The best boutique hotels in Sri Lanka
21.07.2023 - 08:17
/ roughguides.com
/ Andy Warhol
If you’re looking for a stylish holiday without maxing the plastic, Sri Lanka has a burgeoning number of chic, affordable hotels and B&Bs. Here are some our favourite boutique hotels in Sri Lanka.
The new highway from the airport to Colombo makes accessing this idyllic country retreat easier than ever; it takes just 40 minutes from terminal to door. The boho chic pavilions at Casa Heliconia – enriched by intricately carved doors, lavish fabrics, chandeliers, statues, antiques and curios – house just two bedrooms: the brick walled “Temples of Angkor” and the more glamorous “Pagoda Gold”. You'll also find an eclectic lounge and poolside summer house, all wrapped within a lush tropical garden. It’s a top spot to chill out before a long haul flight.
This three-year-old beach club near Koggala was the south coast’s first design-driven lifestyle hotel. The fifteen intimate white suites at Cantaloupe Aqua, some accessorised with jacuzzis, balconies or a lofty mezzanine for sleeping, are enlivened by bright Andy Warhol-style pop art. Shameless vistas of the turquoise sea, its shallows dotted with the stilts of local fishermen, reveal themselves through floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s a plunge pool for cooling off and Coconut, the very affordable restaurant and bar, serves a moreish menu of inventive seafood alongside Thai and Sri Lankan cuisine.
For boutique hotels in Sri Lanka, Talpe has some great budget options © aksenovden/Shutterstock
The three suites at Fortaleza, a 400-year-old converted spice warehouse, blend centuries of history with elegant interior design. Attached to a convivial coral-walled restaurant edged by banana trees, this atmospheric abode is also home to a bar, amply stocked with both locals and drinks. Stroll out of the front gates and history continues to immerse you; the streets are lined with ochre-hued colonial houses, museums, cafés and ice cream parlours, and the grassy lighthouse-spiked ramparts are a prime sunset spot.
The views from the four-bedroom Rangala House, a converted tea planter’s bungalow in the World Heritage-listed Knuckles range, are unbeatable. The 180-degree panoramas unfold ridged wooded hills, lush valleys and even Kandy in the misty distance. At around 1000m above sea level, hot days and cool nights ensure the beautiful garden, swimming pool and the fireplace all get plenty of use. For those that take food seriously, the home-cooked meals are excellent, and complemented by pesticide-free, locally-sourced produce like sun-dried fruits, tahini and peanut butter.
The spectacular Knuckles mountain range in Sri Lanka © Harsha Senadheera/Shutterstock
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The vibrant personalities of husband-and-wife team Koki and Henri illuminate every corner of this Kikili