5-Star Hotels in Colombo

We spent an unforgettable night at Ishq. It's a pity that we didn't stay a few more days because of time. We'll leave it for next time! The hotel is simple and elegant, the bedding and furniture in the room are quite tasteful, and the hotel has a very charming library. I really want to stay in it for a week and enjoy the quiet time of reading in the breeze; the hotel is well maintained and clean, and the bedding has a fresh smell of sunshine, which is very rare in a hot and humid coastal city; we enjoyed an unforgettable dinner in the exquisite restaurant, with dancing candlelight and cool breeze, which is so romantic! It is also worth mentioning that our housekeeper Darshana is very enthusiastic and professional, and provided us with a lot of help. Thanks to the Ishq team for providing guests with such a beautiful resting environment!

Manipati Hotel in Colombo, an old house built in 1906, was once the private residence of the Correa family. Stepping into the hotel, it feels like traveling through time and space, and deeply appreciates the texture polished by time. The hotel cleverly retains the original colonial architectural details and historical and cultural atmosphere. The hotel has only a few rooms, and my room was unexpectedly upgraded with a small garden. A chair and a small coffee table in the corner became a good place for me to read. In the morning, squirrels jumped between the trees, green parrots played on the white walls, and I enjoyed a quiet time in the swimming pool in front of the door. Thank you!

Kingsbury hotel is in a prime location closer to the beach activities. Some rooms are with sea view. Shopping mall is nearby that offers variety of shops and services. Restaurants provide wide selection of food options with local and international cuisines. The rooms are carpeted which emits old odour. The room furniture needs modernising. We experienced issues with booking. They couldn’t find our booking and gave us a room in a lower floor and the furnitures were old with smelly carpet. On my complaint, we were upgraded to a suite room in a higher floor which was classy and the view was excellent. Don’t know I can afford to stay in a suite. The staffs were helpful. I didn’t have a chance to use all amenities but I noticed there were many options. I will stay again if I am given a room in a higher floor or if I can afford a suite room.

Let me start with a few downsides: for a five-star hotel, there was no liquid hand soap, only bar soap. The toiletries were also very basic, small plastic bottles. We had to specifically ask for bathrobes and the low-quality disposable toothbrushes. The soundproofing was terrible; every time someone knocked on the opposite door, I felt like they were knocking on ours. The good points are: we were given two bottles of cinnamon drink upon arrival, the pool is beautiful, and the gym is decent. Apparently, haircuts are free, though I didn't try it, and there's a sauna too. We paid an average of over 600, and the taxes were quite high, so the value for money wasn't great in comparison. Oh, and the service was quite slow; we had to wait 10-20 minutes even for toothbrushes.

Rooms, amenities, food and service are all top notch, as expected. View is amazing, there is a fantastic infinity pool (long enough to actually swim laps) and the buffet is splendid. Only annoying thing is the usual ask for “upgrading your room for a small amount of money”. This attitude of trying to always get “a little more out of you” gets old.

The hotel is new and the rooms are spacious enough. The location is excellent with a great view, right across from the ocean and next to the largest mall in the area. However, the service needs improvement. I had specifically booked a twin room, and even reminded them twice during check-in that I needed twin beds. But when we got to the room, it still had a king-size bed, which was incredibly frustrating 😟. We had to call the manager over, and they literally split the king bed into two 80cm single beds right there, which was ridiculous 😵💫. Also, every single time you enter or exit the hotel, whether by car or on foot, you have to go through a rather lax security check.

A beautiful building in a very pleasant area of Colombo; the architecture and interior design of the hotel are a joy to behold and the vast majority of staff are polite and courteous. Plenty of amenities nearby to suit all tastes and interests. The breakfasts were great both mornings (both the Sri Lankan breakfast and the Western style), and they really lived up to the high expectations we’d had from the Instagram marketing we’d seen. We were upgraded to the North West Suite, which was a larger room, for which we were greatly appreciative; a couple of issues with working plugs and appliances (coffee machine and hair dryer) were reported and rectified, although the wiring/plugs more broadly were temperamental and poorly placed (as expected, possibly, with the charm of an older hotel). However, the bed was comfortable, the hotel was quiet, and the bathroom was well appointed. Our only qualm was with the overzealous Head of Housekeeping, who seemed to not grasp the subtlety required for such a role, or the privacy with which guests might like to enjoy the beautiful hotel. It appeared that he lingered all too often in search of a tip, and didn’t quite appreciate the boundaries one might desire when paying a reasonable fee for each night. My wife and I took to speedily locking the door and placing the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the handle to keep his incessant interrupting to a minimum. His deputy was, however, an asset to the hotel, who seemed to comprehend the subtle art of providing high quality service for a luxury stay in a lovely hotel. All-in-all, a great choice for a hotel in the heart of Colombo, and hopefully, during a busier season, the aforementioned Head of Housekeeping might spread his overbearing attention across the many rooms of the hotel.

Family: 3 adults and 2 children The apartment 801: + The apartment is large and spacious; + The rooms and bed linen are clean; + The bathroom is clean; + The room was cleaned well, towels were changed every day (I left a tip); + Hair dryer, air conditioner, iron work well; + There are dishes, appliances, and a washing machine in the kitchen; - There is no frying pan and no pots. It is impossible to cook on the stove, there is no microwave. - The furniture in the living room has an unpleasant smell and is dirty; - The iron board is dirty; - The curtains need to be changed; Reception: + They are polite; + Check-in was quickly; Restaurant (breakfast and dinner): + The quality of the products is high; + Variety of dishes; + The chefs are great; - There are a lot of guests on Saturday and Sunday due to the holidays, the priority for hotel guests is falling; Guards and butlers: + They seemed competent and friendly to me; + The rest of the staff are friendly and polite; Swimming pool: + Good view; + The kids liked it;

According to my booking, I was supposed to receive a king-size bed, but upon check-in, I was given two very small, separate beds instead. The hotel authorities failed to keep the commitment made at the time of booking. Staying and sleeping in these small beds was extremely difficult and uncomfortable for us. This kind of poor service and irresponsibility is completely unacceptable from a reputable hotel. In terms of customer service and maintaining commitments, this has been a thoroughly disappointing experience. I have no intention of ever staying at this hotel again in the future.

Craving a city escape where you’re pampered from check-in to the last sunset cocktail? NH Collection Colombo stands out in Sri Lanka’s buzzing capital, blending urban convenience, plush comfort, and picture-perfect sea views. 🌊 Whether you’re here for business or to soak up Colombo’s historic streets, this hotel is your launchpad for adventure and relaxation. From the moment you arrive at 24 Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, the friendly staff greets you with warm Sri Lankan hospitality, always quick to assist and happy to share local tips. The large, airy rooms are a guest favorite, especially those with panoramic sea views—wake up to sunlight dancing on the Indian Ocean and enjoy a serene start in a comfy, neat space. Make time for the rooftop Infinity Pool & Bar, an insta-worthy spot for sunset sips or just lazing with a view. The hotel’s location means you’re steps from the coastline, handy markets, and Colombo’s vibrant city life. Breakfast is a true highlight: feast on everything from Sri Lankan hoppers to European classics. It’s the kind of breakfast spread that fuels exploration all day long. For the best experience, secure a sea-facing room and double-check your breakfast package upon booking to avoid confusion later. And don’t miss the nearby Galle Face Green at sunset, just a short stroll away—perfect for local snacks and people-watching. Booking tip: Reserve early on trip.com, especially for high-floor, ocean-view rooms. If you want maximum relaxation, take advantage of the rooftop pool in the quieter morning hours.