Whitepearl Beach

This was my 16th hotel in Sri Lanka, and honestly the worst. Don’t stay here if you’re not Russian, because otherwise they won’t care about you. The staff seem not to care and assume you’re Russian, so they gave me a Russian menu. I had a small issue and brought it up, and after that nobody even looked at me. I checked out a day early because I didn’t feel welcome. The night security guard was the nicest person there. You also don’t have access to the Wi-Fi for 24 hours. When the owner came over, he didn’t look at me or say hello, he just asked, “What’s the problem?” I don’t recommend this place at all.

The cafe looks great, and the view from it is lovely. The food quality was okay, but I was very unhappy with the staff because I felt they lied to me. I asked if they had fresh fish and was told yes, then they brought me a partly frozen, stiff fish. I pointed it out, so they took it away and 5 minutes later brought the same fish on a different plate, saying it was fresh. They argued with each other beside me while doing this. Come at your own risk.

The food was great, with a big range of dishes. The rooms are clean, though they’re simple, and the air conditioning doesn’t work in all of them. It’s good by Sri Lankan standards, but not comparable to European hotels.

White Pearl restaurant is a peaceful spot at the southern end of the beach, where it’s generally less crowded. Hikkadua can get very busy during the day, and it can be hard to get away from the chaotic Galle-Colombo main rd and the railway track beside it. I’d been here over a week before I stumbled across this eatery. I came this morning for coffee and breakfast. It flies a German, Swedish, and Sri Lankan flag, which I ignored, and I’m glad I did. I was told it’s owned by a Swedish national, so naturally the standard is high. You mostly hear rolling waves and the occasional wind chime. Local staff Sanduni & Tharusha were on hand and were engaging, courteous, and professional. This was my second visit. I ordered a cafetière of coffee, mango juice, and fruit salad. On my first visit I had a vegetable omelette. The food, service, and atmosphere are perfect, and the prices are very affordable. My one complaint is the restaurant manager, who talks down to and bullies staff in front of customers. I told him how I felt. He’s very unprofessional and a nasty, vile man. No staff should have to put up with his behaviour. Apart from that, highly recommended, a well-deserved five stars. 🌟