Impala City Hotel and Hostel Kandy 50

Our room was clean, and the breakfast was nice. The location and price were just okay for what you get. It’s pretty noisy: the audible signal at the traffic light for blind people can be heard from 6am to 8pm, and a huge crow colony in the tree opposite gets very loud in the evening. There’s obviously nothing the hotel can do about either sound.

The shared bathroom was really clean, and the staff were friendly. But we stayed one night in a six-bunk room with no window and a strong moldy smell. The online photos look newer and more polished than our room, where the lockers were broken and a wall was moldy. You can hear footsteps in the hallway, so it’s better for deep sleepers. Breakfast was just okay with no choice, and WiFi was slow and only available at reception.

Impala City Hotel is still figuring out what kind of hotel it wants to be. Some things are excellent and others need work, though nothing felt poor or terrible. I’d call it a place that needs improvement. It’s not a luxury boutique hotel, but it’s also more than just a basic bed or hostel, even though there are some bunk beds and shared showers. If you want to stay right in the city, with friendly, helpful staff and very comfortable beds and showers, Impala Hotel could suit you. The staff, from the doorman and cleaner to management, are excellent, as are the beds, linen, new showers, and location. You’re right in the city centre, close to the tooth temple, lake, shops, train station, and bus station. Cleanliness, the rooftop terrace, and the “cafe area” are very good. Room size and features, and the reception area, are average. The doors, keys, soundproofing, and breakfast could improve. It’s a new hotel, and the owners are still working out their direction and the kind of guests they want to serve as they turn a former footware store house into a pleasant place to stay. They’re trying their best and seem open to feedback and advice.

It’s a nice, quiet spot in the middle of the city bustle. Breakfast wasn’t so appealing, though. While we were eating, a raven was desecrating a pigeon carcass, which wasn’t a pleasant sight. Still, it was a good experience overall.