The Eastern & Oriental Hotel — the E&O — has anchored the northern edge of the seafront since 1885, when the four Armenian Sarkies brothers, fresh from Persia, opened it as the most luxurious lodging in British Penang. The colonial wing's long white facade with its rows of arched windows, polished teak interiors and palm-court atriums sets the tone for the whole street.
Inside, the original lobby has been restored to its early-20th-century glamour: marble floors, slow ceiling fans, leather armchairs and a hall lined with photographs of famous guests (Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham, Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Mary Pickford). The 1884 Bar and the Penang Tea Room serve afternoon tea in the manner of the past century — a worthwhile splurge if you want to feel that part of the city's history. The E&O still functions as a five-star hotel; non-guests are welcome to use the bar and restaurant. The seafront terrace is one of the best sunset spots in the centre.