The Notary's House

The Notary's House, Nr Colombo, Sri Lanka - Explore & Book

"Perched on the banks of a lotus-filled lake within easy reach of Sri Lanka’s main international airport, The Notary’s House makes for a serene first or final stop on your island adventure.Tranquil and relaxed, each of the six high-ceilinged rooms overlooks lush, well-manicured gardens and the calm waters beyond, while the fusion of contemporary architecture with quirky antique decor adds character. Standout elements include batik wall hangings throughout, commissioned as an ode to Sri Lanka’s heraldic flag tradition, as well as an impressive frescoed Buddhist shrine. Remnants of the original house - along with a portrait of the notary after whom the hotel is named - have also been carefully preserved and tastefully integrated.Whether you’re looking to freshen up after a long flight or to pause before your return journey, you shouldn’t struggle to kick back and unwind here. Cycle along jungle tracks, soak up the sun beside the pool and sample top-notch curries on the terrace, as bright birds flit between the trees and swimmers gather purple flowers for the nearby temple. Our hands-down highlight? The team of wonderfully attentive staff, whose smiles and service will leave you wanting to delay your flight home. Highs An intimate atmosphere, with just six bedrooms but large, verdant gardens to spread out inWarm, personal service from a friendly team who really go the extra mileProximity to the airport makes this a great start or end to any tripDelicious homecooking using vegetables grown in the hotel’s own gardens; cookery classes are offered Unlike most small Sri Lankan hotels, the house has a liquor licence Lows Menus are limited, but the kitchen were happy to adapt to our vegetarian curry requestsThe architecture is modern and breezy rather than charming, but the antique furnishings more than make up for itSome guests have commented that there isn’t much to do on long stays; this is primarily an airport hotel so unlikely to be an issue" - Saskia Walker