Thambili House Galle Fort by Edwards Collection

We had booked the Nutmeg Suite at the Thambili House hotel in Galle, Sri Lanka for two nights on 26 and 27 March 2024. An advance payment was taken and another payment was taken upon arrival at the hotel (before we were allowed to see the room). The Nutmeg Suite was described on the website as offering “rare, uninterrupted sea views” and that is the only reason we paid a significant premium for the room. However, upon entry into the room, it became clear that the reference to “rare uninterrupted sea views” was inaccurate, if not fraudulent, as there were no sea views at all. The room was situated on the first floor of the building and the balcony of the room (the only part of the room facing the sea) was situated right next to the walls of Galle Fort. Since a number of people walked on the top of the walls of the fort, they could look into the room. In an attempt to address this the hotel management had blocked off the sea view entirely with folliage meaning there was no sea view at all. Further, given the folliage had some gaps in it, people walking on the wall could still look into the room. We tried to negotiate with management for a refund but they said that they have a “no refund” policy and whenever gues we’re dissatisfied (suggesting this happens often) they were offered a free meal or accommodation in another city! I would avoid not just this hotel but the entire Edwards Collection range. Seems very unprofessional.

Thambilli House was just terrific, rooms, staff, open areas, pool and location ideal for a Galle Fort visit. This was our 3rd stay at The Fort and by far the best accommodation so far. Only surprise was that the room did not have a bar fridge, quite unusual from our perspective.

Staying at Thambili House by Edwards Collection in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka, was an unforgettable experience, akin to being part of an extended family. The host Supun, alongside his team Sandeep, Sandun, and the exceptionally talented chef Sunil, went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Their warm hospitality and personalized service added a unique charm to our stay. The house itself is a beautifully restored piece of history, offering stunning views, and comfortable, well-appointed rooms. Our days were filled with delightful activities, from playing cricket in Galle, surfing at Sri Lanka's finest beaches, exploring the local culinary scene, to wandering the cobbled streets of Galle Fort. Each day was a new adventure, complemented by Sunil's culinary masterpieces, tailored to our tastes. This team truly embodies the spirit of Sri Lankan hospitality, making Thambili House not just a place to stay, but a memorable part of our journey.

We made a booking here several months ago so that we could attend the Galle Literary Festival. Two weeks before we are to fly in, the hotel cancels with a lame excuse that they will “ upgrade” us to a 3 star beach hotel several towns away! Really??We are now stuck with no accommodation for the festival for which we have bought tickets.

This was our first time at Thambili House and we really enjoyed our stay. We have stayed at different properties by Edwards Collection and as before the service was excellent. We booked the Nutmeg suite. We were well taken care by Buddika and his staff including Sandeep who we have met before at The Far Pavilion. We highly recommend this place to anyone who’s looking for a calm relaxing holiday. The food was simply tasty and the quick dip in their plunge pool was awesome. Hope to go there again.

We had 4 wonderful nights at Thambili House last week. It is an extraordinarily beautiful establishment in a great location in Galle Fort. Buddika and all the staff were so lovely, welcoming and accommodated all our needs (including access to a tv for cricket and an AFL final). The service was of very high quality, the food incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Actually, wish we could have stayed! I have no hesitation in recommending Thambili House by Edwards Collection if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Galle Fort.

Wow what a beautiful building that has been so appropriately furnished. A fantastic boutique hotel with a delightful swimming pool and dining area. The boys were outstanding and the service we received from them was the best we experienced in Sr Lanka. The meal that they cooked was also superb and I could not compliment them enough. I highly recommend this establishment.

We booked the entire hotel for the 6 of us & took up the three beautiful rooms. The hotel is such an impressive building. There is loads of space and it is beautifully decorated. It’s location is perfect, it is within the fort right across from the beach & a stone throw away to any cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. The pool is also divine. The staff were incredible. There were at least 3 members of staff on hand at all times, and they couldn’t do enough for us. We had dinner and breakfast at the hotel, both were delicious. For dinner we asked for a selection of curries which we could not fault. Somehow they managed to whip it up during a power cut (Galle as has a few power cuts). The table was set outside and where we dined on the terrace, it was really special. For breakfast we had fruit platters, waffles, pancakes and eggs with bacon etc, cooked however we liked. The food was plentiful and delicious. Two of us needed covid tests to get back to Australia. The hotel organised this very quickly for us, they called a doctor who came to the hotel at 4.30pm and had sent us the results by 8am the next day. So easy & painless. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. I would recommend this beautiful historic house to anyone.