Top 10 Luxury Hotels In Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka has had a rough ride at times but this teardrop island has gone from strength to strength and is now back riding high as a sublime sunny destination. It’s as dynamic as it is diverse with alluring beaches, serene hill country and ancient ruins. There are also splendid national parks teeming with elephants, leopards and umpteen birds. However, it’s not just about the places. There are the people, too, who are super hospitable, kind and friendly. The delicious spice-laden food, topped off by a cup of famous Ceylon tea, seals the deal.
When it comes to places to stay, there are myriad options. There are many heritage homes and hotels, often sporting a tropical modernist look. But things are changing and the past few years have seen a handful of new hotels in Sri Lanka crop up, pushing the boundaries of hospitality and introducing another level of buzz to the country.
Here, in this blog, we will discuss about the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka and help you make an informed decision.
What is the Best Part of Sri Lanka to Stay In?
Sri Lanka’s bustling capital, Colombo is a quietly rising scene of stylish coffee shops, cool galleries and great shops. However, the southern coast offers an irresistible draw with its idyllic beaches, oceanfront café buzz and exceptionally warm weather. There are beautiful beachfront hotels but equally good are the properties just a short tuk-tuk ride inland away and offering for a bit more peace.
If you have time, combine the beach with the Hill Country, particularly Kandy, home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines. There’s the Cultural Triangle, too, in the centre of the island, which includes the extraordinary Sigiriya Rock, alongside a fascinating array of age-old monuments.
Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka
1) Amangalla, Fort Galle – For stepping back in time
Amangalla’s pillared verandas, high ceilings and patterned 19th-century floor tiles are set in the 500-year-old Fort Galle district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the kind of place where guests who want the look of the old. Owner of Amangalla Resorts have held fast to the vintage features while adding modern spa indulgences and a gorgeous swimming pool.
The rooms in the annex contain balconies overlooking the gardens or swimming pool, while rooms in the original building feature tall, arched windows looking out onto the Fort and harbor. Aim for a corner suite it faces the sea and the Dutch Reformed Church and has views of the lighthouse in the distance. Afternoon teas on the veranda are a big draw, with non-guests stopping by for facefuls of pineapple gateau, coconut cake, and scones with homemade clotted cream.
Address: 10 Church St, Galle 80000, Sri Lanka
2) Cloud Nine Lanka Resort
Cloud Nine Lanka Resort is located near Wilpattu National Park, the largest in Sri Lanka, and close to Puttalam Lagoon Also close to kalpitiya where, according to legend, King Vijaya met his beloved Kuveni, marking the beginning of the Sinhalese people as per ancient stories. Here, you can rejuvenate by forest bathing, enjoy luxurious amenities, including a swimming pool, and dine to the soothing sounds of birds. Set in Sri Lanka’s wild landscapes, they offer luxury rooted in respect for the environment and local culture. They foster community and stewardship, ensuring every stay contributes to preserving our natural beauty. Their commitment to sustainability and cultural respect guides everything we do, ensuring that your adventures leave a positive impact on the land and its people.
Address: Wlipattu Samagipura, 08th Mile post Vanathavilluwa, 61306 Vanathavillu Wilpattu, SRI LANKA
3) Kayaam House, Rekawa
Hoteliers Resplendent Ceylon upped the hospitality game in Sri Lanka with a trio of deep-nature Relais & Châteaux properties: Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Ceylon Tea Trails, and Cape Weligama. But now the group’s intimate and affordable new sister brand, Reverie, is turning heads. The first opening is Kayaam House, off the beaten track in Rekawa, on the south coast near Tangalle. Built from scratch a few years ago, this whitewashed hideaway is a lesson in absolute peace, broken only by the soundtrack of crashing waves.
Flanked by palm trees and frangipanis, the glorious pool sets the scene, stretching across the lawn towards a private beach sprinkled with sun loungers. Inside the house, pops of Persian blue provide a fresh zing while copper pots, planter’s chairs, and an ancient temple door from Jaffna add character. The nine rooms and suites, with ocean or forest views, are simple yet sophisticated, most coming with a four-poster bed, tub on the terrace, and Bang & Olufsen tech.
Sleep-inducing Balinese massages await in the spa, and a sea-facing yoga shala is on the lawn. A Bawa-inspired dining room with cane lighting is the showcase for chef Namal Surendra, who brings his global cooking, including a very British roast rack of lamb from the Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives. Blissed-out guests wake to the song of hornbills and tuck into Bircher muesli on the oceanfront terrace as fishing boats bob in the distance.
Address: Rekawa, Wellodeya Rd, Sri Lanka
4) Ahu Bay, Ahungalla – For a beachside location
It’s a tough job setting up shop on the hotel-lined west coast of Sri Lanka. However, Ahu Bay is already making its mark. Dazzling white and glossy, a blue and white theme sings throughout, set off by the uninterrupted sea views. There’s no reception. Instead, all the action takes place in the restaurant, the beating heart of this laidback spot, with a bamboo-clad roof, a bar knocking out strong mojitos and mellow music. A drift forward is the white bean bag-lined infinity pool, which looks out onto the ocean. Head down the steps, and you stumble upon the beach with giant cabanas sheltered by palms.
The waves are enthusiastic, but that adds to the fun – this is frolicking on the beach at its best – plus the hotel lifeguards, with Baywatch red ‘torpedoes’ under their arms, are poised to rescue you at any second. This is a boutique bolthole, too, with just four bedrooms in the main house plus three three-bedroom villas (available either by room or exclusive basis). The interiors are a collage of colour, texture and fun. Elegant wood kingsize beds sit alongside sophisticated teak furniture; textiles brought back from India and rattan lighting. All together, the breezy rooms, bang-on-the-beach location and tasty cocktails are a winning combination. Harriet Compston
Address: 100/12 Samudhraramaya Rd, Ahungalla, Sri Lanka
5) Amanwella – For beach bunnies
It’s the pristine beachfront setting here which steals the show and makes Amanwella one of the most spectacular hotels in Sri Lanka – expect a mesmerising swathe of silky sand, fringed with palm trees. But there’s plenty else to fall in love with at this tropical modernist resort, near the seaside town of Tangalle. Dotted on a hillside, the 27 clean-lined, super spacious freestanding suites sing of contemporary cool. Each has a private pool and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors maxing out the views.
Ask for Ocean Suites 110, 111 and 112, which are nearest to the beach. The pavilion-style restaurant makes full use of the panorama – basking in ocean vistas while relishing the Asian fusion cuisine, made with local produce such as just-caught barramundi. Or tuck into fresh salads at their feet-in-the-sand beach club. There’s a beautiful library filled with games and books and a huge infinity pool. But most people gravitate to the idyllic beaches with soft, warm water.
Address: Amanwella, Bodhi Mawatha, Godellawela 82200, Sri Lanka
6) Kurulu Bay – For honeymooners
Overlooking peaceful Koggala Lake on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Kurulu Bay opened in December 2022 on a beautiful private jungle estate. Meaning ‘bird’ in Sinhala, Kurulu is a boutique retreat for those wanting to switch off and unwind from everyday life. Its 12 lodgings are spread across garden rooms, lakefront cottages and treehouse suites — great for honeymooners — and allow you to dip in and out of nearby Ahangama’s magnetic scene.
The latter are scattered around the pre-existing Kurulu House, where owner Shahzad Malik lives, designed by Geoffrey Bawa protege Channa Daswatte and merges 1960s Florida architecture with tropical modernism. It’s also the venue for the hotel’s almost daily yoga classes, its shala teetering over the lake and scented by frangipani trees. Life here is slow and simple: start with Turkish eggs on the poolside terrace before gliding between sunlounger and spa —we recommend the body wrap — until dinner in the restaurant, where the menu runs the gamut from lobster tail curry to wood-fired pizzas. Kate Lough
Address: Gurunkanda, Kathaluwa, Ahangama, Sri Lanka
7) Trebartha East – For architecture lovers
A new opening for early 2023, Trebartha East The Roundhouse is an intimate boutique hotel with four bedrooms not far from the surfer hotspot of Ahangama. Set atop a working cinnamon plantation, its award-winning roundhouse design is the brainchild of Colombo-based architect Dr Ar. Narein Perrera. Inside, each corner is a homage to Sri Lankan craftsmanship and artists, with locally sourced furniture, handwoven rugs, rattan ware and paintings adorning its handsome teak walls.
Outside, you’ll want to spend all day lounging by its curved infinity pool. Trebartha East feels like a private house rather than a hotel – especially when owners Benny and Patrick Latham reside – with family–style meals served around a communal table and evening drinks shared with fellow guests. Kate Lough
Address: NO.164/A MEEGAHAGODA, Ahangama 80650, Sri Lanka
8) Halcyon Mawella – For beach time
A 10-minute tuk-tuk ride from hip Hiriketiya, a surfer’s paradise, is the wide sweep of Mawella Beach. Pristine and jungle-fringed, it’s a working fishing village and home to the new boutique hotel, Halcyon Mawella. Four double-level beachfront cabanas, with Tallentire House-designed interiors that flit between Lamu, Indonesia and India, provide delicious sleeping quarters for lazy, pure holiday days.
Fuelled by the hotel’s signature cocktail, the heady Halcyon Spritz, lounge by the pool, paddle board on the nearby lagoon and jump in the waves as the sun sets. Co-owner Zander and his Rhodesian Ridgeback are usually on-site to keep you entertained and ensure you’re well looked after. Kate Lough
Address: Kotuwaththawewatta Moraketiara Mawella, Sri Lanka
9) Tekanda Lodge – For a jungle stay
Run with love by Richard and Charlotte Pembroke, Tekanda Lodge is a luxurious guest house (that can be hired exclusively) and a retreat venue on a jungle hilltop. While it’s near the buzzing beach town of Ahangama, it’s surrounded by 10 tranquil acres of organic tea and coconut plantations that leave you feeling refreshed and restored. Handbuilt with Sri Lankan iluk, its four rooms and two cabanas melt into the surrounding nature while its symphony of jungle sounds (especially the peacocks) soothes the soul.
When you’re not relaxing by the palm-fringed pool or eating around the communal table, the lodge can organise several experiences to give you a glimpse of local life, from fishing on nearby Koggala Lake, visiting the food markets with their chef or learning to cook a dal. Surfers are well-positioned here, too, with breaks for all abilities within easy tuk-tuk reach. Kate Lough
Address: Koodalugodawatta, Alawathukissa, Ahangama 08650, Sri Lanka
10) Gal Oya Lodge – For remote adventures
Gal Oya National Park may be lesser known than Yala but the magic here is that the wildlife is thrillingly untouched. Spy crocodiles, turtles and swimming elephants on boat safaris. Walk through the forest guided by members of the indigenous Vedda community. Then bed down in remote Gal Oya Lodge. Scattered among the bush, there are nine teak bungalows and a family villa, constructed by village craftsmen, complete with grass roofs. Each has a kingsize bed and its own living room with a private veranda. An alfresco bathroom gets you ever closer to nature.
The airy A-framed restaurant, with its panorama of Monkey Mountain (a hardcore trek but worth it), serves Western and Sri Lankan cuisine. Each dish uses seasonal produce, some home-grown, others from local farmers – try the fish fillets cooked with lemongrass and local herbs in a banana leaf. For downtime, there’s a swimming pool, board games and field guides to read plus nerd yourself out in the wildlife research station.
Address: Gal Oya Lodge, B527, Sri Lanka
Wrapping Up!
As you can see, Sri Lanka offers many stylish accommodations from tea plantation estates and modern beach retreats by the Indian Ocean to architect-designed safari camps with private pools.
These unique luxury escapes highlight the island’s diverse beauty. If you’d love to stay in one of these beautiful hotels and are inspired you to take a trip to Sri Lanka, give us a call at +947609-69586 or request a quote.
FAQs on Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka
Q1. Is Sri Lanka luxurious?
A: Sri Lanka’s lush inland Hill Country is home to luxuriant destinations. Sri Lanka offers a unique experience for travelers, thanks to its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and upscale accommodations.
Q2. Is Sri Lanka costly for Indians?
A: On average, a budget trip could range from INR 25,000 to INR 40,000 per person approximately for a week. This includes flights, accommodation, meals, and sightseeing expenses.
Q3. Where should I go for the first time in Sri Lanka?
A: Focus on specific regions such as the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa), Kandy, Ella. And perhaps a Safari destination like Puttalam or Wilpattu.
Q4. Do all the luxury hotels in Sri Lanka have childcare facilities?
A: Most of these properties have childcare facilities like babysitting that couples can make use of in case of need.
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