"Set in a stately Colombo mansion passed down five generations of the Hallock family, this intimate five-star boutique hotel blends Ceylonese history with colonial elegance. Converted from a family home, it offers just eight individually designed suites—each named for a female Hallock relative—and is organized around a tranquil central courtyard with a petite freshwater pool and lush tropical foliage. Rooms pair antique furniture and heritage hues with modern comforts, featuring roll-top bathtubs, four-poster beds and manicured lawns; the Master Suite Annapuranie is especially dramatic with an ebony four-poster draped in crimson, a private garden and a period-style roll-top bath, the Chrysantie Suite is a cozy split-level with a mezzanine queen bed, and the Vasanthi and Anithra suites provide king beds and secluded secret gardens. Onsite dining at the Nandi restaurant ranges from casual lunches—colorful salads, Sri Lankan hoppers and sandwiches like a fish bap with mushy peas—to refined evening dishes such as tamarind soup, cashew-crusted mullet and mango-topped pavlova. Amenities include fast Wi-Fi, room service, daily housekeeping, a minibar and a spa, and the property can arrange local experiences like guided walks through Pettah Market; it sits close to the National Museum, Galle Face Green and other Colombo attractions and is about a 40-minute drive from Bandaranaike International Airport. Rates start around $270/night."