Galle Face Hotel
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Meet Pete
22 Asia visits
5 cooking lessons
8 boat trips
Why we love it
Galle Face Hotel is a heritage property that dates back to 1864. Once the mansion of a British Governor, this masterpiece of Victorian architecture was refurbished and reopened in 2006 and now offers a contemporary colonial feel. Its stately wooden panelling and Victorian rooms make it a tempting alternative to Colombo’s modern five star hotels.
Galle Face Hotel caters to the leisure as well as the business traveller. A wide selection of restaurants and bars is headed by the newly-renovated Verandah Restaurant. Watch the sunset with a pre-dinner drink in the Verandah Restaurant, or head to Inn on the Green for a lively pub atmosphere.
Sitting in the heart of Colombo the Galle Face Hotel is brilliantly situated to explore the city. Must see sights include the Gangaramaya Temple, which is one of the most important temples in Colombo and is only a 5-minute drive from the hotel. You are also a short drive away from the Independence Memorial Hall located at the Independence Square in Cinnamon Gardens and 10 minutes from the Pettah neighborhood with the infamous Pettah Market. Within the hotel there is also an historic tradition of croquet and Pimms.
Experience Colombo through unmatched experiences and exclusive glimpses into Sri Lanka's capital city of old and new.
Enjoy a game on the south lawn with a refreshing Pimm's Cup, a tradition that was started within the Galle Fort Hotel during the last century.
Relax with a cool drink or swim a few laps in the saltwater pool after exploring the city. The pool area is a great place to sip a cocktail and watch the sun go down.
Walk through the hotel with the house historian, who points out architectural highlights while sharing stories and legends of years past.
Play a game of chess or backgammon or simply sit to escape from the hum drum of the city. Pick up a volume by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Noel Coward or Mark Twain, all of whom stayed at the hotel in the past.
Walk through memory lane with the hotel's museum of famous faces and artefacts set on the second floor of the south wing of the hotel.
Forage through the forest for ingredients then prepare traditional local meals such as river fish curry, spiced yams, forest salads and Kankun in the outdoor jungle kitchen.
Start planning your truly bespoke itinerary by contacting one of our destination specialists.
Call +44 (0)203 137 1247
Call +1 (0) 800 635 8124
OR
Judy & Chris
We had an amazing holiday in Sri Lanka. All the hotels, transfers, trips and experiences arranged by True Travel were perfect and all the arrangements went seamlessly according to plan. Our guide and driver, Thusita, was a really nice man and so knowledgeable, going out of his way to make sure that we experienced many of the Sri Lankan foods and traditions as possible. I would recommend True Travel to anyone especially if you have not visited the country before.
Start planning your truly bespoke itinerary by contacting one of our destination specialists.
Call +44 (0)203 137 1247
Call +1 (0) 800 635 8124
OR