E&O Gallery

George Town


Originally built in 1884, the E&O was the archetypal 19th-century colonial grand hotel. It was established by two of the Armenian Sarkies brothers, Tigram and Martin, the most famous hoteliers in Asia, who later founded the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The hotel's colourful and turbulent history (it's almost closed more than once) is documented in this small museum.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby George Town attractions

1. Blue Mansion

0.14 MILES

The most photographed building in George Town, this magnificent 38-room, 220-window mansion was built in the 1880s and rescued from ruin in the 1990s…

2. Protestant Cemetery

0.14 MILES

Under a canopy of magnolia trees you’ll find the graves of Captain Francis Light, the founder of the British colony of Penang, and many others, including…

3. Hainan Temple

0.23 MILES

Dedicated to Mar Chor Poh, the patron saint of seafarers, this temple was founded in 1870 but not completed until 1895. A thorough remodelling for its…

4. Church of the Assumption

0.23 MILES

The Catholic Church of the Assumption was founded in 1786, not long after the foundation of Penang, but the present building was constructed in 1861.

5. High Court

0.33 MILES

This impressive 1903 building, with rows of columns holding up balconies and shaded exterior corridors, is Malaysia's oldest high court. Outside is a…

6. St George's Church

0.35 MILES

The oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia, St George's was constructed in 1816, with backing from the East India Company. In the grounds is a memorial…

7. Penang State Art Gallery

0.37 MILES

Housed in Dewan Sri Pinang, the island’s first multipurpose hall, this small and rather tired gallery includes a permanent collection of contemporary…

8. Kuan Yin Teng

0.39 MILES

Dedicated to Kuan Yin, goddess of mercy, this temple is the liveliest place of worship in George Town. The current temple was built in the early 19th…