Malabar Hill Sri Lanka
Malabar Hill is a contemporary boutique resort carved into the edge of the Sri Lankan forest. Immersed in the natural setting, the hotel offers a unique outdoor living experience to revive and transport guests a world away from the ordinary.
Location
The hotel’s positioning on the elongated pinnacle of a verdant hill is an absolute knockout. It gazes both seawards and inland, across acres of rice paddy-dominated farmland towards the Akuressa and Deniyaya rainforests. Its location, less than three miles from Weligama’s curved beach and prolific surf scene, means it's away from the beachfront buzz but close enough to access local beach restaurants and laid-back bars (though you’ll need to jump in a car or tuk-tuk to explore). There are walking and cycling trails to enjoy within the resort’s 33-acre hilltop estate and its wetlands-blessed hinterland.
Style and Character
Malabar Hill treads new ground in Sri Lanka by blending Indian and Middle Eastern bohemia with local materials and artisan craftsmanship. Wander along cool haveli-style corridors beneath Moorish-arches and sip sundowners from the turret-walled, riad-style roof terrace. It feels convivial though there are plenty of nooks for independent lounging and dining. The hotel occupies just 15 per cent of the estate's 33 acres. The rest of this 10-year-retired cinnamon plantation has been rewilded as a rainforest where over 500 flora and fauna species have been discovered, alongside wildlife including the Sri Lanka Grey hornbill and purple-faced leaf monkey.
Service and Facilities
Guests are very well looked after by the experienced and accommodating general manager who leads a conscientious team. Special requests are carried out with ease and the hotel lends itself well to intimate celebrations, honeymoons and surprise proposals. The 35-metre infinity pool spans the width of the ridge and is flanked by hand-carved pavilion-style sun loungers for two and beanbags. A reading nook recessed into the wall acts as the hotel’s mini library.
Rooms
Each room is a free-standing villa hidden amidst exotic woodland. Linked by undulating pathways, these private sanctuaries are blessed with incredible views. Half gaze inland, beyond paddy fields to the forest, and the rest survey Weligama’s coastal hinterland. Ivory terrazzo and a blend of teak furnishings, intricately carved Indian mirrors, chunky chests and triangular roll-out floor cushions give the rooms a calm and relaxing feel. There are showers rather than baths, and amenities include yoga mats, bathrobes, kikoy-style towels and tea and coffee-making facilities (but no televisions or phones – communication is all done via WhatsApp). The size of the bedroom is greatly enhanced by floor-to-ceiling folding doors that open widely onto a terrace with built-in sofas and a private infinity pool.
Food and Drink
The menus are influenced by Sri Lanka, South Asia and the Middle East, and star plenty of fresh fish and seafood. Mezze is a novelty for breakfast and, for dinner, Vietnamese beef stew, twice-cooked pork belly and Jaffna crab curry are some of the highlights. Salads are brilliantly varied and best enjoyed if you order a few to share – standouts include roasted cauliflower with cashew nuts and a delicious trio of beets. Puddings are light and often milk-based – think malabi, panna cotta and coconut milk-based wattalapam. The open-air terrace is the best spot for classic cocktails, sundowners, mezze platters and nibbles, though if it rains, seat yourselves indoors at the hotel’s iconic teak bar – picture a theatrical curve of underlit tall-stemmed wine glasses hand-crafted by local artisans.
Value for Money
Double rooms from $392 (£323) in low season; and from $672 (£554) in high. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.
Access for guests with disabilities?
Not suitable.
Family-Friendly?
No children under 12 years old.
Location
Weligama Bay is a quaint beach town in the South of Sri Lanka, famed for its sweeping sandy beaches, surfing and idyllic fishing villages. Just a short tuk tuk ride from the beach, through rice paddies strewn with water buffalo, Malabar Hill rises to greet you.
