Hotel Review: Ren i Tang Heritage Inn, Penang

In August this year, I went to Penang on my own under #MyFascinatingPenang2015 blogging programme for 5 days and stayed at 4 different hotels. Two of them are chain hotels, i.e. St. Giles Wembley, Penang and Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang; while the other two are independent hotels, i.e. The Chambers Hotel and Ren i Tang Heritage Inn, Penang.

Below is my review of Ren i Tang Heritage Inn following my overnight stay at the Inn.

1. The Inn

Ren i Tang is a small independent heritage inn that has 17 rooms to offer to its guests. It occupies the first and second floors of 3 shop house lots in the Core Heritage Zone of George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage site. The ground floor of the shop lots is occupied by Bistro Tang, a courtyard, a small museum (The Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall Museum) and a shop that sells items made locally by local artists and talents.

The Inn is housed in a 19th century Early Straits Eclectic Styled Building that has been undergoing a restoration project for more than 2 years. “The name "Ren i Tang" is the phonetic spelling in Mandarin of South East Asia’s oldest Chinese Medical Hall Wholesaler, Yin Oi Tong which is translated as The Hall of Benevolence.” Yin Oi Tong was established in 1796, and was the first business to be officially registered in Penang. The business moved into the building in 1885 and only moved out 124 years later in 2009. As part of its aspiration to retain the history and influence of the original & historic business that used to occupy the building, Ren i Tang has dedicated a section of the building on the ground floor as The Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall Museum.

1a. The Reception

The reception area of the Inn is located at the back of the middle shop lot of the building. Entrance to the reception and Inn however is either via Bistro Tang on Penang Street or through the entrance at the side of the building on Lebuh China.

The reception area is small and is manned by just one person, reflective of the place status as a small independent inn. Check-in process was smooth and I was assigned Room 15, called Air-Well Room, on the second floor of the building.

The staircases to the upper floors are very steep and might not be suitable for some. If you have big luggage, you might have a problem bringing it upstairs to your room. The Inn however has a unique pulley system to bring your luggage to the upper floors and to your room. They also use the pulley system for housekeeping. 

1b. The Room

My room, Room 15, is called Air-Well Room simply because the air well of the shop house sits right in the middle of the room. This makes it pretty unique as it has a separate sitting area, a reading bench area and the bed area apart from the bathroom. Some of the furnishing use old furniture that was left by the previous business (Yin Oi Tong) and this, no doubt, adds to the charm of the room. The design makes the room looks like a kampung house despite the fact that the Inn is located right in the city centre.

At some 34sq meters, the room has plenty of space for luggage and stuff, and comes complete with two bedside tables, a work/dressing table, 2 easy chairs, a bench, and a wardrobe. The room also has a tea/ coffee making facility and an LCD TV. Iron & ironing board are available upon request. On top of air condition, there’s also a ceiling fan in the room.

The mattress and bed are very comfortable. Linens and towels are okay. The towels are embroidered, giving them a touch of luxury. The bathroom (shower only) is not bad either, quite spacious.

Overall, the room is well furnished with a kampung touch yet modern facilities. The room should be good for a leisure stay and maybe for business travellers too to a certain extent.

1c. Breakfast 

The Inn serves breakfast at Bistro Tang on the ground floor. The breakfast spread is simple and include cereals, breads/toasts with butter and jams, fruits and made to order eggs. 

1d. Internet Access

Internet access is available for free via Wi-Fi at the inn. The password is available in the room.

1e. Other Facilities

The Yin Oi Tong Chinese Medical Hall Museum

Ren i Tang only offer rooms and a bistro/bar called Bistro Tang. And as previously mentioned, there’s a small museum on the ground floor that is dedicated to the original business that first occupied the building for 124 years, a Chinese medical hall called Yin Oi Tong. Be sure to ask the reception to have a look around the museum. Despite its small size, the exhibits on display are quite interesting.

2. Where to Eat

Bistro Tang

Apart from Bistro Tang, you’re spoilt for choice as Ren i Tang is located in Chinatown and near Little India area of George Town. The Inn has also listed several nearby eatery places that cover Penang Chinese food, Indian Muslim food, Malay food as well as local snacks like puttu on their website here and here. If you're in Penang for the food, you'd be thankful for these helpful lists.

3. Getting Around

How to get there:

The best way to get to the inn is probably by taxi although if you’re already in George Town city centre, you probably can just walk there. Pengkalan Raja Uda Bus Terminal (and the ferry terminal) is just 5-10 minutes’ walk away.

Interesting places nearby, if any:

The Inn is located in the Core Heritage Zone of George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage site and the area can easily be covered on foot or by bicycle/ trishaw so the location of the Inn is quite an advantage if you’re planning to explore the heritage part of the city. Nearest attractions to the Inn include, among others, China St Art Gallery, Penang Peranakan Museum, and Penang Heritage Trust.

4. Location

5. Further Information

Address:	82-A Lebuh Penang, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Telephone:	+604- 250 8383
Email:	info@renitang.com
Others:	Website | Facebook
Check in 2 p.m. / Check out 12 noon.

Stayed at Ren I Tang Heritage Inn as suggested by @rambleandwander Great hotel with great vibes & great staffs. Definitely will come back!

— Izuan A. H (@izuanhalik) August 20, 2015

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* * *   Check Room Availability & Rates HERE   * * *

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A Thank You & Disclosure Note

I would like to thank the organiser of My Fascinating Penang, My Amazing Malaysia, as well as the management of Ren i Tang Heritage Inn for the arrangement to stay at the inn. The stay was sponsored as part of My Fascinating Penang 2015 programme. The sponsorship however has in no way affected my review of the inn.

Other official sponsors for the programme, among others, include the following: 

Hotels:	St. Giles Wembley, The Chambers Hotel, Evergreen Laurel Hotel
Attractions:	Escape.My, Tropical Spice Garden, The Camera Museum, Made in Penang Interactive Museum
Transportation:	Hop On Hop Off Penang, Easybook.com

For all other blog entries on My Fascinating Penang, click here. For more photos, please check out Ramble and Wander's Facebook page