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Galle Face Hotel

Galle Face Hotel

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Located adjacent to the wide open expanse of Galle Face Green and overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Galle Face Hotel has been welcoming visitors since 1864. Sympathetic to its 19th-century architecture, the hotel combines the best of old and new.

Its 156 rooms and suites are spread across four floors and two wings. All are decorated in a colonial style with beautiful hardwood furniture, luxury linens and spacious modern bathrooms. Some of the suites also offer extra luxuries including an in-room Jacuzzi.

The property's restaurants, outdoor terrace, pool and spa ensure you have a variety of leisure and dining experiences to choose from during your stay.

OUR OPINION:

This charming hotel evokes the style and ambience of the colonial era. We like its convenient location and wide range of amenities, and recommend rooms in the newer wing, which are generally of a higher standard.

OUR RATING: First Class

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Rooms

The Galle Face Hotel has five different room categories, each differing in furnishings, size and view type. Some have ocean views that you can take in from your private balcony. Amenities in each room include complimentary Wi-Fi, satellite TV, air conditioning and a selection of local teas, as well as a complimentary soft drink selection. Both twin and double rooms are available. There are also three different types of junior suite, each with ocean views, dark-wood furnishings and patterned rugs, and some with a four-poster bed. Meanwhile, the seven luxurious heritage suites offer more space and a wide range of amenities, including evening drinks and canapés and a butler service on request.

Location

Set beside Galle Face Green, and with the expanse of the Indian Ocean before it, Galle Face Hotel enjoys a prestigious spot along Colombo's fast-evolving coastline. The hotel is also around 2 km (1.2 miles) from the Dutch Fort district, as well as the Old Dutch hospital, which houses some of the city's finest shopping and dining spots.

Food and drink

You can choose to dine in one of the hotel's three restaurants: The 1864, The Verandah and Sea Spray, which serve modern European, Sri Lankan and seafood dishes respectively. There are also several bars that complement the dining scene, including a pool bar and The Traveller's Bar, as well as the landmark Chequerboard, which serves drinks all day.

Facilities and activities

During your stay, you can make use of the large saltwater pool, which faces the ocean and is surrounded by loungers. You could also spend an indulgent afternoon in the spa, relax with a book or board game in the library, play a game of croquet on the lawn, while the concierge service can help plan your time in the city.

Tour ideas in Colombo

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Galle Face Hotel as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favourite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can’t be bettered.

    Colombo and nearby places