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No, the name is not a spoonerism for Hang Loose, although it’s ideally suited for lounging about, with a museum-like sitting area and rooftop terrace, but is Gaelic for “long house” and like many heritage buildings in the area, the guesthouse extends further back than is apparent from the narrow street frontage.

Who you gonna call? Photo: Sally Arnold

Located on Lebuh Pantai (Beach Street) slightly away from the hubbub of central Georgetown, Lang Hoose is close enough that you won’t think twice about heading out for dinner on foot, and only 200 metres from busy Lebuh Armenian.

Singles, couples, friends and families are all catered for with an assortment of room options with the majority equipped with an ensuite bathroom, rare in many local guesthouses. The doubles with common facilities, only share with one other in a private section of the house. The upper floor is accessed by steep stairs, unsuitable for the less mobile, but a single and a double room are available on the ground level. Downstairs the raw cement floors add to the historical feel but all wooden floorboards above make the place rather noisy for downstairs guests, and as with most in the area, the guesthouse in general is not partially soundproof.

Bright colours and quite comfortable. Photo: Sally Arnold

Interiors are a tad on the small size, but snug rather than uncomfortably tight with space for a seating area and bag storage, and although most rooms have windows, some are internal to the lightwell or hall. A couple of the rooms are mezzanine style with beds on an upper level and seating below. All provide air-con, and add either standard or ceiling fans to keep the air moving. Beds are firm and comfy with clean white linen and side table for your book, but not all with reading lights.

Ensuite and share bathrooms are smart and clean maintaining the raw cement finish which makes them seem more contemporary industrial style than “old” and are equipped with modern amenities including smart bowl-type washbasins and hot-water rainfall showers adding a tub in the family room. A few hooks and a bamboo ladder will hang your towel and bits and bobs, but bench space is limited.

Relax upstairs. Photo: Sally Arnold

Lang Hoose possesses charm by the bucketloads—we love the bright use of colour and wonderful eclectic collections of memorabilia all over the guesthouse: think old typewrites, sewing machines, cameras, tennis rackets and more, and the rooms themselves are tastefully but simply decorated continuing the bright theme and interesting artworks, but don’t expect a pristine finish, this is an old crumbling heritage building, with quirks and foibles although despite the dusty museum ambience, the place is very clean.

The furnished outdoor terrace upstairs makes a pleasant spot to enjoy a breath of fresh air, but the downstairs cafe area was unfortunately not in operation at the time of our research, and although a few guests made use of the space, it doesn’t seem that social or inviting. A hot and cold water dispenser is available, so no need to buy plastic bottles, and guests are able to store things in the common fridge on request.

Not your average decor. Photo: Sally Arnold

Breakfast is not included, although friendly staff mentioned this may change in the future, but a plethora of delicious options are mere steps away. We think Lang Hoose is an excellent flashpacker option, but shop around for online deals, as with many places in Georgetown, walk-in rates are inflated. If you’d prefer to be a little more in the thick of the action, consider Moon Tree 47 on Lebuh Muntri.