5 Best Hotels in Sri Lanka

This lovely old restored house in a quiet area close to the Canadian High Commission is a home away from home in downtown Colombo. Most of the sights and restaurants are a short walk away. The low number of rooms in this B&B ensures exclusivity. Each of the four units is individually furnished in elegant and bright shades, with modern fittings and polished wooden floors. Rooms have both a/c and overhead fans. You can take your breakfast in the small garden. Staff are very helpful and can help arrange everything from tours to airport transfers. Complimentary afternoon tea is served daily.

The Casa Colombo's motto is "nothing exceeds luxury like excess," and once you arrive here you'll understand. The 200-year-old white mansion, built in Moorish style and decked in Italian and Indian mosaic floors, carved arches, and molded ceilings, was once home of a wealthy family of Indian traders. Located in the Colombo business district, the building is down a quiet cul-de-sac with its own grounds. It's been lovingly restored, but—rather than as a colonial relic—it exists as a stylish boutique hotel with a retro-chic, ultra-hip designer decor. The outdoor pool, for example, is lined with pink tiles rather than the conventional blue. No two suites are alike: each has its own colors, layout, and character, and ranges in size from 500 to 1,000 square feet. Every piece of furniture, fabric, and lighting was custom designed by the hotel's founder, Lalin Jinasena, and made to order in Sri Lanka—except perhaps for the flat-screen TVs and Apple laptops. Needless to say, the service is flawless—each suite is individually staffed by a personal butler, ready to cater to your every whim.

Located close to the center of Colombo, this boutique hotel opened in 2012 and is a splash of luxury that's well worth a splurge. Large and immaculate rooms have modern furnishings and lovely polished wood floors. There are several wining and dining options, offering European and Asian menus, including a rooftop café with great views over the city. Even though it's been open just a short time, expansion plans added more rooms late in 2012 along with a spa and swimming pool.

Very often in Sri Lanka, the best values and most personal experiences are found in family-run B&Bs, and the Garden Guest House is a wonderful example. There's a small garden, and even an indoor fountain. The three guest rooms are pink and flowery, clearly furnished with a woman's touch, but also very homey. The owner and his mother will help you in every way possible, right down to picking you up personally at the airport. As is the case with many Sri Lankan B&Bs, you can also choose to have all, some, or none of your meals in-house, family-style. You can choose from Western or local cuisine, and it will be cooked to order for you from the freshest ingredients. If you don't fancy that, there's also a private kitchen for guests to use.

This modern, friendly business hotel is on busy Galle Road, close to the sea and a short distance south of downtown Colombo. It's also in the vicinity of several shops and restaurants. Clean and comfortable rooms are well-appointed, brightly furnished, and have wooden floors. There are two bars, and the hotel's restaurant offers a choice of traditional Sri Lankan, Indian, and European cuisines; rooms can be booked on a B&B, half-, or full-board basis.