Nirvana Beach Boutique Hotel

We spent three nights here and had a really bad experience. The beach was the one good thing: beautiful, peaceful and empty. The waves were too big for swimming, but that was fine with me since I wasn’t there to swim. The room was dirty, with grimy floors and walls, mold throughout the shower and at the base of the toilet. The little pool by our balcony, like the one in the photos, was never cleaned. It had tiny leeches, insects and even a cigarette butt in it, and both the water and the pool walls were dirty. Be careful. At Nirvana restaurant, our first dinner took two hours to arrive. The fish curry and grilled prawns were cold, badly cooked and awful. The fish didn’t seem fresh, possibly frozen, and the prawns were very small. The mango juice tasted like onion and a dirty rag, so I spat it out. The straw had a small hole and seemed to have been reused. The kitchen staff member kept forgetting what we’d ordered. On our last day, breakfast arrived on time but was just a poor plate of fruit and cold, stale bread from the day before. The hotel grounds and main pool looked neglected, and the main building roof leaked in the rain. Don’t be taken in by the photos or glowing reviews.

We wanted a break from crowds, and this was an ideal hideaway to relax. There are large rooms, a 7 ft pool and a private beach, plus a small pool attached to the room. If you visit in the off season and plan to use that one, ask to have it cleared. Owner michella and her family were friendly and very supportive. Recommended if you need to unwind.

The owners are so sweet and make you feel at home, and the atmosphere is genuinely warm. Rooms are huge and comfortable, the staff are experienced, and it’s a beautiful hotel on a wonderful beach. We had really good food from an excellent chef, with cocktails at the beach bar. See you again soon! Raphael and Armelle

After two weeks of travelling around Sri Lanka, we picked Nirvana Beach Hotel for the last few days so we could treat ourselves and rest. The hosts and staff were really nice, and the beach, waves and pools made it easy to switch off and relax. I’d definitely recommend staying here.