From US$250+ per night (inclusive of breakfast and afternoon tea)
– Ginger and nutmeg juices blended with ice upon arrival
– Not your best bet if you need silence to sleep; 23LoveLane is in the middle of a living UNESCO city (beware of motorbikes!).
23LoveLane is a lovingly conserved and restored boutique heritage hotel within the UNESCO zone of George Town (unlike many George Town hotels, this was a true conservation: it won the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) gold award, conservation category, in 2013).
Love Lane, as the name implies, has an illicit past that sparks the imagination. 150 years ago, this was a street for the mistresses of upper class men, and, 25 years ago, a red light district.
After three years of painstaking work, 23LoveLane has emerged as several beautiful heritage buildings decorated with antique furniture and a mix of modern and traditional art. There are just 10 rooms at #23, each completely unique, plus two nearby suites: Stewart Suite (perfect for a family) and the three-bedroom Muntri Suites.
My suite, the Grand Bedroom in the main Anglo Indian building, is large and airy (unusual for hotels comprised of old shop houses in this humid city). The four-poster bed is one of the most comfortable I’ve been in on my travels. With windows on three sides, I admire the gardens and the restored Chinese Gate that welcomes visitors into the property, whilst imagining Love Lane’s history.
