Hickory On Penang Hill - Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang

Passport814684

I recently stayed at Hickory on Penang Hill and had a truly memorable experience. The location is serene and peaceful, ideal for those looking to unwind and enjoy nature. The weather was pleasant, and the surroundings were calm – perfect for a relaxing getaway. The sign boards were kept at the right place, so that visitors can reach the resort without any challenges.||One of the most exciting parts was the 15-minute walk through the forest from the top of Penang Hill to the resort – a short but thrilling experience that nature lovers will appreciate.||Raaj, the owner, was extremely kind and polite, making us feel genuinely welcome. The staff were equally friendly and helpful, even assisting us in preparing some of the meals we requested – which added a nice personal touch to the stay.||While the train service stops at the nearby station only once every hour, it wasn’t a major issue. Just something to plan around. Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about the property – everything met or exceeded expectations.||A special tip for visitors: Don’t miss “The Habitat” – a stunning natural attraction on Penang Hill. It’s a real treat for nature lovers. Guests at Hickory get a 20% discount, and Raaj can assist with this as well.||If you're looking for peace, comfort, and warm hospitality in a natural setting, Hickory is a wonderful choice. Highly recommended

Timothy Y.

Raj, the manager, is the most hospitable man I've ever met. I think it is worth it to stay here just to meet him. He even helped us with problems we didn't know we had.

As for the hotel itself, the location speaks for itself. It is easily assesible from trails, so you can hike up to the top yourself. Also fairly cool at night, like natural ac. Was afraid there might be mosquitos, but didn't get bitten.

Note: prepare to stow your luggage away if going to the hotel via cable car. The cars have very limited space.

Wong P. L.

This is a wonderful heritage colonial bungalow with a lot of history. The floor is old school, charming tiles. We had a comfortable stay here, with a great host, Raj. The food was lovingly prepared and tasted home-cooked and delicious. The place is quiet and good as a base to hike around Penang Hill. I would highly recommend a stay here for peace, quiet, and being close to nature

Wei L. C.

An overnight stay at Hickory was just what we needed to unwind from the daily grind. It was our second trip here - the first being in 2019. So happy to report that we like it now, as much as we liked it then 🙂

We booked the standard room for three. While basic, it was very clean - and it didn't have any of that dank and mouldy smell that sometimes accompanies lodgings up in the hills due to cold damp air.

Hickory exudes an old-fashioned charm. We felt very much at home, in this colonial bungalow; whether we were lounging in the patio enjoying a cup of hot tea, or admiring the great night view of Georgetown's twinkling lights from the garden, or having fun over a board game in the cosy living room with pretty traditional tiles, for its floor.

There's a library with an extensive collection of books neatly organised and catalogued! Raj and family must be voracious readers!! Found many great titles, perfect for a rainy afternoon, as well as interesting coffee table books about Penang, in the living room. We particularly enjoyed browsing through one, "The Bungalows of Penang Hill", which I think, also featured Hickory.

Hickory is surrounded by nature, which was one of the main draws that attracted us to Penang Hill. Upper Tunnel Road, Viaduct Road and the many well-maintained bypaths through the forest, are accessible from Hickory... but be prepared for some panting and puffing during the very steep 20-minute climb from Hickory up to the top of the hill! The alternative is to take the tram up from Lower Tunnel Station. The stopping service runs on the hour - you would need to get to the station about 10 minutes before the hour and request to be picked up from there via an intercom. Oh, and whenever you hear rustling in the treetops, do look up - we were lucky to spot the Black Giant Squirrel during one of our walks near Hickory.

Breakfast was included in the stay. After an invigorating morning walk to Viaduct Station to watch the trains go by along the picturesque old stone viaduct, we relished our hearty breakfast of sausage, scrambled eggs, hash brown, beans (and very nice bread!), laid out for us in the garden with a view. Couldn't have asked for more!

So thank you, Raj, for welcoming us to your heritage home. It was the perfect sojourn up in the hills!

Edward T.

I recently booked a stay at Hickory on Agoda, and while the accommodation itself was fine, the overall experience was frustrating due to Agoda’s misleading listing and poor coordination.

First, Agoda stated that the property includes parking facilities, which was a key reason I chose it — but in reality, cars are not even allowed to drive up Penang Hill. Guests must take a funicular train or jeep, and this crucial information was nowhere clearly communicated in the listing.

Worse still, my booking through Agoda was somehow passed to the property via Ticket.com, and as a result, the property owner never received my contact details. This led to a total communication breakdown — I received no instructions on how to reach the accommodation, which made arrival stressful and confusing.

This experience shows a serious lack of transparency and coordination on Agoda’s part. I expected better from a major booking platform. If you’re booking in areas with special access requirements like Penang Hill, I strongly advise double-checking directly with the property, because Agoda clearly cannot be relied on to provide accurate or complete information.

MakananginBug

The Hickory offers a pleasant, home-y feel Raj, the proprietor make you feel so. I had a good connection with him even prior to booking and checking-in. He has such a good personaliity.||The grounds of the Hickory is most relaxing and offers a good view of Georgetown, especially beautiful with the city lights at night. If you are lucky, you may catch a good sunrise.||The property offers complimentary breakfast and a free-flow of beverages (various types of packet coffee/tea and chocolate) as well as cold drinks (didn't have any ourselves).

Anna A.

I just wanted to share my experience at the Hickory Hotel, The view from the hotel is absolutely breathtaking, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a perfect getaway. It can get a bit chilly, but that just adds to the relaxing vibe.
To reach the hotel, there’s a fee of RM180 for both ways (Going Up & Going Down the hill via truck) up the hill, but it’s totally worth it! The food was delicious, making the stay even more enjoyable. It’s a fantastic spot for family and friends to unwind and enjoy nature. Plus, there are hiking trails nearby, and it’s just a 4-minute walk to catch the train—just be sure to check the schedule! & The night view is amazing (there are lots of stars). It’s quite cold during night time, at around 18-19 degrees, So I recommend to bring thick jackets. They also have a library 1 floor below hickory. & Plus They’ve got a main Lobby near to all the rooms, They’ve got a great selection of board games, antique furnitures, books, WiFi & A TV, so there’s plenty to keep you entertained. If you’re a night owl, They keep the library & Main lobby open every Night.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience!
Thank you, Mr. Raj, for your hospitality!
Cheers!

D F.

Pro: Beautiful and tranquil place - a fantastic getaway.

Something I wish they had told us beforehand or read in reviews:

This is not the easiest place to get to (as it’s in the middle of the hill). You can’t drive up there (we tried).

You have to get the funicular from Penang Hill’s Lower station, get a one way ticket and then tell the funicular driver that you’re going to the Lower Tunnel station otherwise they won’t stop there. The funicular is every hour on the hour, so make sure you plan ahead.
When you arrive at the station, it’s 1-2 minute walk to the stay.

When you leave, you go back to the Lower Tunnel station, open the box and call number 3 to the operators. Tell them you’re at the LT station and would like to go up, tell them how many people and they’ll arrange the funicular to stop at LT station. Be sure to get there at least 5-7 minutes beforehand as the funicular leaves from Lower station on the hour.

There is dinner and breakfast available. You’ll have to order before 6:30pm if you want dinner.

If you’re not from Malaysia, make sure you bring enough cash beforehand to pay for food and amenities as they don’t accept cards.

The staff are incredibly responsive and helpful nonetheless!