Villa Hotel

The restaurant was a real plus for us: the food was tasty and nicely prepared, and you could tell the kitchen team cared about keeping it good. The villa itself also has a lovely, peaceful feel. Our room was clean, roomy and comfortable, and the setting was a nice place to unwind with family or friends. Service was the part that let the stay down. Staff sometimes seemed to miss us, simple requests took a while, and things felt poorly coordinated. With rooms and food this good, a bit more attention and friendliness from the team would make a big difference.

I ordered “Devilled cuttlefish” and “Chicken salad,” but what arrived was vegetables with fried chicken, as you can see in the picture. The cuttlefish also wasn't cooked properly. Pretty disappointing. The entrance calls it “VIP Restaurant,” but the food felt like street food. 🤣😂

The waterfront setting was lovely, with a great view across the harbour, and the hotel looked inviting when I arrived. I picked it because it was close to the local airport for my Cinnamon Air flight to Colombo. Dinner at the hotel restaurant was tasty and reasonably priced, and the staff were friendly and very helpful. They arranged a tuk tuk for the airport, took care to prepare my food without chilli because of my allergy, and quickly brought a replacement kettle after the one in my room blew the electricity and briefly left me without power. For the price, it was good value. The stairs were a drawback. I couldn't see a lift, and there were lots of steep, narrow steps that would be awkward with suitcases. I only had a rucksack, so it was fine for me. I also hadn't realized I'd booked during a festival at the small temple opposite. The music and celebrations were extremely loud all night, and the hotel had little soundproofing. Staff said other guests had been calling them at all hours about the noise and lack of sleep. I carry earplugs, which blocked a lot of it, so I did manage to sleep some. If you're planning to stay, I'd check with the staff beforehand about festivals on your dates.

I only stopped by the bar, not the hotel. The service and prices were good, and the people were helpful. The food, though, was awful. I'm not sure what they were going for, and a local guy sitting next to me agreed. Everything else was nice.