Galle Face Hotel

Hotel · Colombo

Galle Face Hotel

Hotel · Colombo

2 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

Highlights

Colonial-era hotel offering beachfront pool, 3 restaurants, spa

2 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka Get directions

gallefacehotel.com

@gallefacehotel

@afar

The 17 Best Historic Hotels in the World - AFAR

"A colonnaded Colombo icon on the island’s west coast that underwent a major restoration of its North Wing, modernizing guest rooms and public spaces while foregrounding history through Heritage Tours and an on-site museum. Highlights include a seaside restaurant and a new L’Occitane spa, plus quirky historic artifacts on display—everything from Prince Philip’s early personal car to a cannonball lodged in the building—and behind-the-scenes access to spaces with literary ties, such as the office where Arthur C. Clarke completed a novel." - Mary Holland

https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-check-in-hotels-with-a-history

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@partsunknown

Bourdain had: drinks. Drinks date: Tracy Holsinger, founding artistic director of the Mind Adventures Theatre Company.

Sri Lanka

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@cntraveler

3 Days Around Colombo, Sri Lanka

"It’s an hour-long drive from the airport to the Galle Face Hotel, a colonial-era grande dame on the beach that's the city's most storied retreat. Check in and have a quick lunch on the verandah overlooking the sea..."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/3-days-around-colombo-sri-lanka

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@tablethotels

Galle Face Hotel (Colombo, Sri Lanka) 20 Hotel Reviews | Tablet Hotels

"It’s not for everyone, but if you value atmosphere and history above all else, the Galle Face Hotel is your place in Colombo. This Colonial-era hotel has been at the heart of the city’s social and cultural life for the better part of two centuries, hosting too many earls and presidents and princes even to begin to list. It’s the kind of hotel that gets name-dropped in a breezy tropical song or two, that shows up on the country’s postage stamps, and that employs the world’s (supposedly) oldest living doorman. (In case you want to say hello, that would be Kottarapattu Chattu “K.C.” Kuttan, at your service since 1942.) Like the Copacabana in Rio or the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, this is one of those hotels where, at least if you run in certain circles, there’s an almost uncannily high chance that you’ll bump into someone you know." - Tablet Hotels

https://www.tablethotels.com/en/colombo-hotels/galle-face-hotel

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25keirr

Google

Quite simply this was a superb meal. Gihan and Umar’s service in the floor was fantastic. Seated in a private nook with a view of the ocean we settled down to a very mellow jazz background music soundtrack . We shared beautifully made cocktails to start and the presentation from the get go was absolutely first rate. We took the set meal with matching wines. Masterstrike. Our prawns were superb and the the chicken from Chef was unforgettable. I’m rarely this effusive about food but 1864 really is first rate. The young soux chef prepared an amazing flambé bananas and she had great swagger and when chef made his floor walk we could only endorse his craft. We have been travelling for four months over three continents and this is the absolute culinary highlight against stiff competition. What a wonderful night. Thank you to the 1864 team. Fine dining and exceptional service. This is a must in Colombo. My only wish is that we came here on our first night at Galle Face. We will be back soon.

529maduwanthis

Google

The Galle Face Hotel has always been my favorite in Colombo. No modern hotel can compare to its timeless charm. The staff are exceptional, the views are breathtaking, the food is outstanding, and the interiors are truly one of a kind. Every visit is a memorable experience. We enjoyed it very much. |Highly recommended!

angiesW5994LG

Google

We had a wonderful stay at the Galle Face Hotel. From the moment we arrived, the staff were exceptional – warm, professional, and always ready to assist. Their genuine hospitality really stood out and made us feel incredibly welcome.||The hotel itself is beautiful with its rich colonial charm, oceanfront location, and elegant interiors. It’s a perfect blend of history and comfort, with a peaceful atmosphere throughout.||We also had the chance to visit the spa, which was a lovely and relaxing experience — definitely worth it if you're looking to unwind during your stay.||Dinner was a bit underwhelming – it didn’t quite match the high standards set by the rest of the experience. Breakfast was better, with a variety of options.

LoftyLa

Google

My go to place in the city. A real oasis among the brutal skyscrapers. Fantastic ( if not the best place) to watch sundown. The staff seem genuinely happy in this establishment. Big smiles all the way , obliging, well trained wait staff. They all try hard. I popped in again today for sundown. Sasindu was very personable and attentive. Well done all.

Sreeram N R

Google

Historic hotel located on the beach, this place is worth a visit even if you're not staying here. It has close to 150 years of history with their guest list including Yuri Gagarin, Mountbatten, Nehru and even Harrison Ford (there's a hotel museum in here that's worth a visit). There are multiple restaurants within the building, some of them with an ocean view and the food is fantastic as expected. I stayed in the hotel for a couple of days - the rooms were well equipped, and the staff were courteous and helpful throughout. Finding your way in the hotel can be challenging, so make sure you ask for help if you're lost inside! If you're visiting colombo, plan to stay / visit here, you won't regret it.

Tilan Moksara

Google

I attended a wedding at the Galle Face Hotel, and everything was executed flawlessly. The service was impeccable from the moment we arrived. The staff were attentive, professional, and made sure all the guests were well taken care of. The highlight for me was the food—the buffet was one of the best I've ever had at a wedding. The variety and quality of the dishes, from the local Sri Lankan curries to the international options, were outstanding. The dessert bar was a particular favorite! It's a top-tier venue, and they clearly know how to host a grand celebration.

Anthony Gambardella

Google

We only stayed for one night as we were flying out in the early hours of the morning 3.30am . This hotel is lovely with amazing staff and facilities but we had the miss fortune of staying in Room 1004 which is on wing closest bro the outdoor beach bar! We arrived at 8pm and went straight to eat at the bar , there was a DJ playing very loud dance music which was fine but we soon realised when we returned to our room that the music was very loud and could be heard in our room !!! We had already been up since 4am that morning so thought we would sleep through the music and hoped it would quiet down around 10ish . Unfortunately the music carried bon until 1am !!!!!! As we were getting bup at 3am it was too late to try and move rooms so we got little to no sleep . On Check out we complained to the night staff and they promised that a member vof management would contact us to go through our complaint but as yet 10 days later and no call!!! To top it off we arranged a 3am wake up call and they didn't even do this !! It's totally unacceptable to have rooms in a situation where your own bar has music so loud that it keeps your own guests awake untill 1am in the morning . If you stay at this hotel don't have a room anywhere near the beach bar !

L299BEoliverh

Google

One of a Kind. Could Not be better. The Location is perfect. Lots of Atmosphere. The food is also very good. Maybe the modern Glass Hotels in Colombo are cheaper. But nothing Beats Galle Face, only Mount Lavinia can compete in the caregory Atmosphere.