Mandarina Colombo

The rooms, bathrooms and beds were clean and well cared for, and the location was great. Food was just moderate, though the prices seemed reasonable. I was let down by the late check-out service, so I’m not sure yet whether I’ll return.

The rooftop restaurant had a good range of dishes, many of them new to me, and I enjoyed what I tried. The front-of-house staff were welcoming, and the hotel was spotless. I chose it for the location on my first trip to Srilanka and was happy with that choice. My road-facing room was a bit noisy, but I still slept well. One aircon wouldn’t let me raise the temperature above 20 degrees, so I switched it to fan. I’m looking forward to staying again.

The buffet was the real treat. We had breakfast there both mornings and loved the food, though the selection wasn’t very large. The staff were helpful and polite from check-in through check-out, and the location made it easy to reach nearby malls and go sightseeing. Our room was comfortable, clean and well equipped. There was a small problem with the TV, which we reported, and the team acknowledged it promptly.

I’d stay again if the price were competitive. The rooms were clean and functional, though the bathroom could use some updating. I found cafes and places to eat easily on foot, and there’s a convenience store across the road that stays open until 10pm. The taxi ride from Colombo airport took about an hour. The lifts were the main drawback. Two lifts serve 11 floors and the basement parking, and staff use them too, as far as I could tell there wasn’t a separate service lift. That can mean quite a wait, and the lifts feel narrow when a baggage trolley is brought in. Check-in was pleasant. I arrived early, at 11am, and the receptionist clearly explained that the room wouldn’t be ready until 2pm under the hotel’s policy. They kindly stored my bags. I didn’t have breakfast or use the rooftop pool, which looked compact but functional.