Special thanks to Cititel Penang for extending this hotel review invitation.
Cititel Penang is a business hotel at Penang Road (Jalan Penang). The 4-star property is strategically located near major tourist attractions like KOMTAR and Fort Cornwallis. Cititel Penang is the sister property of The Wembley and Cititel Express, both of which are situated less than a kilometer away.
Cititel Penang has been operating for more than 2 decades. Like many hotels of its era, Cititel Penang has a massive lobby. A chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, illuminating the marble floor with golden light. While waiting to be checked in, guests can help themselves to complimentary drinks. Snacks can also be purchased from Citi Deli at the lobby.
Cititel Penang has 451 guestrooms in total. There are 4 room categories: Standard Room, Superior Room, Deluxe Room and Executive Suite. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are separated by floors. For business travelers, the Executive Suite is the premier choice of accommodation as it provides twice the living space of a Standard Room.
My room, the Deluxe Room, has a king-size bed and an ensuite bathroom. It is equipped with a 32-inch flat panel television with satellite channels. Other room amenities include air conditioning, ceiling fan, electronic safe, electric hair dryer, clothes iron and minibar. Perched on one of the highest floors, my room affords scenic views of the surrounding area.
Cititel Penang has an indoor swimming pool at Level 3. A lightwell right above the pool allows sunlight to pass through. The swimming pool is integrated with jacuzzi bubble bath. Pool towels and changing rooms are conveniently nearby.
Next to the pool is a modest sized fitness center. There are several pieces of exercise equipment here. Drinking water is provided for the convenience of gym-goers. Like the swimming pool, the gym is open from 6:00am to 9:00pm daily.
As for guests who prefer an easier way to perspire, the hotel has sauna and steambath facilities too. Not many hotels afford such amenities.
Switching gears to events, Cititel Penang has six function rooms at Level 3, four of which can be combined as Perdana Ballroom. The Perdana Ballroom can accommodate 500 people in a banquet-style setting.
A large foyer outside Perdana Ballroom facilitates guest registration, coffee breaks and cocktail receptions. There is a banquet kitchen that provides halal catering. Cititel Penang has several wedding dinner packages to tailor the needs of every guest.
Speaking of food, Main Street Cafe is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. Open around the clock, the halal-certified restaurant serves a host of local delights and Western dishes. Besides à la carte dishes, Main Street Cafe also serves buffet lunch and dinner on certain days of the week. Meanwhile, in-house guests can take advantage of the 24-hour in-room dining service.
Next to the drinks counter are several Internet kiosks for guests to browse the web. Printing services are available too. As for guests who have mobile devices, the hotel provides complimentary Wi-Fi in guestrooms and all common areas.
Hotel rooms usually include breakfast for two at the Main Street Cafe. Buffet breakfast is served between 6:30am and 10:30am. To avoid the crowd, it is advisable to arrive before 8:00am.
Familiar breakfast items are chicken sausages, grilled tomatoes, turkey slices, baked beans, hash browns and fried noodles just to name a few.
Nasi lemak is considered the national dish of Malaysia. Popular dishes that go with nasi lemak are chicken rendang, sambal tumis (chili paste), anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and hard-boiled eggs.
As for Chinese dishes, dim sum and baozi are kept warm in steamer baskets. Meanwhile, rice porridge comes with many condiments.
Roti canai is served at the action counter. The Indian-influenced flatbread goes well with chicken curry and vegetable dhal.
Char koay teow and white curry mee represent Penang’s renowned hawker scene. Guests can also request for omelettes and other egg dishes from the egg station.
Since Cititel Penang welcomes a substantial number guests from Japan, it is sensible to serve Japanese dishes for breakfast too. For instance, miso soup, tempura, chawanmushi, cold soba and assorted sushi are prepared today.
As for vegetarian guests, the breakfast menu includes a couple of vegetarian dishes. Shown here are roasted sweet potatoes and fried vegetarian udon.
Pastry section has several types of croissants and Danishes pastries. Sliced bread, bread loaves and bread rolls are available too. Bread spreads include fruit marmalade, maple syrup, peanut butter and kaya (coconut jam). A conveyor toaster is provided.
Fresh fruits are papaya, honeydew, banana and watermelon. To delight one’s palate, there are also cold cuts, a cheese platter and a salad bar. Health-conscious guests will be glad to see muesli, oatmeal, breakfast cereals and yogurt too.
Lastly for drinks, chilled fruit juices like orange, guava and apple are served in dispensers. For guests who need a boost of caffeine, espresso-based coffee is available with the push of a button.
Speaking of drinks, Citi Lounge at the Mezzanine Level is open from 2:00pm to 12:00am daily. The pub has a relaxing atmosphere for guests who wish to wind down after a long day.
Zhonghua Gourmet (中华海鲜鱼翅) and Kirishima Japanese Restaurant (霧島) are tenant restaurants in Cititel Penang. Zhonghua Gourmet is renowned for its dim sum, Cantonese cuisine and seafood. Both restaurants have been operating for nearly as long as the hotel itself. The shopping alley at the Lobby Level has tailor, florist, gift and convenience stores too.
For guests who wish to explore George Town on public transportation, take advantage of the free Central Area Transit (CAT) bus service that ply the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nearest bus stop is within a stone’s throw from the hotel. As for private tours, kindly approach the travel desk at the hotel entrance.
Despite being designed as a business hotel, Cititel Penang is a great choice of accommodation for holidaymakers who appreciate its close proximity to numerous cultural attractions. Would-be guests are encouraged to book through the hotel’s website to take advantage of the best room rates.
Name: Cititel Penang
Address: 66, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-291-1188
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: https://www.cititelpenang.com
Coordinates: 5.42117 N, 100.33299 E
Directions: Cititel Penang is a 16-floor building at Penang Road (Jalan Penang). To park, drive past the lobby and up the ramp to Level 2. Parking is charged at RM6.00 per entry, but will be refunded upon check-out.
