Colombo, Sri LankaCinnamon Gardens
Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo
Prime ministerial mansion
Cinnamon Gardens Colombo, Sri Lanka
Opened
2007
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LuxeOutside the door
The house
Paradise RoadPrime ministerial mansion
The estate runs like an intimate townhouse club, enclosing its political pedigree within moody salons and secluded courtyards.
What it’s good at
Notable
Monochrome interiors finished with Flemish chandeliers and courtyards flanked by statues.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
With just ten suites it’s the sort of intimate little hotel that’s as much a local meeting place as it is a lodging.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Rosmead Place sits among the quiet lanes of Cinnamon Gardens, with Viharamahadevi Park a short stroll away.
The rooms
Suites keep their lofty residential ceilings and dark palettes, and the Superior Suite opens to a private plunge pool.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The unheated lap pool sits in a high-walled courtyard, bordered by dark timber decking and sculpted stone torsos.
The spa
A private treatment room hosts massages with Spa Ceylon Ayurveda products, and the first floor houses a sauna and steam room.
Restaurant
The Private Dining Room
Belgian artist Saskia Pintelon's work hangs in this first-floor salon, arranged for private dinners with a dedicated bar.
At the table
Afternoon high tea is served on the courtyard terrace. Across the hall, The Red Bar pours cocktails against crimson walls.
How it began
Dr. Lucian de Zilwa built the house in 1930, naming it after King Arthur's legendary birthplace in Cornwall.
Colombo
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.