Lilly House

The little house is a gem, beautifully furnished, inviting, and super clean. It has its own bathroom and a small kitchenette for making tea and coffee. From the veranda, you look out over a lovely garden with songbirds and, now and then, monkeys in the trees. Dominique and Manjula were kind and helpful with ideas for things to do. You can book short trips in Manjula’s tuk-tuk, and he drove us to restaurants in the evenings and to nearby tourist spots. It’s a lovely place for a couple who want to be near the beach and Unawatuna, but still enjoy some peace and quiet. I can highly recommend it, and we’ll book here again when we return to Sri Lanka.

The garden around Lilly House is full of wildlife, from beautiful birds and squirrels to a Lace Monitor, and Dominique and Manjula’s well-trained dog and cats. A few monkeys came to visit once. They were quiet, polite, and stayed in the trees. The beach is around 150 metres down a flat street, and we had it to ourselves. The sand and water were the cleanest we’ve experienced outside Australia. We spent almost all our time on the outside porch, which works like a living room, with a dining table, two great lounge chairs, and a huge day bed. Inside, the large bedroom had a very comfortable bed, and the huge bathroom had a fabulous shower. The sitting area and kitchen were ideal for staying in, though a fan or air conditioning there would have made it a 10 instead of a 9. Dominique and Manjula were wonderful hosts, always helpful when needed, and they cook brilliantly. Breakfast was fantastic, with fresh fruit and delicious cooked food, and the coffee was a welcome treat after my coffee drought. We persuaded them to make dinner one night, and it was the best single meal we had in Sri Lanka. Manjula’s tuk-tuk made trips to Galle easy. It’s about 10 km away, with lots of history, beautiful buildings, museums, restaurants, and great shopping. Dominique and Manjula made our time in Galle just perfect.

A quiet, peaceful spot just a short walk from Thalpe Beach. The villa is beautifully furnished and has lots of amenities. The hostess was lovely and helpful, and she’s a fantastic cook too.

I stayed at Dominique and Manju’s place for over a month. Close the little door in the wall, and you’re in paradise. Before long, I was feeling so lazy I didn’t want to leave the beautiful garden, just spend all my time in the hammock or on the sofa.