Evergreen Laurel Hotel Penang is a seafront property at Gurney Drive (Persiaran Gurney). Rated 5 stars, the business hotel is managed under Evergreen International Hotels, which also owns more properties throughout Asia Pacific and in France. In turn, the hotel chain operates under the umbrella of Evergreen Group, a Taiwanese conglomerate with businesses in logistics, aviation and hospitality sectors.
Evergreen Laurel Hotel Penang is one of the longest operating hotels at Gurney Drive. The luxury hotel has a grand lobby with a mezzanine. Polished marble floor glitters under the glare of chandeliers that hang from the ceiling.
Evergreen Laurel Hotel has a total of 368 guestrooms. The rooms are divided into several categories: Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Executive Suite, Deluxe Executive Suite and Evergreen Laurel Suite. The last two categories are usually reserved for special occasions only. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are separated by floors.
I am staying in the Superior Room for this 2-day review. Superior Room and Deluxe Room are of the same size (32 square meters each). The key difference is the view: city view and sea view respectively. Each room has a king-size bed or twin beds.
The ensuite bathroom has a bathtub and a shower. Electric hair dryer and basic toiletries are provided. As for entertainment, there is a flat-panel television with premium channels. Other room amenities include Wi-Fi, electronic safe, clothes iron and water boiler. Drinks in the minibar are replenished daily.
Executive Suite and Deluxe Executive Suite are suitable for business travelers who prefer a separate living room. As guests of these rooms often receive visitors, the living area has a pantry and a powder room.
Evergreen Laurel Suite covers 4 times the floor space of a Superior Room. There is only one unit in the entire hotel. The Evergreen Laurel Suite is rarely open to the public; it is meant for dignitaries and special guests only.
Evergreen Health Club is located at Level 2. The club operates from 6:00am to 10:30pm daily. Besides serving in-house guests, the Health Club also offers monthly and annual memberships. Fun fact: Evergreen Laurel Hotel is the only hotel in George Town to have tennis courts.
The Health Club has an outdoor swimming pool on the same floor. Around its perimeter are sunloungers for guests who enjoy sunbathing. In addition, a wading pool allows small children to enjoy a splash.
As for guests who prefer to keep their feet dry, the gym is equipped with treadmills, stationary bicycles and weight machines. Several pieces are placed outdoors so that guests can enjoy fresh air while exercising.
After working out, pamper yourself with a nice jacuzzi bath. Hot and cold baths are available. Evergreen Health Club also provides sauna and steambath facilities. These amenities are separated by gender. Meanwhile, spa massages can be arranged be arranged by appointment.
Last but not least, in-house guests and club members can take advantage of complimentary babysitting services at the Laurel Kids Club. There are interactive toys and a ball pit to keep the young ones entertained. Laurel Kids Club operates from 7:00am to 10:00pm.
Café Laurel is Evergreen Laurel Hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. The eatery operates from 6:00am to 10:00pm daily. The à la carte food menu covers a range of local and international dishes.
In addition, Café Laurel serves buffet high tea and dinner on certain days of the week. Upon request, the restaurant can also serve private buffet for a minimum of 25 people.
Hotel rooms usually include buffet breakfast for two. Breakfast is served at Café Laurel from 6:00am to 10:30am. There are several à la minute stations such as the egg station. I ordered an omelette as usual.
Other popular breakfast items include pancakes, French toast, sausages, baked beans, cold cuts, cheese and salad. Local dishes are fried rice, fried noodle, nasi lemak, dim sum and roti canai.
Rice porridge is popular among Chinese guests. The congee comes with condiments like braised peanuts, pickled mustard and fish with douchi.
Several types of breakfast cereal are provided every morning. Guests have the choice of having fresh milk or low-fat milk.
As for sliced bread, white and wholemeal bread are available. A conveyor toaster is handy for guests who prefer their bread to be browned. Bread spreads are butter, jam, honey and maple syrup just to name a few.
Other items at the pastry section include Danish pastries, muffins, croissants and bread rolls. I particularly like the buttery taste of croissants.
Good news for guests who need a shot of caffeine to start the day! Café Laurel has state-of-the-art coffee machines that dispense espresso-based drinks with the push of a button. For non-coffee drinkers, tea and fruit juice are provided too.
Guests who prefer to dine in the comfort of their own rooms can take advantage of the hotel’s 24-hour room service. To facilitate guests to buy local pastries during their stay, Evergreen Laurel Hotel has collaborated with Ban Heang to have fresh cookies delivered to the hotel. Simply scan the QR code to get started.
The Lobby Lounge affords a relaxing spot for customers to wind down and enjoy a round of drinks. The nightclub opens from 4:00pm to 12:00am daily. Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, liquor and cocktails are served.
Patrons can enjoy live music at the Lobby Lounge from 8:00pm to midnight. A 2-piece band lightens the atmosphere with lively disco music. Smoking is permitted in the Lobby Lounge.
Evergreen Laurel Hotel has several ballrooms and function rooms to host events of any size. The Laurel Ballroom can accommodate 550 people in a banquet setting. The hotel offers several wedding packages to tailor the needs of each guest.
The function rooms at the Lobby Level are ideal for seminars up to 40 people. The Business Centre nearby provides printing services.
Strategically located at Gurney Drive, Evergreen Laurel Hotel enjoys easy access to most parts of the city. The hotel has a travel desk to assist guests who need to make travel arrangements. And if you wish to experience the idyllic seafront along Gurney Drive, bicycles can be rented right in front of the hotel. Gurney Plaza is just a 10-minute ride away. The first 30 minutes is free anyway.
Compared to hotels nearby, Evergreen Laurel Hotel has the advantage of having the most comprehensive amenities including tennis courts and jacuzzi. Hotel rooms can be booked via the hotel’s website. It is usually cheaper to book directly through the hotel than from third-party websites.
Name: Evergreen Laurel Hotel Penang
Address: 53, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-222-9988
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: https://www.evergreenlaurelhotelpenang.com
Coordinates: 5.43110 N, 100.31791 E
Directions: Evergreen Laurel Hotel Penang is located at the eastern end of Gurney Drive (Persiaran Gurney). Evergreen Laurel Hotel has multi-storey parking, which is accessible from Gurney Drive and Kelawai Road (Jalan Kelawai).