Hikkaduwa & Around
The five rooms in this colonial-style villa are spacious and well tended, making it excellent value. Major pluses are the friendly owner and staff and the…
Must-see hotels in Sri Lanka
-
The Hill Country
Tea Trails comprises a collection of five stunning colonial-style residences built for British tea plantation managers. Completely refurbished, the…
-
The Ancient Cities
A memorable place to stay, this beautifully located guesthouse enjoys an idyllic position overlooking an expanse of rice paddies, replete with the sounds…
-
The East
The antidote to concrete resort hotels and national parks overrun with hundreds of jeeps, Tree Tops provides a true back-to-nature experience. Beautifully…
-
The Hill Country
Located in a tea plantation, this fine mountain lodge enjoys outstanding views – on very clear days you can even see the Dondra Lighthouse on the South…
-
Arugam Bay
A quirky, locally owned beachside place with loads of atmosphere and a loyal clientele of backpackers and surfers. There's a choice of 22 digs (all built…
-
The Ancient Cities
In the misty, verdant hills north of Matale, at an elevation of 450m, this working organic farm (harvesting coconuts, mangoes, bananas and papaya) is…
-
Hikkaduwa & Around
This sublime place is crammed with Buddhist statues, tropical flowers and masses of high-quality antiques. The huge rooms have carved wooden headboards…
-
Nuwara Eliya
High in mist-wrapped hills 13km northeast of Nuwara Eliya, this unique place has been built into and around a century-old tea factory. Blurring the line…
-
Anuradhapura
Exclusive and stylish, the 20 villas in this remote rural retreat, 40km from Anuradhapura, are top of the line, with private plunge pools and relaxing…
-
The South
One of the island's foremost retreats, many guests at this healthy sanctuary are on yoga, wellness or surf-instruction packages. The location is…
-
The Hill Country
Located at around 1000m, this gorgeous former tea planter’s bungalow enjoys a temperate, sometimes coolish climate on a steep forested hillside surrounded…
-
Sigiriya
An outstanding place to stay, thanks to the genuine welcome and attention paid to guests by Ajith and Ramya, the owners. Rooms are divided between the…
-
Arugam Bay
This Danish-run place sits at the north end of the bay. There's a magnificent open-sided restaurant-lounge-terrace facing the ocean, perfect for languid…
-
Ella
Totally renovated, this once supremely tacky hotel now has seven perfectly designed, sleek, modern bungalows, each with stupendous valley views from their…
-
Colombo
Hugely popular from the day it opened, this 26-floor hotel from the ubiquitous Cinnamon Group is its debut of a new concept in 'lean luxury'. The 242…
-
The East
Locally owned place with a blissful beachfront location. The garden compound is a delight; at its rear is an elegant villa-style structure for home-cooked…
-
Jaffna
A superb modern hotel where the 10 rooms tick all the contemporary design boxes, with clean lines, high ceilings and stylish fittings; the expansive hotel…
-
The Hill Country
Thanks to masses of exotic tropical flora, the air you breathe at this divine hotel, once home to a Kandyan chief, literally tastes perfumed. Now fully…
-
The Hill Country
On the edge of the Sinharaja reserve (very rare purple-faced langurs are regularly seen) this is one of the remotest hotels in Sri Lanka. Highly original…
-
The Hill Country
The Swiss–Sri Lankan owners of this idyllic little three-room guesthouse have created a small slice of bliss here. There are cool, high-ceilinged rooms…
-
Uda Walawe National Park
A welcoming place offering good budget accommodation in simple, quite spacious fan-cooled rooms with cold-water private bathrooms. Breakfasts, indeed all…
-
The South
A true temple of luxury living, Amanwella's suites all have private plunge pools, preloaded iPods and gloriously tasteful and modish design touches…
-
Arugam Bay
This fine beachside two-storey hotel has 15 rooms – all beautifully presented and immaculately clean, and most boasting minibars, desks and attractive…
-
Galle
In the heart of the Fort, this imposing 1825 structure once housed printing presses, and later school classrooms. Today it's divided into two sections:…
-
Mirissa
One of southern Sri Lanka's most remarkable places to stay, this working cinnamon farm has a selection of fine accommodation, including a renovated estate…
-
Ella
A delightfully secluded homestay run by an Australian couple with a flair for art and design. The building melds into the hillside and offers views over…
-
Colombo
Colombo’s best large hotel has a central location well back from Galle Rd. It buzzes with energy as there always seems to be an elite wedding on or some…
-
The East
This gorgeous place gets rave reviews thanks to the kindness and cooking (most meals Rs 300 to 600) of owner Dilani. Of the cabanas, the one on stilts is…
-
Galle
An outstanding nine-year renovation has transformed this 17th-century townhouse into one of Galle's most evocative hotels, with 18 gorgeous, commodious…
-
Kandy
Dotted with antiques, and with stunning views over a secluded arc of the Mahaweli Ganga, Villa Rosa is an inspiring place to stay. Spacious wooden-floored…
-
Kandy
A lot of know-how has gone into this very well-set-up hostel, with its inviting air-con dorms (all with lockers, comfy bunks and reading lights) and…
-
Ella
One of the best homestays in the Ella region, Chamodya is run by a lovely couple who take very good care of their guests. Guests get to enjoy a glorious…
-
Nuwara Eliya
Set in spacious lawned grounds, this colonial-era bungalow is straight out of a period drama – even the sprucely turned-out staff hovering in the…
-
Colombo
Colombo's best hostel has a rooftop lounge/kitchen/chill space with great views over the city, including nearby Temple Trees, home of the PM. There are 33…
-
Weligama
Perched on a promontory above the Indian Ocean, this astonishing hotel has stunning vistas and a sublime 60m crescent-shaped infinity pool (should you get…
-
Tangalla & Around
This beautiful new place is owned by a Hungarian–Sri Lankan couple who've worked in hospitality for years and run a tight ship. Their two huge detached…
-
Ella
Owned by a talented musician and master carpenter, these beautifully finished rooms boast gorgeous handmade fixtures and fittings (shelves, clothes rails)…
-
Kandy
This popular, well-established guesthouse is owned by a friendly family, one of whom worked in hospitality for years, and is surrounded by towering palm…
-
Tangalla & Around
A very well-run place with an array of different cabanas. There are mud-walled abodes next to the lagoon at the rear, while others near the beach are…
