Must-see hotels in 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…

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…

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…

Of the several Ys offering budget accommodation, this is easily the best. Enjoy modest colonial splendour in this leafy compound in a frenetic and popular…

This hotel gets everything just right. The 13 rooms are well equipped and stylish in a minimalist way. Long concrete counters are good for work and the…

This appealing guesthouse has seven rooms in two sizes spread across two colonial houses. Modern luxury is matched with antiques that feel authentic to…

All the comforts you could ask for (decent work areas, rain showers, welcome fruit basket and more) are appealingly packaged at this new small hotel. Some…

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…

Part of this grand seafront hotel dates to 1806, when it was the residence of the British governor. The appropriately named ‘governor’s wing’ has colonial…

This vast 200-year-old mansion shelters behind a row of storefronts on Galle Rd. Protected from the noise, it’s an urban refuge with huge old trees and an…

Set inside an old mansion with a notorious past (when it was a home for local politicians), this stylish hotel dazzles with its dark, minimalist design,…

Close to Cinnamon Gardens and other hotspots but isolated from the street mayhem, this relaxed estate has six lovely rooms in an elegant and restful…

Part of the well-regarded Indian chain, this vast edifice has elegant public areas and a lovely 11-acre garden, as well as myriad restaurants and bars,…

This very professionally managed hotel and hostel has an ideal location just east of the Dutch Hospital. In its renovated four-storey building there are…

One of Colombo's best cafes also rents out five rooms (four with king beds, one with twin beds). Just like the great coffees downstairs, the decor is rich…

A little bit of Bali in Mount Lavinia, this walled compound hosts several bungalows that have wide terraces that look onto gardens. It's very clean and…

Opposite the harbour, this was Colombo’s finest hotel a century ago, a place to see and be seen. Although it’s no longer the case, there’s a certain…

The Steuart is set in a renovated colonial-era building with parts dating back to 1835. The 50 rooms have a fairly simple purple-and-white decor with old…

An old two-storey shophouse in the heart of Fort has been turned into an upscale hostel. Each capsule is essentially a very large bunk area enclosed by…

Geoffrey Bawa fans can stay in his Colombo home. Within his artful estate, which is a popular place for tours, a suite of two bedrooms is rented out. Only…