Everyone knows Penang for for the street food, the heritage streets, and, yes, the million murals you can pose in front of for Instagram. I love all that too! But after hours of walking around George Town, tryna find the best char kway teow on the streets, sometimes you just need a break. Somewhere you can dip in the pool, watch the sea, and just think of Britney Spears dancing in her living room. That somewhere, for me this time, was M Social Resort Penang.

When I arrived, I could tell this wasn’t the typical hotel that I usually stay in. It’s clean and modern, but nothing over the top. There’s little touches of local art everywhere, giving the lobby some character. It kinda reminds me of my stay over at Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park.

The location of this hotel is perfect if you like a balance between chill and city. I consider myself a city boy, but when I go on vacation, I prefer to be by the beach so, this hotel is the perfect fit. The beach here is quiet which is such a nice change from Batu Ferringhi.

The staff here are genuinely nice. It does not feel forced, just warm and comfortable. Check-in was easy and quick, which I really appreciated because nobody enjoys standing around after a flight. But you know what would be even better? A nice, refreshing welcome drink.

I stayed in the Social Cosy Room category, a partial sea-view room. The room is bright, comfortable, and have just enough personality to make you feel sooo relaxed. It’s so spacious too!

A fruit bowl was also prepared which I felt was really thoughtful. I love nice surprises!

Waking up to sunlight bouncing off the water? Next level! I totally love hearing the waves, the smell of the sea, the moment I wake up. The bed is soft, the pillows are generous, and the AI little assistant machine actually works.

I was a little skeptical at first because these kinda “high-tech” AI assistant is kinda useless at times. I’m looking at you, Siri.

The balcony could have done with a proper lounge chair for my morning coffee, but honestly, I survived. You know what? I thrived!

And the bathroom! It’s simple and practical, which is all I care about, but there’s little things that make it a bit more interesting. Strong shower, everything works, toiletries are okay, and the Peranakan-style tiles? So cute.

Bidet-enthusiast (me!), good news because there’s one right here.

The pool here deserves a gigantic, wet hug from me. It’s big, clean, and facing the sea. Floating there and staring at the view? I could have stayed forever. There’s just something about a pool that actually connects with the ocean, it feels part of the view! And I could see cruises passes by too.

The gym is open 24 hours, which is great if you’re trying to convince yourself you’ll work out on a vacation (me, actually) and the equipments are all great. I actually did run on the threadmill, but I didn’t bring my running shoes and had to wear my Vans. My heels were hurting so badly but, I lost some calories so yay!

Oh! I want to give a super bright spotlight to the housekeeping team too. I usually call them right before I leave the room to have it made up, and the response is always fast, surprisingly fast. By the time I came back, the room was already done. Everything was consistently clean and clearly well taken care of. If I were a billionaire, they’d get a $10,000 tip (hehe) from me!

At the end of the day, M Social Resort Penang is so perfect if you want a mix of the beach and city life. Wait, did I tell you that the rates are so affordable currently? At this point of writing, the cost for a night costs you less than S$100.

If you’re after that, calm, sea views, and a little bit of Peranakan culture, this is a place to seriously consider.