Mailagama Cinnamon Residence

We had two nights at Cinnamon Residence and the food was delicious and varied. The vegetables are grown without chemicals, and you can taste how good they are. It's a simple, comfortable, clean place, without luxury, but our deep nights of sleep were great even with the early safari wake-up. There were hot showers and no barking dogs. The house is beautiful, just like the website pictures, and the paddy fields around it make the place very peaceful. You can walk to a lake, visit the spice garden, or relax on the terrace or in the little wooden observatory above the fields. The staff were so lovely and helpful. The manager, mr Sinniah Inbaraj, shared his love of the plants with us. He works for the owner, Indira, and both were involved in Sri Langan health projects in the past. Mr Inbaraj is very smart and interesting, and now puts a lot of care into making each customer happy. We also had a great safari with Nimal at HKN Yala Safari bloc 5. We saw beautiful animals and birds, including a gorgeous leopard and an eagle. He's a clever nature lover, a safe driver, good at spotting animals, and knows birds very well. Cinnamon Residence will stay in our memories as a very true feeling of SriLankan soul. Thank you, mr Inbaraj.

The setting is beautiful, and the property has a gracious old-world charm. Our room was very spacious, with a comfortable bed, a hot shower, and a balcony overlooking the grounds. The staff were amazing, both capable and friendly, and made a real effort to make us feel special. They asked what we'd like for dinner and breakfast, then served good home-cooked Sri Lankan food beautifully. Indira, the owner, went out of her way to make my husband's 70th birthday special, which we really appreciated. We also booked the Yala safaris through the property and had an excellent driver and guide who did his best to make the day eventful. Book this, you won't be disappointed.

Raj was incredibly sweet and made sure we had plenty to eat and drink, even when we arrived at 10pm and had to head out on safari at 5am. After the safari, we came back and spent the afternoon at the hotel. The team made us a delicious lunch, and Raj showed us around the grounds and garden. It was truly magical, one of the top ten hotels we've stayed in. The rooms were clean and spacious, and the hotel itself is gorgeous, next door to a spice garden. If you're visiting Yala for 1-2 nights, stay here. The Sri Lankan hospitality is the real thing.

Raj made us feel very welcome and was a wonderful, kind host. The setting is peaceful, with beautiful surroundings and a great view, so it's an easy place to relax and enjoy nature. The food was very good, freshly made, and full of flavor. We also enjoyed hearing Raj explain the house farming process, including how they grow cinnamon, spices, and vegetables. It gave our stay an authentic touch. Mailagama Cinnamon Residence is a lovely place to stay, and I'd recommend it for a calm visit with warm hospitality and local insight.