Kayaam House

Just wow! One of the best hotels we have ever stayed in - the hotel itself and our room were both stunning, and service was absolutely amazing! We stayed for two nights and our full day was unfortunately rainy, but there were plenty of board games and areas to sit and relax inside. Upon arrival, we upgraded our bed and breakfast stay to half board. This was an additional $100 per night, but allowed a four course evening meal. We believe this is best value for money as the food is a little on the pricey side. Breakfast was also delicious and you could pick whatever / how ever much you wanted from the menu. Will 1000% return when we are back in Sri Lanka, and want to say a massive thank you to all of the Kayaam House team!

As soon as we arrived at Kayaam House and saw the beautiful setting, we were smitten. What a place! Our ocean-facing room had a gorgeous terrace with a bath tub and fabulous views of the garden, pool and sea. Hemal welcomed us and provided exceptional service throughout. He gave us his WhatsApp number and then efficiently responded to any requests (eg to book treatments) - I wish other hotels did this. The location too is special with a gorgeous deserted beach at the end of the garden. The food was delicious with a varied menu. The resident Ayurvedic doctor was (for us) an unexpected bonus. It’s far lovelier than their website images show.

A new hotel that manages, despite the best efforts of its charming staff to get is slightly wrong. The hotel is reached down a long unmade track which would challenge the suspension of all but the hardiest 4x4. The beach is un-swimmable, for all but the best and bravest of swimmers, thanks to a sharp drop off and a rolling swell. The lakes behind the hotel are a breeding ground for particularly vicious insects. The architecture is Dubai meets Sri Lanka and lacks an understanding of the importance of proportion and detail Not bad, but not worth a detour.

As part of our 3rd trip to Sri Lanka, I selected this hotel on the basis of recommendations and reviews. I must say that I do not share the positivity of other guests. Fortunately we were only there for 3 nights. The main building is gorgeous and imposing. Contrary to the bedrooms, the common areas are extremely spacious and airy. The pool is large and the pool area and garden are nice and well equipped and tended. A proper foot shower to wash the feet after the beach would be an improvement. For such an hotel, the rooms are far too small. Lack of clothes storage makes matter worse. The bathroom is equally small and dark. The overall impression is one of a cramped and oppressive space which is most unusual in Sri Lanka. It is reminiscent of rooms in any large international hotel chain.The narrow balcony which is made smaller by the bath has only one bench chair to sit on rather than 2 chairs to relax in. The staff are attentive, friendly and helpful, so is the management. The food quality is good but variable, while some dishes are well executed while others are more disappointing. The menu is extensive but very expensive by local standards. Overall, if you are not bothered by the room size, there are some very good reasons to choose this hotel, but there are so many good hotels in SL that this one might not be first choice.