Cititel Hotel Management (CHM) group has 1,100 hotel rooms in three hotels in George Town City shows that the group knows what a city hotel guest wants.
Built on the grounds of the former Wembley Park amusement center, The Wembley – A St Giles Hotel is a 4-star hotel complex strategically positioned at the intersection of two major thoroughfares in Penang.
It stands proudly on Magazine Road and shares its address with the 3-star Cititel Express, located on Noordin Street.
This prime location places both hotels in the heart of the city’s vibrant activity, offering easy access to local attractions and amenities.
Weekend Staycation at The Wembley
On the invitation of The Wembley – A St Giles Hotel, Penang, Doreen and I recently enjoyed a girls’ weekend getaway, just before Chinese New Year.
We took a break from our busy schedules to sync up for some R&R, which included a few good meals at the hotel and a shopping spree downtown.
We checked in on Friday evening, right when traffic was at its peak. No worries—we both used
Waze on our Androids and arrived in time for an easy, breezy check-in.
The ramp leading up to the hotel’s multi-level parking was convenient, and we even found four ample disabled parking spaces!
The Wembley Penang lies ahead! It’s so central in George Town.
Don’t be concerned about OKU parking. There are 4!
Check-In
The hotel is gorgeously decorated, with large format oil paintings setting the scene at the Front Desk and beautiful chandeliers winking at us.
The Lobby exudes a sparkly, Rockstar vibe.
You’ve heard of in-flight magazines—here’s their in-house magazine.
The Wembley Penang Lobby
You’ve heard of in-flight magazines. Here’s the in-house magazine.
The Chandelier at the Lobby
The Wembley Guest Room
Access to the room level is as simple as waving our room card in the lift.
Our Deluxe Room offers a comfortable 28 square meters of space, complete with a king-size bed.
The 6-foot distance from the bed to the TV adds to the room’s spacious feel.
It’s the thoughtful details in the room that we girls truly appreciate.
Four bottles of mineral water are provided, with one conveniently placed on each bedside table.
The toothbrushes are even color-coded—one clear, the other opaque—so there’s no mix-up.
How cool is that?
The passageway to the guest suites.
The guest suite.
Writing desk.
Night Light
There’s no chance of mixing up the toothbrushes.
Dinner at Wembley Cafe
We had a chance to catch the twilight over the city before heading to a beautiful buffet at the Wembley Café, which was packed and popular with the locals.
I feasted my eyes on everything and, as usual, settled on my favorites.
The porridge, accompanied by braised duck, chicken, egg, and tofu, was perfect with the piquant chili sauce and golden garlic chips.
It reminded me of kueh chiap, but without the flat rice noodles, or “kueh.”
The chef prepared tasty vegetarian noodles for Doreen, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
We shared some desserts to round off the meal.
Sunset over George Town.
The Wembley Cafe
My buffet dinner.
I couldn’t resist the Koay Chiap at the Wembley Cafe.
The chef prepared vegetarian bee hoon for Doreen.
A little sweet indulgence.
Executive Lounge
After dinner, we continued our conversation at the Executive Lounge, sharing three cookies.
We took in the view of the city winding down, watching the late Friday night traffic below.
For our nightcaps, we enjoyed peppermint tea to aid digestion and chamomile tea to relax our muscles and reduce stress—perfect for a good night’s sleep.
The Executive Lounge
Night scene
A little nightcap.
The Wembley Facilities
The next morning, after breakfast and coffee, we set out for a hotel inspection.
We checked out the gym, followed by the stunning infinity pool.
I would have done laps if I’d remembered my swimsuit—saltwater and simply irresistible!
As for the Grand Ballroom, one word: impressive!
The gym
The swimming pool
The Wembley Penang Helipad
Grand Ballroom. One word. Impressive!
What to See Nearby
Aside from malls, Hin Bus Depot hosts exciting exhibitions and a lively Sunday Pop-Up Market.
If you walk through the hotel at ground level, you can visit a local general store to pick up bedak sejuk and Chinese wedding paraphernalia!
What to Eat near The Wembley Penang?
In the mornings, two wet markets are worth exploring.
The Cecil Street Morning Market is a must-visit for its wet market offerings, delicious roast pork stalls, Nyonya Kueh, Chinese Pasembur, and a variety of Penang’s favorite street foods.
For an economical lunch, try the Penang Assam Laksa—it’s a local delight.
In the evenings, head to Presgrave Street for the best 888 Penang Hokkien Mee with Roast Pork, followed by a refreshing bowl of Ice Kacang.
Chowrasta Market is a hive of activity, with street stalls spilling onto the roadside.
Along the way, you’ll find plenty of coffee shops, or kopitiams, most of which are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Closer to The Wembley, experience Penang’s unique style of eating porridge—by squatting.
St. Giles Wembley Penang
Address: 183, Jalan Magazine, 10300 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Phone: 04-259 8000
Google: https://g.co/kgs/QTBiHrh
