The grande dame of Colombo faces Galle Face Green to the north and the sea to the west. The sweeping staircases recall the hotel's opening in 1864. Comprehensive renovations have restored the former grandeur and created refined, modern luxury. Service has had an upgrade, as have the prices.
However some of the hotel's idiosyncratic character has been lost, with the huge marble plaque near the main entrance that recorded the names of VIPs that stayed here destroyed during the modernisation. There is a small museum recalling the hotel's long history.