Tamarind Hill

We booked this property for our wedding photo shoot. Tamarind Hill is a colonial-style boutique hotel and restaurant housed in a historic mansion with lush gardens, a pool, and refined dining The property’s colonial architecture and décor are often highlighted as a major plus — offering a sense of history and timeless elegance with whitewashed walls, verandas, and antique furnishings Set back from busy areas, Tamarind Hill feels like a peaceful oasis with green gardens, a pool area, and calm outdoor spaces

The property has two wings, one being the oldest, harbour master’s residence dating back to 250 years. The bedrooms are located in recently built section around 50 years ago. The atmosphere is very peaceful and surrounded by nature. There are peacocks visiting and other birds and can spend some quality time. The staff is friendly and attentive. Property is well managed.

It is an extraordinarily beautiful heritage hotel that offers extremely attentive butler service. During our stay, only two or three rooms in the entire hotel were occupied. We had booked the full-board package, and the hotel staff could customize your dining times according to your requests—you could dine at any time you wished. The food was particularly delicious with a wide range of menu options; every meal included a complete course of appetizer, soup, main course, and dessert. On the last day, as we had to get up early to catch a train, the hotel prepared breakfast for us as early as 6 o'clock. All staff members were always smiling, providing highly personalized and private services. This hotel is worth visiting for everyone and is truly value for money. The young waiter at the restaurant was extremely thoughtful. He pulled out chairs for us and got everything ready every time, and he was constantly attentive to any of our needs. When we mentioned that we wanted to have breakfast outside, he told us that there were too many mosquitoes at the moment and asked if we would like to do so for dinner instead. By evening, he had prepared everything perfectly: he set up a table in the courtyard, got lamps ready, and even arranged potted plants. It was truly wonderful.

This property is a 250-year-old heritage building. From the moment you step through the gate, you can feel its calm, dignified presence and the weight of history it carries. The hotel’s interior is elegantly furnished with refined taste, exuding a timeless charm. The entire estate is lush and green, filled with flourishing plants and towering trees, where peacocks often stroll gracefully. Around the pool, besides the surrounding greenery, small animals occasionally appear, adding a touch of natural delight. The rooms are clean and comfortable, featuring large floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to truly feel the passage of time. Outside the window is a small, private courtyard where adorable little creatures sometimes wander by—an unexpected joy during the stay. Maintaining and restoring such an old mansion requires tremendous effort, and the team truly deserves the highest praise for their dedication in preserving this historical gem! If they could further address the issues of peeling paint, minor wall dampness, and occasional leaks (none of which affect the overall stay), the comfort and quality of the experience would be elevated even more. There is still room for improvement in dining and service. The food quality can be inconsistent—sometimes too salty or oily, with desserts on the sweeter side. The staff are genuinely warm and eager to help, but there are occasional miscommunications and service oversights. With enhanced staff training and better coordination, the overall service could reach a much higher standard. During our stay, the room rate was around USD 100, which is truly a great value for experiencing 250 years of historical elegance. We loved this hotel so much and sincerely hope they continue to improve in every aspect—because even if the price increases in the future, we would be more than happy to return.

We made a very spontaneous decision to visit Galle and booked Tamarind Hill last minute through Agoda. We specifically wanted to stay somewhere with history and charm rather than just a modern “luxury hotel” and Tamarind Hill absolutely exceeded our expectations.||The moment we arrived, we were smitten. The property is stunning, a beautifully preserved colonial mansion that once belonged to the Dutch Harbour Master. The original heritage suites (Admiral and Captain) are part of the old structure, and the additional rooms built about 16 years ago blend in so seamlessly that you can’t tell what’s new and what’s historic. The architecture, proportions, courtyards, timber details, everything is thoughtfully restored and maintained. It feels like stepping into the quiet elegance of another era.||||The staff here truly elevate the experience.||✨ Keshav, at reception, was incredibly warm and attentive, answering questions, helping us with plans, and always greeting us with a genuine smile.||✨ Gihan, from housekeeping, was wonderful as well. He created adorable towel art in our room each morning and even helped arrange a scooter rental for us so we could explore the coastline. Both of them made us feel so welcomed and cared for.||||The property itself is peaceful and magical. Peacocks and langurs wander around the garden, the pool area is serene, and it’s just a 5-minute ride from Galle Fort, close enough to explore restaurants and shops, yet tucked away from the crowds to feel like your own private retreat.||||Everything was flawless, the design, the hospitality, the atmosphere.||We feel like we discovered a secret oasis in Galle.||100% recommend Tamarind Hill.||And a special thank you to Keshav and Gihan for making our stay truly memorable.

We booked this property with lot of hope ( for its heritage value) and expecting a good time but it didn’t happen. The first impression was the property is unkempt with lot of dusty corners. We were a group of four couples and were the only guests in the property. The swimming pool was unusable since it’s not maintained. They have a bar but do not serve liquor since they do not have a licence (which we came to know later). Rooms had spider webs and cockroaches. Furniture’s were dusty. Basic things were missing like bathroom slippers. Body lotion was kept in shower gel pot. Overall there was much to be desired in terms of service (service personnel appeared untrained). On the food front also it was a sad affair. We had all our meals outside. |The saving grace was our group and big rooms. |I find myself in a very tight corner to give it a star rating. I will not recommend this property to anyone.

I had a wonderful stay at Tamarind Hill Hotel. The property offers a calm, colonial charm with spacious rooms tastefully decorated to reflect traditional Sri Lankan identity. Galle Fort is less than 5 km away, making it incredibly easy to explore the historic fort by a short tuk-tuk or car ride. The serene surroundings and attentive staff made my visit both relaxing and memorable. I’d happily recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Galle.

A lovely place to stay, where the renowned Sri Lankan hospitality is perfectly maintained. The manager is professional, and the team is wonderful. We had a fantastic time, and the food was excellent.