Negombo, Sri Lanka
Wallawwa by Teardrop Hotels
Restored chieftain manor
Negombo, Sri Lanka
Opened
2008
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
The house
Teardrop HotelsRestored chieftain manor
The eighteenth-century chieftain's estate runs as an unhurried country house, centering on wide verandas and seven acres of tropical gardens.
What it’s good at
Notable
An eighteenth-century chieftain manor once commandeered by Lord Mountbatten during the war.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The single-storey Wallawwa contains 14 rooms arranged on either side of a lotus pond, with teak furniture, tropical-print upholstery, and terrazzo bathrooms.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Set across seven acres of tropical gardens in Kotugoda, twenty minutes from Bandaranaike International Airport.
The rooms
Suites overlook quiet gardens and lily-strewn water, appointed with draped four-poster beds, hand-carved woodwork, and open-air terrazzo bathrooms.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The 16-meter pool is paved with Indian stone tiles, flanked by loungers under a dense canopy of tropical trees.
The yoga pavilion
Bi-folding glass doors open the terrazzo-floored pavilion to the gardens for daily yoga, meditation, and sound healing.
At the table
The open-sided Verandah overlooks the gardens, serving Sri Lankan curries and cocktails made with produce from the estate's kitchen garden.
How it began
The property takes its name from the Sinhalese word for an aristocratic residence, originally built from coral for the Dias-Abeysinghe family.
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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.