Kumu Beach, Balapitiya, Sri Lanka - Explore & Book

"Dazzling sunsets, warm sea swims and nesting marine turtles are a few highlights of a stay at Kumu Beach, a cool design hotel with a chilled vibe. Sitting above a golden-sand beach, Kumu’s grassy lawn is sprinkled with hammocks and teak loungers. The 10 bedrooms allow you to gaze at the ocean from the comfort of your four-poster, and the rooftops of the whitewashed buildings are primed for private starlit dining. In the garden lies a deep blue pool with a built-in seat and water jets. It's perfect for couples, though it works well for families, too. Design is contemporary, and interiors are simplistic yet practical. Local artisans were engaged to beautify interior and exterior spaces, and your eyes are drawn to Batik-work cushions, vast globe-like garden sculptures, honey-coloured furnishings, and a brass fish suspended above the staircase. Cuisine is modern, too: Kumu is a sister hotel of Fort Bazaar and Wallawwa and shares similarly polished butler-style service; afternoon tea and social hour drinks are included in the rates too. Watersports haven Bentota is 30 minutes' drive away, as is Lunuganga, the enviable tropical garden of the late architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Galle is an hour's train ride away, a scenic coastal chug. Highs A very relaxing spot, thanks to its quiet end-of-beach setting The smiling staff really heighten the experience – nothing is too much trouble We loved the inventive modern cuisine, with sharing platters and alfresco dining opportunities Perfect for a chilled romantic break – starlit dining, massages, four-poster beds, dreamy sunsets, direct beach access Wild turtles often nest on the beach Lows Sea swimming is seasonal (November to April) – but the 23-metre pool compensates There isn’t a huge amount nearby; Bentota (30 minutes’ drive) is the closest place to shop and dine We found the WiFi a little patchy on our most recent visit" - Emma Boyle