il Frangipane

After climbing Lion rock, slipping into the pool felt so good. We could get straight to it from the back of our room by the second pool, where we stayed in one of the four new rooms. The room was spacious, spotlessly clean, well planned, and had a big comfortable bed. The whole hotel was even cuter than in the photos, with lovely local plants and tasteful decor. It felt a little elevated. Service was impeccable, and the team was always ready to help at a moment’s notice. We had good breakfasts and fresh juice several times during our stay. Items in the mini fridge were complimentary. For the quality, we thought the price was great, probably among the top two for value of the places we stayed in Sri Lanka. Highly recommend.

The hotel was excellent value for the price, and the quiet location is about a 15-minute walk from Lion Rock. We spent two nights here and really enjoyed it. The room was roomy and surprisingly modern for this price range, and the beds were so comfortable that we slept very well. The staff were kind and helpful throughout. They arranged an early tuk-tuk so we could visit Lion Rock safely and avoid elephant activity. The hotel’s driver also took us to Polonnaruwa. He stopped at all the important viewpoints and showed us a few less familiar places that regular tours often miss. We had an amazing day with him. Breakfast was generous, with different delicious dishes on both mornings. We didn’t get to try the pool, but it looked fantastic. We’d definitely recommend staying here.

We loved the peaceful pool area, surrounded by nature, and our upper-floor room was spacious with great views over it. At night or during heavy rain, though, you can sometimes hear monkeys running on the roof and rain pouring down. I enjoyed that as part of the Sri Lankan experience, but light sleepers might prefer a lower-floor room. The staff were wonderfully friendly and keen to help us make the most of our time. We already had an itinerary, but their suggestions were still useful. We weren’t sure about taking an elephant safari because we didn’t want to stress the animals. The staff suggested a guide they knew, who was cheaper than booking online. We felt he respected the elephants, and we could ask him not to go somewhere if we thought they were being disturbed. That put us at ease. Breakfast was amazing, with fresh fruit, juices, toast, pancakes, teas, and pastries. The portions were generous, maybe too generous, and sharing the menu first could help reduce waste. A few towels had stains even though they were clean, so some replacements might be due. Shade didn’t reach all the pool beds, and an umbrella would help. I also hope they find ways to use less plastic, especially with water bottles, perhaps by adding refill stations. They’re expanding with two new rooms, so there may be some construction noise for the next couple of months. It didn’t bother us much. I truly loved the place and already miss it. The owner should be proud of such a caring team.

The pool was our favorite part, well kept and like swimming in a rainforest. The location was excellent, and the staff were really friendly and helpful without hovering.