De Saram House by Geoffrey Bawa

Geoffrey Bawa design absolutely charming. Staff very friendly and showed us around the vacant rooms which was a real treat. Fantastic breakfast in perfect surroundings.

This is an oasis in the midst of Colombo. I loved the way the indoor/outdoor sitting area was surrounded by the lovely garden with a huge tree.in its midst.

A delightful secret hideaway from the noise and hustle & bustle of a busy city. The staff were all extremely welcoming, friendly and efficient.

Originally, a private home designed by the famous Bawa, this is a delightful boutique hotel with only a limited number of rooms. The original art and the property offer many photo opportunities. The staff were amazing-- cheerful and extremely hospitable. Overall, a wonderful place to stay compared to other more conventional hotels in Colombo. Internet was a bit wonky during my stay, but resolved by the staff.

I only managed to stay one night at De Saram House, which is a shame as I really liked the property. Admittedly it was initially somewhat hard to find it, but once you are inside, it is so calm and picturesque that it feels like an oasis from bustling Colombo. I have attached a bunch of photos to showcase the serenity of the place. Location-wise it is also excellent, being in a quieter neighborhood that is in walking distance from very nice cafes such as Caramel Pumpkin and Seed Cafe and restaurants such as Upali's. Room-wise it is large, quiet and well-appointed, though do not expect 5-star facilities such as phone in your room or a small fridge. Which leads to my main comment - despite its luxurious look, this is very much a small establishment run by just 2 staff members. It is not a 5-star hotel with expected services such as food and drinks available and staff service all day long. Price-wise it is also not the level of a 5-star hotel so those expectations are flawed from the start. Instead, what you get is a super beautiful estate and a well-appointed and quiet room, led by very kind staff members who try their best to help. I did have some initial wifi issues but they were resolved. Anthony was the person who attended to me at De Saram House, and he was professional, courteous and helpful - even when I had to check out a 4:45am to catch my flight. So if you know what to expect going in, this could be the perfect stay for you in Colombo .