Bandarawela Hotel

The 48 hours my mother and I spent at this gem of a hotel will always remain a highlight of our time in Sri Lanka. It's hard to know where to start in terms of praising the atmosphere, history, staff helpfulness, professionalism, food buffets, lovely garden and comfort of this former British colonial oasis in the heart of Bandarawela. We were met with a welcome ginger tea and truffles in the drawing room with polished wood floor then led to our lovely room with quirky features such as 100 year old light switches, huge brass key, sumptuous metal frame beds, mahogany wardrobe and roll top bath! The food buffets were generous, delicious and varied. We met the Chef who on several occasions cooked special food for us. Nothing was too much trouble. Trips, were suggested and arranged, a special bench was brought for us to sit on outside our bathroom back door, history lessons were available at any time and we left feeling we'd made new friends. We found the hotel to be peaceful and in the back rooms were not disturbed by the nearby mosque. It's a great base for Ella, the Mahamevnawa monastery, tea plantations, Adison Monastery and more. Thank you to all the staff especially Lalin the Manager. We hope to be back.

Very spacious room. Well-stocked buffet, seasonal fruit, well-maintained grounds.|The only downside is that the establishment is very isolated, and it is not advisable to go out walking in the evening due to the proximity of elephants.

I have just had the most delicious lunch at the Bandarawela Hotel as part of a Mercury tour of Sri Lanka. The lunch was completely vegan and specially made for my wife and I. The head chef Gamunu fully understands different dietary requirements. The stars of the meal, all of which was delicious, was the roasted garlic and tomato soup and one of the curries was exceptiona,l the coconut cream green beans. This historical hotel is a lovely place to visit with lovely staff and a great base too tour from. Highly recommended.

We went there for a dinner buffet and called ahead to arrange things, so our group had proper table arrangements ready. It’s more convenient for both you and the restaurant if you visit as a group and inform them in advance, as they usually don’t expect large numbers for the buffet. Overall, it’s a fine dining place with a pleasant experience.

My husband and i stayed 1 night at Bandarawela Hotel and felt like the staff has done an excellent job in maintaining its charm. We loved the spacious room and we had the best mutton biryani here!! The hotel is also right next to a mall so it is very convenient.

Actually it is the coolest hotel and the beautifulest one.The garden in the hotel is filled with nature and the food is also good. The service was nice and the staff was nice. And there was like two or there totise.the room is next level the this is my second time coming here.recomended

It's difficult to write a proper review as it is highly based on personal interpretation. If you're looking for an authentic experience, this English colonial style hotel has it all. It takes you back to that exact period and if you like that style, it should therefore probably deserve a 5-star rating. As it was sold to me as a hotel in a round trip taking me through Sri Lanka, I will therefore rate it for how it was sold to me...as a hotel. That having said, the service and food are outstanding (as I've experienced throughout Sri Lanka) and the hotel premises are well maintained. However, for the rooms "authentic" becomes "dated". All the efforts are made for trying to pass it off as a 3-star hotel room, but what's the point of having tea and coffee in your room without having a water cooker? The wiring in rooms prevents them from having that, as well as the usual fridge or air-conditioning (you'll have to make do with the ceiling fan). Rooms are clean, although due to the dated interior it may not feel that way. The cleanliness of carpeting and bed speads can be doubted. Rooms are not very suitable for elderly people as showering in the bathtub may come with safety issues. Also, the mosque down the street starts calling for prayer at around 5 am (not being something the hotel can be blamed for). It's a great experience for a night, but the 3-star hotel rating does have me asking questions about all the other 3-star hotels that I've been in so far.

A beautiful and authentic hotel in charming old English style! The atmosphere is full of character, and every staff member we met was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Our daughter Joy celebrated her birthday during our stay, and the team went above and beyond — they surprised her with a delicious cake, arranged music, and even decorated her bed beautifully. Such a thoughtful and memorable gesture! Truly a special experience. Highly recommended!||Thanks Also to Denish out great driver♥️