Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, George Town, lyf now welcomes guests into its vibrant and bold spaces. This brand-new boutique hotel sets its appeal by combining the best of modern design, community engagement, and lifestyle, which is evident through the multiple spaces unique to lyf’s identity.
Say Hi
lyf (Pro tip: Pronounced as ‘life’) has always prided itself in its community-driven co-living concept. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly at the ‘Say Hi’ reception area. The orange hues accentuating almost every part of the hotel also felt like a warm welcome. The ‘Say Hi’ area functions beyond reception. At lyf, socialising is encouraged, so feel free to get local insights from the lyf team on how to best spend your stay in George Town. Psst! You might even score yourself some exclusive discounts with lyf perks! Use these discounts while you frolic through town.
The murals at lyf are especially eye-catching in more ways than one and for a very charming reason. Prioritising giving back to the community that uplifts the lyf family, the murals are designed and painted by local artists where the hotels are based. Take my word for it, or you can simply Google pictures of lyf branches around the world for a glimpse into uniquely designed murals incorporated into their spaces.
Fun tip: Look for lyf Ginza Tokyo, and you’ll find the most intricate paintings of comic panels on the hotel’s ceilings, specially commissioned and designed for life.
A look at the rooms
I personally got to experience a stay in Lyf George Town’s ‘One of a Kind’ studio room, which was equal parts cosy and stylish. Weighted blankets and plentiful pillows? Perfect to relax with after a day of living the social life at lyf. The ensuite bathroom was just as chic, with colourfully laid tiles and eco-friendly bath amenities.
I was also lucky enough to score a room with a sea view. While the third floor may not provide the most expansive view of the sea, it is just as amazing as you also get vantage to people-watch (if you’re into it as much as I am).
Other types of rooms include the ‘Good for One’ studio room, ‘Side by Side Plus’ studio twin room, ‘Two of a Kind’ two-bedroom unit, and the ‘All-Together’ three-bedroom unit. During the brand immersion session, we were taken on a viewing tour of all their rooms. For obvious reasons, the clear standout stars were the ‘Two of a Kind’ and ‘All-Together’ units. One of the many novelties of lyf is the availability of bigger room types that allow comfier stays for group travellers—so they don’t have to book multiple rooms for a stay in the town!
Social-driven spaces for all
Burn & Dip
The interconnected swimming pool and social gym upped the ramp of the hotel’s local and modern charm. Neon lights and cheeky quotes like ‘Burn for more Char Kway Teow’ adorn the spaces, tickling guests right in their funny bones while they enjoy the amenities.
Wash & Hang
While staying at lyf, you won’t have to worry about having to run to the nearest laundromat for your dirty laundry. At the Wash & Hang space, velvet sofas line the walls across from the washing machines, encouraging socialising among guests waiting for their warm, fresh laundry.
Connect and Collab
Designed as a co-working/event space and meeting room, these two areas transform into spaces for the brand immersion session for the evening. The lyf team took this opportunity to emphasise the transformable aspect of lyf spaces. Thus, guests can expect the spaces to look different from one hour to the next, as there is always something going on at lyf! In fact, the Collab area transformed into a cocktail bar later in the evening as the hotel cranked up in activity for the grand launch.
A major activity highlight for me during the brand immersion session was the surprise ‘curiosity’ segment the lyf team slipped into before the session began. We were escorted into the Collab area, which had been transformed into a space for an interactive demonstration of nitrogen press coffee! Portable and energising, the evening certainly took a pleasing turn.
Unwind
Like Connect and Collab, the Unwind area which by default functions as the hotel’s lounge area, transformed into the main event space for the grand launch night. Officiated by YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang, and Dato’ Yeoh Yih Sean, Managing Director of Elevate Heritage Sdn Bhd, the night was grand, with guests and activities to liven up the newly-launched hotel. Events and activities of the evening included a Neon Lion Dance, Gashapon, and lyf merchandise personalisation.
Bond
One of the most interesting community-driven spaces in lyf is the social kitchen named Bond. Have you ever felt like you had to be a bit sneaky with your FoodPanda orders when staying at hotels? Be afraid not here! In fact, lyf encourages it. Thus, the existence of Bond. This makes it convenient to reheat your food, especially when deliveries get delayed and your food has turned cold.
You could even do some light cooking of your own with their basic kitchen amenities. Use the communal fridge to store items that need to be refrigerated! Just remember to respect the basic communal space rule; do not steal!
Taste tour with lyf Georgetown
Speaking of food, we also had our fair share of a gastronomic journey. It was a nice challenge having to pick from the variety of dishes Nasi Kandar Makbul has to offer. The canapés and desserts served by lyf during the grand launch night were so scrumptious, filling our cold stomachs during the rainy evening. The breakfast on our first morning at Mojo Jojo offered restorative energy to begin our second day of sightseeing around George Town.
Other spots like Kenny Hills’ Baker, Me’Nate Steak Hub, and even Chagee are just a stone’s throw away from lyf Georgetown, making food cravings easy to solve.
Sightseeing around vibrant, historical George Town
The first stop on our sightseeing tour was a quaint little shop. It is a combination of artistic husband and wife duo, Thomas and Pei’s betterthanblouses and Thomas Powell Gallery. The main attraction of the little shop is Pei’s batik-focused betterthanblouses boutique at the very front, with Thomas’ art gallery on the second floor—a private work studio for him and Pei’s dad.
The exclusive tour added a charming touch to the experience as we got to tour the entirety of the shop lot right into the very backyard of the space. It was clear how much artistry and nostalgia the couple immersed themselves in beyond their own art, as the space was entirely adorned with many different historical pieces that the family has accumulated over the years.
Our sightseeing tour ended with lunch at Richard Rivalee’s Restaurant, where we were served multiple mouthwatering fusion dishes by the fashion designer and chef, who was also present to welcome us all.
Serving not only a feast for the tastebuds, the restaurant itself is also ornately embellished for a feast for the eyes.
Making the littlest things matter
lyf makes every little thing matter. Yes, even the parts you wouldn’t expect, should. The funky little display of an uplifting quote makes an elevator ride worth even more, while the shiny ceiling of the Chill pantry area adds a fun touch to those who care to notice. If you are as height-challenged as me that you don’t even ponder about that shiny ceiling, I’ll tell you what makes it so interesting. It’s made of synthetic rubber material, and touching it will literally make it bounce up and down! Talk about interesting décor.
As if the stay was not already memorable, we were sent away with concrete things to remember lyf by. Next time I see the colour orange, lyf will definitely jump to mind. What are you waiting for? Book a stay now at lyf Georgetown to #livelyfhere!
Staying at lyf Georgetown
lyf room rates start from RM308+ per room per night. Sign up for a complimentary Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) membership and enjoy exclusive benefits all year round. For more information and reservations, visit lyf Georgetown Penang’s website.
All images courtesy of lyf Georgetown and Aina’ Imran.
