Hotels met Pools in Central Province, Sri Lanka

Nice location. Beautiful view. Great service as well. Staff is nice. Breakfast spread is good - although many items were very salty. Same for dinner buffet. One issue - no lift. So people who cant take stairs are unable to go to bar above or spa below.

Amba Yaalu — A Second Home for Soulful Rejuvenation My first stay at Amba Yaalu by Thema Collection was pure discovery. I came out of curiosity—wanting to experience, for the first time, the novelty and energy of a women-led resort. I left enchanted. But this second visit felt different—more intentional, more existential. I rebooked to continue my solo quest for soulful rejuvenation, tranquility, and serenity—the kind of restorative pause that leaves you resettled for the life you love, yet must return to: a job and day-to-day that asks a great deal. From the moment I arrived, I was beautifully cared for. The à la carte dining—with both Western and Sri Lankan options—did more than simply nourish my body. It re-ignited my appetite in the most genuine way. I ate with joy and intention, and somehow it even made me feel lighter and steadier within myself. I also took a private cookery lesson with the chef, and it was unforgettable. I didn’t just leave with a chef’s hat and a printed recipe book—I left with real skills, spice knowledge, and techniques I can bring home. I can already see myself sharing this with my colleagues, my friends, and of course my beloved family. And yes—I even had to tease the chef, because I loved her food so much that this post-menopausal woman ate so well that my cholesterol and blood pressure readings came down…and I genuinely started to develop a “food baby”. 😂😂😂 Finally, to the management and leadership: as an educator in ancient history, I know great women when I meet them—Helen of Troy, Cleopatra… and beyond. At Amba Yaalu, the leadership feels like that same kind of powerful grace. It isn’t only about running a beautiful resort—it’s about building something that matters. To Amba Yaalu and everyone who made this stay feel like a true haven: thank you for giving me a serenity I could feel in my bones—and a renewed strength for what comes next.

The best location close to the temple and to the show. The staff was very nice and help us with everything. The room is beautiful that let us feel the vibe of Sri Lanka. Recommend.

The Good The standout feature of The Coffee Bungalow is undoubtedly its staff, particularly Adrian, who went above and beyond to ensure our stay was enjoyable. Everyone we encountered was attentive and genuinely warm, making us feel well cared for. The food was another highlight—delicious and thoughtfully prepared. A particularly nice touch was when they packed us a complimentary to-go lunch for our train journey out of Kandy, which was a pleasant and unexpected gesture. The Bad The lack of air conditioning was a notable downside, especially given Kandy’s humidity. While the property has a charming colonial feel, the absence of a solid door between the bedroom and bathroom was an odd design choice. Although the toilet and shower do have louvered doors, privacy is somewhat compromised. Another issue was the challenging entry system—we found ourselves locked out one night, which was frustrating and inconvenient. The Ugly Unfortunately, the biggest drawback was the ant problem. While some level of bugs is to be expected in a tropical setting, the sheer number of ants, particularly in the bathroom but also in the bedroom, was hard to ignore. It definitely impacted our overall comfort. Overall, The Coffee Bungalow has a lot of charm and some truly wonderful hospitality, but there are a few quirks and inconveniences that might not suit every traveler. If you’re prepared for a bit of rustic charm and can handle the lack of AC and privacy, the warm service and great food may make up for the downsides.

Seerock The King’s Domain offers an impressive stay with super spacious rooms, a beautiful outdoor environment, and excellent service. The only downside—though not the hotel’s fault—is the occasional wild peacock screaming at night, which might disrupt light sleepers. Otherwise, a fantastic getaway for nature lovers.

The owners and employees at this hotel are so, so lovely. Unfortunately their hotel is not. I almost feel catfished as many of the photos highlighted the bar and pool party atmosphere. This was not the case - the pool was a decent size but in the shade and I actually didn’t see anyone in it. The pool party drinking shots I highly suspect were perhaps not a genuine source. The same goes for the bar which is massive and attended to by several lovely young, bored gentlemen as both times I popped up (once for dinner) I was the only patron. Again no party atmosphere or even people - which is a shame as it is a big venue. Fortunately next door was another venue for some decent cocktails and music which saved the boredom somewhat. The bedroom was a decent size with a small fridge (but didn’t work), the bathroom was small, felt dirty, no hand soap or soap for the shower (apart from leftover previous occupants - and that was gross). The pressure was poor making showering difficult and there was plaster on the floor from some damage - not cleaned up. The bed was massive and comfortable with air conditioning and a fan so sleep was good. Finally, and to repeat, the staff were lovely. Very hospitable and the location is about a ten minute walk to the Sacred Tooth Temple and Kandy Lake. So great location. Would I stay there again - no. Would I pop in to say hello to the owners and next door for a cocktails - possibly!

At one time this was likely a good hotel, however it is now tired, run down and old. We booked the all inclusive rate as we have four children and it made sense as it included drinks and snacks. However, when we arrived the hotel refused to honour it. The manager was exceptionally rude and insisted it was an error on our part despite it being advertised on numerous booking platforms. There are much nicer hotels that offer the same rate within the town that we would have booked had we realised the all inclusive was not an option. The rooms were ok but the extra beds were camp beds and the carpets were extremely dirty throughout the hotel with a strong smell of urine outside the fitness suite. The food was average at best but would not recommend. If you are staying for one night then this would be ok as the location is extremely central but not for any longer.

Overall, the hotel is quite decent: the staff is always ready to help, and the restaurant and bar offer delicious food (a varied selection at the buffet). The interior is a bit dated, but it's not a dealbreaker (the bedding and towels are clean). For its price, it's an excellent option.

I stayed at Hotel Sigiriya for two nights, and overall, my experience was quite good. The service was proactive, the room was clean with no insects, and it was very quiet at night, which made for a peaceful sleep. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, though I personally found some of them a bit too salty. The real highlight of Hotel Sigiriya is its location, offering direct views of Sigiriya Rock. Definitely recommended!

Wake up to Monkeys on the balcony! 🤣🤣🤣 natural and incredibly beautiful hotel. Highly recommended for families.