NOORDIN MEWS is Penang’s newest private boutique heritage hotel. A welcome and refreshing addition to Penang’s already vibrant tourist attractions.

Set in a walled tropical garden with its own private swimming pool, the main building is a classic 1920s Peranakan shop house in straits eclectic style with its own laneway Mews which was originally for trishaws and hand carts as well as the servants quarters for the wealthy families who lived in Noordin Street in the first decades of the last century. Noordin Mews is just a 10-minute walk to the Street of Harmony which links Penangs most iconic landmarks: the Khoo Khongsi Clan House, the Guan Yin Temple, the English Georgian Church, Penang’s main Mosque and a remarkable kovil. Minutes from Little India and the wharf jetties.

Noordin Street was famous in the 1950s and 60s as the home of the Wembley Cinema; an amusement centre where entertainment as different as bangsawan performances, movies, ronggeng parties, bumper cars, billiard parlours, pinball arcades and dance halls attracted throngs of Penangites. It’s the Wembley which has inspired the design and feel of Noordin Mews; a celebration of popular period Asian cinema, stars and fashion of the period.

The Mews building was discovered in a dilapidated state by award winning hotelier Christopher Ong who has returned home to Penang to open a range of small private heritage hotels which celebrate the unique spirit and heritage of this World Heritage town, complimenting its already uniquely Asian architecture and living traditions, rituals and festivals. Clove Hall was his first creation in Penang and it was chosen by Conde Naste Traveller as the only Malaysian hotel in its 2010 hot list of the best new hotels in the world.

Currently Penang, especially Noordin Street is in revival thanks to the opening of several upmarket shopping centres, the new Cititel and St. Regis hotels within the vicinity. Its also famous for the neighbourhood street food hawkers in New Lane, Kimberly Street, Presgrave Street and its minutes from Penang’s largest wet market.

Sixteen air-conditioned bedrooms have 32 inch flat screen televisions, complimentary Wi-Fi and restored retro fittings and furniture, and each are served by their own private en suite bathroom with Grohe accessories and antique tiles. Spend an adventurous day of eating and discovering Penang’s historical treasures and return to Noordin Mews beautiful lush tropical garden and swimming pool before heading off at night to one of Georgetown’s famous street hawker centres for their renowned Asam Laksa, Hokien Mee and Char Koay Teow.