Hotels With Bars in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Nice location. Beautiful view. Great service as well. Staff is nice. Breakfast spread is good - although many items were very salty. Same for dinner buffet. One issue - no lift. So people who cant take stairs are unable to go to bar above or spa below.

Amba Yaalu — A Second Home for Soulful Rejuvenation My first stay at Amba Yaalu by Thema Collection was pure discovery. I came out of curiosity—wanting to experience, for the first time, the novelty and energy of a women-led resort. I left enchanted. But this second visit felt different—more intentional, more existential. I rebooked to continue my solo quest for soulful rejuvenation, tranquility, and serenity—the kind of restorative pause that leaves you resettled for the life you love, yet must return to: a job and day-to-day that asks a great deal. From the moment I arrived, I was beautifully cared for. The à la carte dining—with both Western and Sri Lankan options—did more than simply nourish my body. It re-ignited my appetite in the most genuine way. I ate with joy and intention, and somehow it even made me feel lighter and steadier within myself. I also took a private cookery lesson with the chef, and it was unforgettable. I didn’t just leave with a chef’s hat and a printed recipe book—I left with real skills, spice knowledge, and techniques I can bring home. I can already see myself sharing this with my colleagues, my friends, and of course my beloved family. And yes—I even had to tease the chef, because I loved her food so much that this post-menopausal woman ate so well that my cholesterol and blood pressure readings came down…and I genuinely started to develop a “food baby”. 😂😂😂 Finally, to the management and leadership: as an educator in ancient history, I know great women when I meet them—Helen of Troy, Cleopatra… and beyond. At Amba Yaalu, the leadership feels like that same kind of powerful grace. It isn’t only about running a beautiful resort—it’s about building something that matters. To Amba Yaalu and everyone who made this stay feel like a true haven: thank you for giving me a serenity I could feel in my bones—and a renewed strength for what comes next.

The best location close to the temple and to the show. The staff was very nice and help us with everything. The room is beautiful that let us feel the vibe of Sri Lanka. Recommend.

I absolutely loved this hotel! The location was great, and the views were nice. I only wish I could have stayed longer to enjoy more of the peaceful atmosphere. My room was cozy and relaxing, and I especially loved the bathtub which was perfect for unwinding after a long day. The infinity pool was another highlight with gorgeous ocean views, though it was a bit on the cool side. I do wish it had been heated, but it was still a beautiful spot to relax. Room service was great too! Good selection and reasonably priced for a hotel. Cons: On my last day, I treated myself to a 90-minute aromatherapy massage at the spa. Unfortunately, I’d rate the spa a 5/10. Living in Thailand has definitely spoiled me with incredible massages, so I admit my standards are high! Still, I think the spa could use a bit of a refresh. The rooms smelled a bit old and weren’t very visually appealing. It was also quite cold during the body scrub and massage, which made it hard to fully relax. Breakfast was okay, but I wish there were more Western-style options available. Overall, I’d definitely stay here again. Everything about the hotel itself was lovely, I’d just skip the spa next time!

Seerock The King’s Domain offers an impressive stay with super spacious rooms, a beautiful outdoor environment, and excellent service. The only downside—though not the hotel’s fault—is the occasional wild peacock screaming at night, which might disrupt light sleepers. Otherwise, a fantastic getaway for nature lovers.

The owners and employees at this hotel are so, so lovely. Unfortunately their hotel is not. I almost feel catfished as many of the photos highlighted the bar and pool party atmosphere. This was not the case - the pool was a decent size but in the shade and I actually didn’t see anyone in it. The pool party drinking shots I highly suspect were perhaps not a genuine source. The same goes for the bar which is massive and attended to by several lovely young, bored gentlemen as both times I popped up (once for dinner) I was the only patron. Again no party atmosphere or even people - which is a shame as it is a big venue. Fortunately next door was another venue for some decent cocktails and music which saved the boredom somewhat. The bedroom was a decent size with a small fridge (but didn’t work), the bathroom was small, felt dirty, no hand soap or soap for the shower (apart from leftover previous occupants - and that was gross). The pressure was poor making showering difficult and there was plaster on the floor from some damage - not cleaned up. The bed was massive and comfortable with air conditioning and a fan so sleep was good. Finally, and to repeat, the staff were lovely. Very hospitable and the location is about a ten minute walk to the Sacred Tooth Temple and Kandy Lake. So great location. Would I stay there again - no. Would I pop in to say hello to the owners and next door for a cocktails - possibly!

At one time this was likely a good hotel, however it is now tired, run down and old. We booked the all inclusive rate as we have four children and it made sense as it included drinks and snacks. However, when we arrived the hotel refused to honour it. The manager was exceptionally rude and insisted it was an error on our part despite it being advertised on numerous booking platforms. There are much nicer hotels that offer the same rate within the town that we would have booked had we realised the all inclusive was not an option. The rooms were ok but the extra beds were camp beds and the carpets were extremely dirty throughout the hotel with a strong smell of urine outside the fitness suite. The food was average at best but would not recommend. If you are staying for one night then this would be ok as the location is extremely central but not for any longer.

Thank you for the upgrade to the room with a balcony, and I absolutely love the huge bathroom. Thank you for the friendly service staff who answered my every query. Waking up to the quiet of Kandy Lake before the rest of the city wakes was a really peaceful feeling and I really enjoyed just standing on tje balcony soaking in the sights. Loving the wide breakfast spread too, ranging from local fare to continental selection. I was spoilt for choice and my tummy really loved the chicken curry & daal. Thank you.

One of the best things about this hotel is the stunning view of Sigiriya Lion Rock, especially from the pool area. It’s definitely one of the best spots for that perfect Instagram photo! Breakfast offers a wide variety of choices. However, one downside was that once some of the food ran out, it wasn’t refilled, even though we arrived quite early at around 7:30 a.m. Overall, a great place to stay mainly for the incredible view and location.

Overall, a good experience, especially the unique hotel design and beautiful views. It's understandable that some facilities are a bit dated, and there were mosquitoes in the public areas due to the natural surroundings, but none in the room. It was a value-for-money stay, highly recommended.