Soori Penang, a heritage restoration project by SCDA Architect founder Soo K. Chan, is set to open in January 2026.
Set in the heart of George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel will be the sibling property to Soori Bali, the flagship resort that launched the Soori Collection and set the standard for its design-driven, culturally rooted approach to hospitality.
Soo K. Chan, who was born and raised within these very shophouses, has conceived this new landmark as a personal homecoming and a bold architectural statement rooted in Penang’s layered heritage that seeks to redefine boutique luxury through memory, craftsmanship and cultural reverence.
Once the family clan house of the Khoo family, Soori Penang brings together 15 intricately restored heritage shophouses, transformed into a luxury boutique hotel with expansive one- to three-bedroom suites.
The original architectural features have been preserved, while the interiors pay homage to local traditions – onyx lanterns, carved stone reminiscent of guardian lions and subtle motifs from the Khoo Kongsi temple.
“This is where it all began” says Soo K. Chan, whose architectural journey started with rehabilitating shop houses in Singapore. “Soori Penang is more than a hotel, it’s a living tribute to place, to memory, to design.”
Each suite contains custom-designed furniture, artisan-made accessories and atmospheric light that filters through latticed shutters. An inner courtyard with a reflective pool offers a sense of tranquility, while bespoke elements such as contemporary stone fountains reinterpret traditional rice grinders.
Soori Penang also features a wellness spa, a fitness room and will debut with two food and beverage venues serving local classics, either in-room, at the lounge, in the shaded courtyard, or the café. Two more Cannon Square-facing outlets will follow in its second year.
