Syed Alatas Mansion, George Town

This Armenian Street mansion, sporting a quirky mix of styles, has quite the history. Once owned by a powerful Indian merchant, it also served as a home for Syed Mohamed Alatas, a prominent Muslim citizen of Penang. Back in the late 19th century, he led the Red Flag secret society, which engaged in acts of resistance against Dutch hegemony in the East Indies.

Later on, the building passed into the hands of a businessman from the Southern Indian Chettiar community and got a new gig as the Penang Heritage Centre in the late 1990s.

Nowadays, this old gem, over 150 years young, has been spruced up and is up for rent. Decked out in the "Straits eclectic" style, it's a mishmash of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Western vibes, featuring multiple rooms and airy spaces.