Tucked behind the Goddess of Mercy Temple in the heart of George Town’s heritage district, this row of seven Chinese terrace houses was on the verge of collapse before Penang-born Christopher Ong and his partner Karl Steinberg transformed it into a magical bolt-hole. Ong’s fourth hotel venture in Penang is arguably his finest, with 14 spacious guest rooms dressed with Chinese wedding beds and antique furniture opening onto a granite-lined courtyard anchored by two frangipani trees. There is a Peranakan-inspired restaurant and swimming pool, but the star attraction here is the antiques: rosewood chairs inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turn-of-the-century hand-painted porcelain sets, and an elaborately carved gold-leaf screen and door that belonged to the grandest house in George Town, long since torn down. The set was separated for 30 years before being purchased by Ong and brought back together at Seven Terraces.

Stewart Ln.; 60-4/264-2333; Seven Terraces website; doubles from US$167

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