an amazing place to stay! I can totally see why it won the conservation & heritage award.
Are all the rooms as gorgeous as the scholar?! If I stayed there I don’t think I’d see much of George Town! I’d be busy hibernating in the bed.
Oh yes! Every room has been tastefully decorated, many using antiques from the private collection of the Cheong Fatt Tze family.
This blue mansion in Georgetown looks beautiful and a perfect place to stay. I love the blue walls with red lamps. The color combination in each and every corner of this mansion is tastefully done. This mansion’s interior is a perfect blend of traditional, cultural and modern living. Good to know that George Town has got UNESCO status.
I wish I could take the red lamps and blue paint home with me!
I love staying at historical buildings whenever I can afford them. I find that staying at them provides a sense of belonging to a place which you can’t otherwise find. Cheong Fatt Tze mansion sounds like an absolute gem, and your photographs certify it to be true. I also like the fact that material comforts are not compromised, the pool for instance, would be a welcome distraction.
Totally! The sense of belonging whilst in Penang is what you definitely experience staying here.
The blue mansion is grand and unique. I love the decor, the fact that it shows history and culture of penang and not to forget the best part about it – that it is blue
Love, love, love that vibrant cool color!! This whole space looks so modern and fresh, it’s hard to believe that it has been restored to look as it did more than a century ago! I love the idea of turning homes like this into hotels instead of museums in some cases–it’s such an intimate and interesting experience. Definitely wouldn’t mind a dip in that pool, either!
Georgetown in Penang s such a cool place to explore. While I had been to Penang and loved it, I had not even heard about the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. I love the blue colour theme. It’s so soothing & I would totally love to spend a few times here exploring Penang’s heritage.
I so wish I would’ve known about this place before I went to Penang last year! The blue initially reminded me a lot of Chefchouen in Morocco, but the more I read on the more I realized how different of a vibe it is. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at a hotel with a complimentary mini bar before, and the restaurants look delicious! A 3 course lunch for $17? That’s nuts – I’d eat there every day!
Such a beautiful hotel – those blue colors look wonderful! I love places with history and the restaurants look lovely. The Blue Mansion definitely goes to my travel bucket list!