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G HOTEL PENANG

168-A Gurney Dr.; Penang, Malaysia; 60 4 238 0000; http://www.ghotel.com.my

Room rates

304 rooms, with rates starting at $62; suites from $95 to $170; service apartments from $160 to $275.

Penang, an island off Malaysia's northwestern coast, offers beautiful beaches and a mix of Malaysian, Indian and Chinese cultures, making it a hot destination for tourists.

A stroll through the capital uncovers the country's British colonial past among the colourful Thai, Hindu and Buddhist temples, and the mosques that broadcast the traditional calls to prayer five times a day to the majority Muslim population. Alongside all this history, you'll find the newly opened, five-star G Hotel, dubbed "Penang's most stylish address" and Malaysia's first "hip hotel."

Location Overlooking the ocean on Penang's famed Gurney Drive, G Hotel is centrally located and close to shopping, restaurants and the Gurney Drive food stalls. It's a 15-minute walk to the city centre, through neighbourhoods of pretty historical homes with sidewalk gardens of colourful potted plants.

DESIGN G Hotel puts style front and centre. From the floating floor in the centre of the vast minimalist lobby (careful you don't step off the edge and injure yourself) to the chic Kartell spoon chairs and glowing fluorescent front desk, the impact of this lobby is stunning.

AMBIeNCE After a day in Penang's crowded streets, the G Hotel is an oasis of visual calm. But while it's designed to be cool, the huge lobby can actually feel a bit too cold. It could be the area's raised hardwood floor that almost fills the room, the huge windows or massive lamps, but the scale of the place combined with its open-concept design dwarfs even oversized contemporary furnishings and can make anyone feel a bit small. A crowd might be what this space needs. But when it's quiet, as for a recent visitor, so much space can just seem cavernous.

CLIENTELE G Hotel is the place for the international set. Musicians performing at the World recent Music Festival stayed here, Italians and Africans sharing the lobby's sprawling space, with low-slung sofas and other furnishings inviting lounging and conversation. Business travellers are lured by the hotel's services and amenities.

ROOMS This is where the design shines. The look is pared down and modern, a play of subdued greys and soft browns, punctuated by shots of red. Even standard rooms are large - king-size beds with integrated bedside tables and headboards, and sleek dark wood furnishings, produce a low-profile visual flow. A red metal light fixture adds mood lighting.

Bathrooms have spacious walk-in showers - enclosed by a wall of glass - mosaic tiles and toiletries tucked away in red resin boxes. While the sheer size of the place - 304 rooms, including 29 serviced residences - take it out of the true boutique hotel category, its Italian furnishings and flat screen TVs gives G Hotel all of the amenities found in most boutique hotels. Executive floors offer concierge service, high-speed Internet and sound systems featuring docking stations for iPods.

SERVICE Staff are professional and friendly, but communication in English with some staff members can be sketchy. An outdoor infinity pool and incredibly well-equipped modern gym, said to be the best in the city, are seriously underutilized so staff have lots of time to help guests use the equipment. A full business centre, meeting rooms and cavernous ballroom make this hotel well-equipped for conventions.

FOOD AND DRINK Since the hotel opened in early 2007, food services continue to expand. So far, the hotel offers a bright dining room - G Cafe - serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (buffet breakfasts offer everything from Western-style omelette stations to traditional nasi goring or congee), a fine dining Japanese restaurant called Miraku and a casual yet elegant, Pan Asian restaurant dubbed Sesame + Soy. The casual half, Soy, serves fresh crab rolls with mango chutney, duck and yam spring rolls - while Sesame provides a fine dining fusion eatery.

THINGS TO DO Stroll the seaside promenade along Gurney Drive, explore Chinatown and Little India, and visit the Reclining Buddha Temple on nearby Burma Lane or check out the carved golden spires of the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple across the street. The owners of G Hotel also own the massive Gurney Plaza shopping mall next door. The buildings are connected by walkways and an outdoor patio filled with coffee shops, restaurants and bars.

But the major attraction here is the collection of nearby hawker stalls serving typical Malaysian street food, from sticks of grilled chicken or beef satay to stir-fried noodle dishes such as char kway teow and sweets made with glutinous rice and coconut.

BOTTOM LINE A lovely Zen-like retreat within this busy and eclectic capital. There may be less expensive rooms in Penang, but this kind of cool, modern luxury is a bargain by international standards.

Hotel vitals

Top Draws

A modern, stylish hotel overlooking the sea, it's next to the famed Gurney Drive hawker stalls, serving an astounding array of delicious and inexpensive street food.

Needs Work

The hotel has been open for more than six months, but the spa, some restaurants and a jazz bar are not yet complete. Raised floor in the lobby is a hazard as there are no physical barriers to prevent accidentally walking off the edge.

The author travelled to Malaysia as a guest of Malaysian Tourism.