The hotel was originally the residence of the Governor General of Ceylon, Sir Thomas Maitland, in the early 1800s. This hotel still has some of the old world charm and traditions (such as being met by an old-style doorman which takes you back to a bygone age) but with modern conveniences.
The hotel takes great pride in its cuisine and its head chef, Publis, who has been with the hotel since 1957, has his own cookery show on Sri Lankan TV and has also been shown on Rick Steins “ Far Eastern Odyssey” with his fantastic seafood.
It is located some 45 minutes south of Colombo, right on the coast and even has its own private beach. From here it is a journey of about an hour and a half to the airport.
Hotel Sapphire is budget hotel that offers very good value for money compared to the many business hotels in Colombo.
It is located some 15 minutes from the centre of Colombo and from there it is an hour to the airport, so is convenient for a night in Colombo before departure. The rooms are very spacious but the bathrooms do tend to be on the small size.
This old colonial hotel was built in 1864 and was once said to be the largest hotel east of Aden let alone Sri Lanka!
It has the most fantastic situation right by the Indian Ocean overlooking Galle Face Green, yet right close to the heart of Colombo. The old part of the hotel has recently undergone a very sympathetic renovation and refurbishment.
