Fig and Gecko Hostel

Paul and his dogs, Alex and Harry, made us feel very welcome. Paul was the highlight: a great storyteller and a brilliant person to ask about things to do. He arranged guides for both days, helped set up a Sacred City tour, and gave us tips for Mihintale and some lesser-known local sights. We also booked a safari through the hostel on our second day. It was excellent and probably much less crowded than Yala. We only planned on one night at Fig and Geko, but stayed for three. The hostel was quiet, part of a wider dip in local tourism, but it was clean, homely, and well located. There was plenty to see and do. Paul's cooking was fantastic too: the Kothu, Biryani, Chapattis, and breakfast pancakes were among the best things we ate in Sri Lanka. He went out of his way to make our stay memorable. We'd highly recommend this place for a short or long stay in Anuradhapura.

The staff were amazing and the food was okay, but I wouldn't recommend staying here. The owner treats staff and guests abusively, leaves prices off things so he can overcharge, and stole from me. The fan system he's proud of was switched off on me repeatedly while I was in the room, so it got very hot. The pillows all had mold, the private rooms didn't feel private at all, and Wi-Fi didn't reach every area. The owner also used up all the data in about three days, so despite the advertised Wi-Fi, plan on needing a SIM Card. There are much nicer local places nearby with AC and better showers. Sri Lankans are very friendly, and I'd suggest supporting one of them at another hotel with better facilities.

Paul, Maya and Ruwen looked after me when I felt ill one day, and I felt I was in good hands. They also shared lots of information about the island and arranged all kinds of trips. The house was clean, the food was good, and the garden hammock was a great spot to relax. I really recommend staying here while visiting Anuradhapura.

We didn't stay at the hostel, but our group of seven came for dinner on our last evening in Sri Lanka and all agreed it was our best meal in the country. We spoke with them in the afternoon, picked the menu, and paid in advance. A couple of hours later, we arrived to a full table with more food than we could manage. Definitely recommend the restaurant.