We loved so many things about our stay at Coffee Atelier! The highlights were the warm hospitality and genuine care of the staff (thanks, Ruby!), its central location—perfect for walking to many of George Town’s must-see sights—and the peaceful oasis of our suite, especially the bed and outdoor patio, after a long day of exploring. Our ground-floor suite was spacious, with a separate room for our luggage, knick-knacks, and all the inevitable mess that comes with international travel. This layout kept our actual bedroom neat and restful—absolute heaven after a hot and humid day in Penang. The WiFi was reliable, our room was tidied daily, and the mini-bar restocked every day, which was a nice touch. We also enjoyed the included breakfast at Christoph’s (the muesli was great!), but on our last two mornings, we skipped it to explore local breakfast options—we highly recommend the Heritage Transfer Road roti canai! It was generally quiet in our room—we couldn’t hear any noise from the street or nearby establishments, which seems to be a common issue in George Town. On our last night, we did hear some footsteps and creaking from newly arrived guests in the room above us as they settled in late in the evening, but it wasn’t too bad and definitely not a deal breaker. The air-conditioning was excellent, and there were quiet ceiling fans in every space of our suite, making it easy to keep the room cool. Hot water was abundant, and the water pressure was strong. The outdoor toilet and shower might not be to everyone’s taste, but I personally loved it. It just makes sense for hygiene, sanitation, and dealing with the humidity. If you have any mobility or accessibility needs, be sure to book one of the ground-floor suites. Overall, my partner and I had such a pleasant, comfortable stay at Coffee Atelier. We’ll definitely stay here again on our next visit to Penang!

This is our second time staying at Coffee Atelier. The location is great - walking distance to many restaurants and downtown. There are many opportunities nearby to see wonderful street art. The staff are very nice, breakfast is good. The building is quite unique - restored shop houses that maintain the old town quality but with everything you need for a great stay.

Love it there!

Location, staff, the schnitzel and Austrian wine at the owners restaurant! We stayed in a ground floor room with the open but enclosed courtyard and having that idyllic private outdoor space was amazing! The breakfasts were superb, the coffee amazing and the room cleaning incredible given the explosive suitcases we seem to have ! It’s close to Chinatown, little india and amazing street food. Listen carefully to the restaurant tips marked on a map when you arrive!! Visit them all. Particularly the Indian and Chinese recs. Another we can highly recommend is nearby ‘Al Bash’. Try their Syrian dips! Wowee The Blue Mansion is a complete rip off but the other nearby Chinese mansion amazing!

Having to leave!

We had an amazing room on the ground floor. The room was very big and had shower and restroom in the garden only for us. Air conditioning and fan were working properly and great for the town heat. Ruby was super nice, talkative and responsive. She helped us arranging an heritage tour of the town with an English speaking guide, Mr Yeap. The walk was around 4 hours , pretty intensive and interesting. We had breakfast too with eggs and fruits but you could choose having something else. We tried also Christophs restaurant twice and it was a delicious experience. Do not miss the cheap beer place just around the corner. It is called cheap beers on Maps and it is full of local and tourists. Cheap cheap beer starting from 6RM

The hotel is as advertised in booking. We stayed in the ground floor suites. Our room had a living area with wardrobe, table with drawer , bedroom with queen bed [i think] and a smart TV and courtyard with bathroom ,plants and toilet. The courtyard has mini fridge, dining table , kettle, coffee / tea mix. There are lot of antique items in room. The rooms were clean and was cleaned everyday. Our room has a foyer area which is shared with room on the upper floor. The foyer has a water dispenser and umbrellas. The place is also in good location - walkable to love lane, Armenian street [street art],khooo khonsi, Little India and the chew jetty. Grab delivers food and other items. The real highlight of the place is Ruby and her sister. They were real stars of the place and always there to help.Ruby even got my daughter a gift for her birthday.

1) The breakfast. The breakfast is provided at Christophe which is just next door. Its basic food with mueselli/ cornflakes , bread / jam , omlette ,sausage. Its the same items everyday and we missed the local food. 2) Reception closes at 6 pm.

Something different. The "hotel" is actually a run of 4 Chinese "shop houses" with a small breakfast room/restaurant in a fifth house. The houses have been updated but changes are limited by the old town's UNESCO listing. Each house has a large entrance hall, the original shop, with very good quality furnishings. There is a ground floor and a first floor apartment in each house. The ground floor apartments have a first room with a desk and wardrobe (Chinese again), then a second room with a large bed (we had a four-poster). The fridge/tea/coffee area and the wash-basin, the loo and the shower are all in a back courtyard, which is mostly covered. This would normally be a no-no and a very low rating. But this is all part of the experience of living in a historic place and is great, even in a monsoon downpour, which we had briefly one evening. Ruby, who manages the place, is simply wonderful: she was very helpful, always available, gave us advice on visits and generally brought the place even more alive. The breakfast was very good, as were the staff who served them.

No negatives, just a special experience, which might not appeal to everyone.

I had an amazing stay at Coffee Atelier in George Town’s UNESCO heart. This boutique gem, set in beautifully restored 20th-century shophouses, blends old-world charm with modern comfort. My suite was spacious, filled with antique charm, and had all the essentials, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and a cozy vibe. The location is perfect, just steps from Chulia Street, Blue Mansion, and Armenian Street, making it so easy to explore Penang’s vibrant street art and food scene, yet it’s surprisingly peaceful. The staff who took care of us were incredibly warm and helpful, sharing great local tips. Highly recommend for a memorable Penang stay!

I would add a chair in the main room.

**A charming apartment in a vibrant neighborhood, offering an immersive cultural experience.** The location is excellent, making it an ideal choice for those looking to soak in the local culture. The apartment itself is cozy, and the host is welcoming and friendly. However, this is not a five-star luxury stay, so guests should set their expectations accordingly. One important consideration—if you’re assigned a first-floor room, be prepared to carry your luggage up narrow wooden stairs. While this adds to the property’s character, it may be challenging for those with heavy bags or mobility concerns. Overall, a great option for travelers seeking an authentic local experience.

We had a great time at Coffee Atelier. Ruby is super friendly and always happy to share tips and help with anything — it really made us feel welcome! The place itself is beautiful, spacious, and in a great location. We really enjoyed our stay overall.

Breakfast is served at the restaurant just downstairs. It’s a calm and quiet setting, which we liked, but after three nights it started to feel a bit repetitive and limited in variety. That said, I do appreciate that it’s not a buffet — much less food waste — though it would be great to have a few more options to choose from.

Quaint old building, nicely updated. The AC was not up to par the first day and when we mentioned it, the manager got someone right in to service it. Friendly helpful staff. We very much enjoyed our stay!

This is a 'Michelin' star restaurant but each day was the same Western breakfast (eggs, sausage or bacon, fruit, yogurt, granola, coffee and juice). While tasty, it would have been nice to have more choices (or the option to not have breakfast included, we could have found our own each day) . Someone looking for a higher dining experience or an ultra modern hotel in general might not find this to their liking.