The pool at sunset (All photos: M Social Resort)
Conjuring up images of precious gems in beautiful, far-off lands, Penang’s most iconic moniker — the Pearl of the Orient — references the state’s history as a thriving port and trade city, its picturesque natural landscapes and diverse community.
With so much to offer, this melting pot up north has long been a favourite destination for Malaysian and foreign travellers alike. As a result, it is a prized location for many international hospitality titans, with just under 3,000 hotels and resorts across the state.
Over the past few months, several new properties have opened their doors to the public. One newcomer — M Social Resort Penang — decided to put down roots in peaceful Tanjung Bungah, breathing life into an old beachfront building that once housed the Copthorne Penang. Not quite like its classic glitzy counterparts further up along the white sand shores of Batu Feringghi or the ultra-modern options typical of George Town, this Millennium Hotels and Resorts-owned establishment has a fresh take on the tropical getaway spot with its unique design, strong local influences and personalised guest experiences.
Thoughtful details
Offering 318 rooms in seven tiers across two wings, M Social Penang prides itself on offering spaces that attend to all kinds of travellers and groups. The larger Sunset Bay Wing houses the Social Cosy Rooms, perfect for solo or couples, as well as the Social Junior, Executive and Grand Suites for those looking for an extra dash of luxury. Meanwhile, the Azure Wing (which provides direct access to the beach) comprises the Stylish Terrace Rooms, Family Rooms and Junior Terrace Suites. A little more secluded, this annex is best suited for families with young children or honeymooners in need of privacy.
How the property sets itself apart is via its digital experiences. The first feature is Decentraland, an immersive metaverse that is accessed through the hotel’s website to obtain rewards and loyalty perks. “Guests coming in will be able to have a digital experience where they can play games and win real prizes,” says Carolyn Wishnowski, its vice president of global branding, marketing and loyalty. “No other hotel in Penang has this, and even in wider Malaysia, only one or two other places do. So, we are truly one of the first.”
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Additionally, all rooms come equipped with Aiello, an AI voice assistant system that does everything from calling the front desk to setting the morning alarm. More impressively, the network tracks popular guests’ requests over a period of time, allowing the hotel staff to anticipate what certain individuals and groups require ahead of time, creating a more bespoke stay. “For example, most of the time, we get calls to ask for more bath towels or slippers. Most hotels will leave maybe two to four in a room, which may not be enough for a family staying for several days. With the data collected from Aiello, we know that a family of four needs maybe eight towels instead,” she says.
M Social Penang’s sustainability initiatives are another element that make it a top choice for the discerning tourist. Energy-efficient LED lights are installed in all spaces and the amount of water distributed to rooms is monitored and reduced where possible without compromising on shower pressure. Instead of plastic water bottles and straws, there are refillable glass carafes in-room and biodegradable rice straws are used at the F&B outlets. To reduce food waste, the scale of the buffets are prepared according to the occupancy of the hotel and, according to Wishnowski, things are only just getting started. “At the M Social Singapore, you have staff who offer you takeaway containers so that you can pack up food to go, and this is something we want to introduce across all our properties at some point.”
Most importantly, the hotel’s Peranakan theme, woven throughout its décor, is a love letter to Penang’s heritage. The backsplash above all beds features the elaborate floral motifs of Nyonya tiles while the pillow covers echo traditional textiles. On the walls of the lobby, a vivid mural paints a picture of pride and appreciation for the island’s architecture, people and culture, blending the brand’s bold and modern DNA with the state’s colourful legacy.
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Fare game
Beyond being a cultural haven, Penang boasts a spectacular and world-renowned culinary scene, attracting foodies from far and wide for its signature dishes like char koay teow, laksa and rojak. With countless famous hawker centres, restaurants and watering holes dotted around the city, M Social’s biggest challenge was figuring out how to match up.
“Penang is so known for its food that at the beginning, we were concerned about how we were going to compete. We decided to just keep it real and give people what they really want to taste,” says Wishnowski.
At the property’s signature restaurant Beast & Butterflies, diners enjoy a spread of local cuisines with a special focus on traditional Peranakan flavours, as well as a selection of contemporary and Western options. During peak meal hours and special occasions, it is common to have made-to-order stations where chefs prepare piping bowls of noodles, oyster omelettes (oh chien) and cendol, evoking the tastes and bustling atmosphere of George Town’s iconic food courts.
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Wishnowski notes: “People walk in and think, ‘Okay, let’s just try the char koay teow, but we don’t know if this is going to be it. Do we still need to go out to the key hawker centres, to Gurney?’. After the launch, we had people coming up to tell us it’s amazing food we have here — real food, from the kuih to the briyani.”
She emphasises that M Social’s authentic menu starts with employing Penangite chefs and staff. “They are all locals. At a lot of hotels, you’ll notice that the executive chefs are usually expatriates. I’m proud to say that for Millennium and at most of our hotels, we stick to the locals’ experiences and people, because only they will actually know what the traditional food should be like.”
During the day, guests are welcome to grab a shot of caffeine or indulge in high tea at The Social Hub lounge, an open concept space on the ground floor with skylights and large windows looking out to a blooming trellis of fuchsia bougainvillea while filtering in warm sunlight. Nothing quite beats the actual outdoors, though, which is best appreciated by the pool, where you can soak up your fair share of Vitamin D while sprawled out on a float or lounge chair and grab a cocktail (or mocktail, if that is what you desire) at the Breezy Bites bar. Tip: Stroll out to the edge of the deck at golden hour and you will be rewarded with views of cotton candy skies and the undulating Andaman Sea as it washes into the sandy bay below.
Mind, body + soul
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Vacations are meant to soothe and rejuvenate. While booking accommodation, more jetsetters are on the lookout for all-inclusive resorts that facilitate the unwinding and disconnecting from the stress of reality, be it through a comprehensive spa package, wholesome gastronomic offerings or engaging activities that leave little desire to step outside hotel grounds.
A core aspect of M Social branches around the world are location-specific activations that provide patrons with a taste of what each destination has to offer (“In Singapore, it’s a Bearbrick-crafting workshop and in Paris, we have perfume and soap making!” Wishnowski points out). The Penang one uses this as an opportunity to highlight homegrown entrepreneurs, curating aromatherapy workshops, mixology classes and yoga sessions, just to name a few. The majority of these projects focus on calming the senses, enabling guests to tap into holiday mode and slow down. “By touching on wellness, we connect to a specific, new generation of travellers who prioritises mind and body healing. One example you see is with Gen Z — they love having fun, but increasingly tend not to be big drinkers or partiers, hence our range of non-alcoholic options at Breezy Bites. These are the kinds of details we’re looking to incorporate.”
All these connect to the brand’s ethos — Live In The Moment — and its commitment to public service, ensuring a stay at the M Social Penang is not just a plain bed and breakfast experience, but entertaining, enlightening and exciting. “In every hotel, you need to do things that keep it alive,” says Wishnowski. “You want to be in the news and you can’t just send out a press release for special occasions and hope that will do it. We partner with local labels, brands we can support, ones we believe will elevate us. We pour into the community and they return that to us as well.”
Ultimately, what the team at M Social Penang strives to give guests is tranquility and recreation, to leave the hotel recharged and ready to take on the world again. “When you check into an M Social, you should just do as our motto says. Walk through the hotel, go down to the pool, have a drink, stroll to the restaurant and enjoy the food. In all our reviews, the pools, the food and the sleep have been the top three highest rated things. Everyone here should take advantage of that, and truly rest, relax and unwind.”
This article first appeared on July 21, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
