Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live in the olden days?
The Main Entrance, along Cannon Street
Recently, we had a taste of old-world charm in unique ancestral homes which had been lovingly restored and now converted into boutique residences known as the Clans Kongsi in Georgetown, Penang. In what is known as the “Sixteen Houses”, the Khoo Clansmen built these back in the 1860’s to house families coming from their ancestral Sin Gang Village in the Southern Fujian Province of China. These Sixteen Houses are the 16 units of terrace houses flaking the alleyway off Cannon Street. And if you know Penang well, you’d know that this is right smack in the middle of Penang’s World Heritage Site.
Enter here to the Registration Lobby
There is an incredible sense of nostalgic calm emanating from the row of clan houses. The architecture of the houses is aligned to typical Southern Fujian houses back then. These houses are furnished with all modern conveniences and still maintain its Peranakan features. They are definitely a valuable addition to the World Heritage Site within Cannon Square in Georgetown.
Opened in 2018, Clans Kongsi Georgetown features 43 themed guest rooms in clusters with a common living and dining room in the main open courtyard on the ground floor. Within these open spaces there are amenities like coffee machine, water dispenser and fridge with soft drinks available all day long. In all the Clan Houses and Clan Rooms, modern-day facilities are provided: LED TV with cable TV channels, wi-fi and luxury toiletries. Throughout the clans houses there are beautiful unique antique artworks, embroidery and traditionally crafted wooden pieces lending a lovely cultural charm to the place.
Clans Master Room
We were totally enchanted the moment we stepped through the main door. From the registration lobby, we made our way to the first floor to our Clans Master Room. Polished wooden floor, high ceiling and a king-sized bed on a raised platform expand the spacious ambience of the room. The wooden shutters at the long windows brought back pangs of nostalgia – as a kid, I used to live in an old (almost dilapidated) colonial wooden house in Ipoh but of course it wasn’t as luxurious as this.
The Heritage Suite has a unique outdoor bathroom!
Guests staying in Clans Kongsi are privy to these complimentary treats:
- Daily Breakfast (7.00am-10.30am) — with choices of local Penang breakfast specialities of the day. While we were there, we got to enjoy the famous Nasi Lemak from Weld Quay, Kueh Apom, Dim Sum, Roti Canai and Nyonya Kuih.
- Daily Afternoon Tea (3.30pm-5.30pm) with an array of special local snacks
- All-day beverages of coffee/tea and local canned drinks at the Living Rooms, ground floor as well as in the cooler fridge on the 1st Floor Main Corridor.
- A one-time hosted Morning Walk (45-60min.) to Chowrasta Market to experience the lifestyle of the locals. We had a most interesting and fulfilling morning, walking & discovering the nearby local eateries and then some shopping (and more eating!) at Chowrasta Market.
Look out for this “Kueh Kak” stall on the way to Chowrasta Market!
Colourful shop in Chowrasta Market
- Complimentary multiple entry (daily 9am-5pm) to the Khoo Kongsi Clan Temple, gallery and museum located on the property.
See – there’s plenty to do when staying at Clans Kongsi and all around it there are many heritage sites to visit, in Cannon Square.
Try to spot this kitty in the vicinity!
The folks at Clans Kongsi are the friendliest lot – nothing is too much trouble to them. Service and hospitality are topnotch.
Will we go back and stay at Clans Kongsi? You bet we will! We miss the place already and there’s so much to explore in Cannon Square. Start your Cuti-cuti Malaysia right here!
CLANS KONGSI GEORGETOWN
2 Cannon Square
10200 Penang
Tel: +604-262-8212
Website: www.clansgeorgetown.com
Facebook: ClansGeorgetown
Instagram: clanskongsigeorgetown