The Sun House

The staff were extremely friendly and focused on service, and the food was superb. The villa is up on a hill above Galle, where there’s usually a pleasantly cool breeze. Its careful, expert restoration preserves the grandeur of another era, especially in the magnificent living and dining area. I love colonial architecture, and this place felt like paradise. Across all my travels in Southeast Asia, I haven’t stayed in a villa with rooms like these. The terraced garden is beautifully arranged with fragrant frangipani trees, while a friendly family of monkeys and lots of squirrels keep guests entertained during the day. It’s a hidden gem where you can spend unforgettable days in another era.

The staff were genuinely warm and helpful, and breakfast was delicious with generous portions. We didn’t have dinner there, though the restaurant looked very good. Our room and the building were spacious, stylish, clean, and full of character. The bed was very comfortable and the shower was excellent. We could happily have stayed all week. The Sun House was a perfect introduction to Sri Lankan hospitality and a lovely way to begin our trip in Galle. It’s an ideal retreat after sightseeing, up the hill in peaceful greenery. The Fort is a short walk away, around 10-15 minutes, or an even quicker tuk tuk ride. I’d very much recommend it, especially for the value compared with hotels in the Fort area.

The Sun House was our favourite place to stay in Sri Lanka, an absolute must. The staff were attentive, friendly, and welcoming, and we couldn’t have asked for better service. Our immaculate room had a lovely large bed and beautiful bathroom. The grounds are stunning, and we loved how the owners preserved the history of the old colonial building while adding comforts that made it easy to relax. Breakfast was so delicious that we made sure to try dinner at The Gallean one night. My partner is vegan, and he had so many options. All our food and cocktails were fantastic and very reasonably priced.

We ended our two-week trip with two nights at The Sun House, travelling with our children, aged 12 and 7. The pool and grounds were so lovely that we scrapped our sightseeing plans for the last day and spent it relaxing, eating delicious food at the restaurant, and watching monkeys in the trees. Breakfast was the best we had on the whole trip. The hotel is just outside the fort walls, and tuk tuks were easy to find and inexpensive. The place is beautiful, and everyone on staff made us feel welcome. We'd happily recommend it.