Nestled along the seaside cliff road of Tanjung Bungah, Millennium Hotels and Resorts debuts its tech savvy, lifestyle-centric M Social brand in Malaysia, marking the third M Social in Southeast Asia after Singapore and Phuket.

I stayed for two nights at M Social Resort Penang as part of a press trip in conjunction with the hotel’s grand launch event in July 2025. The following review is based on my experience during a short but packed media trip from Kuala Lumpur.

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The Hotel

Boasting two guest wings with 318 guestrooms and suites, M Social Resort Penang replaces the Copthorne Orchid Penang at 523 Jalan Tanjung Bungah.

Tanjung Bungah is a 45-minute drive from Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas and about 20 minutes away from George Town.

The Sunset Bay Wing occupies the upper portion of the hotel from floors 8 to 16 with westward views of the sunset, while the Azure Wing from floors 1 to 7 have direct sea-facing rooms facing Mount Jerai in the distance.

M Social Resort Penang’s porte-cochère is expansive and we were welcomed by attentive bellhops to assist with luggage. Going up the stairs brings us to the main lobby lounge, The Social Hub with the Penang Pavilion grand ballroom to the right of the entrance.

The lobby desks were rather inconspicuous, tucked away in a less brightly lit area that does not detract from the large mural that greeted me as I walked in. The Social Hub looks like a comfortable hangout spot to meet friends or just kick back and relax. Lots of natural sunlight poured through the full-length windows when I arrived.

At the back of the lobby sits the restaurant’s all-day dining space, carrying the M Social signature Beast & Butterflies flag. The restaurant has sweeping views of the pool deck below and the ocean. Evening golden hour hits different when dining with a view like this.

Across the property, hand-painted murals by Thai artist Mayuree Setsomboon anchor the many spaces with vivid imagery and colours that paint the cultural identity, flora and fauna of Penang and Malaysia.

Social Cosy King

I stayed two nights in a Social Cosy Room (Lucky number 1412) in the Sunset Bay Wing and it had almost everything I would want and expect in a standard room.

Walking into my room, I was greeted by a full-length mirror with hand-drawn art and a welcome message scribbled over; a sweet, if slightly intense gesture in bold red marker.

The 32-sqm space is airy with its light wood furnishing and accents set around a generously sized bed fitted with four plush pillows.

The space above the headboard is home to beautiful Peranakan tile-inspired artwork that drew me in from the first steps in.

The beds in my Social Cosy Twin are a sumptuous pair—placed side by side, as wide as a king—that had the right firmness for a larger man like myself, but not too hard for those that prefer an embracing experience. Twin bed options are also available.

An insulated duvet kept me toasty through the night as air-conditioning in new hotels tend to be quite strong. I was very happy with the bed and had a good night’s rest after a long day of activities at the hotel. Five-star quality all around.

Come to think of it, I think my room was designated as a Social Cosy King because the duvet was a large king instead of two fitted singles. Nonetheless, a great bed.

A large day bed occupies the corner by the balcony with a round table and arm chair to match. The seats are comfortable enough for short bursts of work on my laptop, though I did spend half the time writing this review in the comfort of the bed.

Still, productivity-oriented guests would be better off with a laptop-friendly setup at the restaurant or business facilities.

On the table were more welcome amenities that included a fruit bowl, a tiffin carrier filled with delectable kuehs and snacks, and a kefir soda for my enjoyment.

Unfortunately for me, I was so stuffed from lunch pre-check in that I couldn’t stomach any more at the moment. Returning to them later in the night, they were still had the perfect texture—a definite win.

M Social Resort proudly shares that it is the first hotel in Penang, and in Malaysia, that has done away with in-room telephones all together.

In its place by the bed sits a little grey box called Aiello, an all-knowing (at least when it comes to the hotel and its surroundings) virtual assistant that chimes in response to “Hello A.I.” I enlisted its help to request for additional amenities and to wake me up at six in the morning; needless to say it certainly does its job.

The room’s main lighting switch is only available on one side, along with the Aiello console. Side tables with drawers allow for quick and tidy bedside organisation to stowaway gadgets and personal items within reach.

I particularly appreciated the many available electrical power points—a three-pin with USB-C and USB-A ports, and a hybrid socket for those who need it—flanking both sides of the bed.

The Bathroom

The bathroom in my Social Cozy room was a simple but spacious vanity. A large mirror spans one side of the bathroom, and the shower on the other.

Upon arrival, the bathroom was sparkling clean and the linens were tucked neatly. Two standard bathrobes are available at the open wardrobe.

Taiwanese SKIN+SODA Revival bath amenities by Sun Life adorn the walls and vanity areas. I am unfamiliar with this brand but nonetheless enjoyed the scent and feeling of using the shampoo, conditioner, and body & hand wash.

Water pressure in my 14th floor room was very strong but getting the shower (and tap) to the right temperature took quite a bit of trial and error.

Other available bathroom amenities included dental kits, shower caps, sanitary bags but interestingly no comb. I requested for one via Aiello and the hotel staff promptly sent one up and placed it in my room while I was out and about.

Sustainability & Tech

Millennium is on a Green Path, reflected in its low-waste and sustainability efforts. The bathroom amenities are made of recycled materials, the room’s NFC keycard of wood, and the air-conditioning automatically switches off whenever the balcony or main door is open. The room also intelligently goes into low-power mode when the room is unoccupied.

It does take a few moments for the air-conditioning to turn back on after the balcony door was opened and I thought it had stopped working all together after stepping out for a view of the ocean.

There is a water refill station on every floor near the elevator lobby—an initiative many hotels have adopted to reduce single-use bottles for in-room hydration or using the coffee and tea making facilities,

Like I mentioned earlier, M Social Resort Penang is proud to be the first hotel in Penang to completely do away with traditional telephones to make way for Aiello.

M Social also exists digitally in Decentraland, where guests can explore the virtual hotel with exclusive games and activities. You can even win vouchers and experiences from playing the games.

Breakfast

Every M Social hotel comes with its own flavour of Beast & Butterflies, whose menu draws inspiration from the locale and people. The restaurant at M Social Resort Penang offers panoramic views of the Penang Strait, and if you come for breakfast early enough, you might catch the first golden hour of the day.

Breakfast at Beast & Butterflies left an impression on me. After emerging from my Social Cozy Room an hour later than intended (I blame the bed), I was greeted with a spread that double-ticked every box I had.

Again, the variety is not as extensive and varied as some of the other breakfast buffets I’ve been to. Quality speaks loudly over quantity at M Social Resort Penang.

The scrambled eggs were soft and jiggly, the hashbrowns were crisp and not greasy, the live stations grilling roti bakar, and more impressively the usually-drab mini croissants were buttery and fragrant.

Coffee comes from an automatic machine with quite a few options like caffe crema and flat white in addition to the usual Americanos and lattes. A cup of joe from Beast & Butterflies’ buffet is not quite barista-grade, but I sipped it happily anyway.

Service was quick on their feet. Plates were cleared very promptly and very courteously. The buffet line is also very timely replenished, I suppose making the dishes in not overwhelming quantities also keeps everything nice and fresh throughout breakfast service.

However, I must say the tables are a tad small for comfortable dining, especially in a group.

Pool & Fitness Centre

The M Social Resort Penang rooftop deck on Level 7 features an Olympic-sized pool and connected wading pool for little ones to waddle in. The pool is not that deep at about 1.4m, but good enough to get a few laps in and burn off the calories from Beast & Butterflies.

Striking pink ring floats and pool benches are available for guests to soak up the coastal Penang sun or catch the setting sun over the sea.

There is a 24-hour gym tucked beside Breezy Bites. It is a small but fully functional space with cardio and strength training machines. I managed to squeeze in a quick workout before breakfast just to feel more virtuous after all that indulgence.

Event Spaces

M Social Resort Penang impresses with its 482-sqm Penang Pavilion that can fit up to 500 guests depending on arrangement and event. The Grand Launch took place in this expansive 5.2m tall ballroom equipped with a full AV suite.

Other event or meeting spaces are the Pavilion 3 right across the Penang Pavilion, or one of two business Vista and Fusion rooms on Level 7 where we had some workshops held.

The outdoor pool deck also doubles as a social event space, where we had a lovely sunset soiree as part of the hotel’s launch event.

I’d imagine M Social Resort Hotel to be an ideal venue for small to medium-sized business conferences or wedding receptions.

Guest Experience & Hospitality

Excellent hospitality should be a given at any hotel and it is something I look forward to experiencing the most when staying a night or a few.

The service at M Social Resort Penang was very warm and welcoming, from the front desk to the dining spots and to housekeeping. Everyone had a pleasant face and greeted me with a smile whenever we met eyes.

I didn’t need much this stay—other than asking for a comb—which already says something about the experience.

Final Impressions

M Social Resort Penang offers a compelling package for travellers who want more than just a place to sleep. With its thoughtful design, spacious rooms, warm hospitality, and a surprisingly solid food programme, it strikes the right balance between personality and practicality.

Whether you’re a bleisure guest in town for a few days or planning a relaxed family escape by the sea, M Social brings something new to the table — a stay that feels both plugged-in and personal. It may not want to be the quietest name in Penang’s hotel scene, but it’s certainly one of the more interesting ones.

It’s not trying to compete with Penang’s heritage grande dames or coastal five-stars. And that’s the point. M Social is confident in its own lane: casual, curated, and creatively charged.

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M Social Resort Penang
523 Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang (Directions)
T: +604-6058 888
Email: Reservations.MSRP@millenniumhotels.com

Nightly rates from RM250, depending on season

Visit the Official M Social Resort Penang website to learn more about the hotel.

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