Amangalla

Sureka was so friendly and clear as she walked us through the menu. I went with the rice and curry, and my tuna was cooked perfectly by the chef. We really enjoyed dinner and our stay, and she was smiling, polite, and very well educated, just what you'd expect of a place like yours. For my birthday, the chef surprised us with a little something 🎂. We were very happy and will come back. Thanks, Sureka.

The outside space was lovely, and the guys waiting on were helpful. The building itself is a lovely colonial hotel in a good spot in Galle, and it ought to be wonderful. There was a nice fruit plate in our suite and an evening gift on the bed, but the room felt austere rather than comfortable. With its colonial look, it was more like being in a museum than somewhere relaxing. The whole atmosphere and attention to detail felt average to us, and short on the 'Aman-ness' we expected. The pool was murky, and the tiles felt slimy. The restaurant and service were nowhere near five-star: many breakfast items were unavailable, and the food was average. Eggs came either underdone or overcooked. We had dinner once in the very quiet restaurant. The curry was tasteless and lacked spice despite our request for it to be spicy, and the other, insipid chicken dish came with an inedible roti. We tried afternoon tea once, but wouldn't have it again, even though we were there for four nights. The staff really stood out for the wrong reasons. Too many people were standing around and, frankly, seemed clueless. We saw our supposed 'butler' just twice in four days. After staying at Amangiri a couple of years ago, the two hotels feel poles apart. Aman can do so much better.

The restaurant terrace, lobby, and corridors all have a special feel, with history and thoughtful architecture everywhere. I've stayed at many amazing hotels around the world, and this one still feels like a destination of its own. The staff went above and beyond. Kaya, the brilliant Japanese/Turkish general manager, was especially good. If you visit, ask for Dammika, the butler. He's the sweetest and most helpful person. As always, Aman didn't disappoint.

I dropped in for afternoon tea with a friend today. It was a relaxed, enjoyable break with quality products. Pramod topped it off with attentive, efficient service and answered all our questions about the tea and the hotel.