Heritance Kandalama

The buffet was a highlight, with impressive variety and everything tasting excellent. My only suggestion is to modernize some of the room fixtures and facilities, which feel a bit dated even though the rooms are comfortable. The rest of the property sets a world-class standard. I had an incredible stay at Heritance Kandalama. Geoffrey Bawa’s design blends the hotel into the cliffside and surrounding nature in a breathtaking way. The location has stunning views and a serene atmosphere you won't find anywhere else. A must-visit for anyone who loves architecture or nature.

The buffet was the best part for us, especially the desserts, and the staff were lovely. We also enjoyed the clean pools and spacious, tidy rooms during our family stay in early March. The architecture is beautiful and the jungle setting feels special. Still, the hotel is showing its age, and for what it costs the value doesn't quite match newer luxury places. There's not much to do on site, and although it's beside the lake, you can't get out on it for a boat ride. A peaceful place for a night, though the luxury price is harder to justify now.

The food was the real standout: breakfast and dinner buffets were the tastiest I had in Sri Lanka, with authentic local dishes as well as other cuisines. The rooms are beautifully blended into nature, and we had a fantastic stay overall. I think this is the flagship hotel in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle. We visited Sigiriya rock and went on the elephant Safari, both of which were great, but the hotel staff didn't seem to know what we'd done during our stay. Service could use more attention too, as at times there seemed to be a lot of staff without much guest engagement. The pools also felt a bit forgotten. There wasn't much going on for guests hoping to relax poolside with cocktails. Booking two suites directly on the website was a horrible experience. A few days later I got an email saying the booking was cancelled, although staff kept telling me they could see it as confirmed. It seemed the hotel staff had little control over bookings made through the direct website. I expected some special perks for booking directly, especially for high category rooms like suites.

The lake views through the trees from the rooms were uninterrupted, and the natural surroundings are what make this hotel special. It sits beautifully in the environment, and the service and food were very good without taking away from the setting. A unique experience.