Batticaloa’s Lighthouse

This place has a lot to improve on, although the staff is very friendly. The restaurant needs to have the items available on the menu. When a guest sits for dinner, he/she should not be told that some major items are not available! Whatever the food that was available was quite tasty and the cooks must be commended. They would not serve a pot of tea on room service! Early morning, there was no chance of having tea in the room. Rooms are very spacious but the bed is not good. A new plush mattress will be great to have. Bathrooms were in very poor condition with mould growing in multiple places. Bathtub was chipped and the metal underneath was showing! Very limited linen was provided- just 2 bath towels only. There was no hot water in the shower. The windows in the room could not be locked-lucky I was on the 2nd floor! The interior must be re-done with decent furniture as the cushions are flat! Public areas get dunked when it rains. Every morning the staff has to mop and get rid of a river of water in the center area. At the front, there is some cement barrier that needs to be removed. It is a major obstacle for cars entering the property. There is ample parking opposite the property.

We fell in love with La maison de Colombo! It’s a haven of peace in a sometimes hectic city. The space is spectacular, the furniture, the pool, the rooms, the bedding - everything was done to high level of sophistication and comfort. And the French touch was beyond charming! The French posters mixing effortlessly with the Sri Lankan design was just perfect. The food was also incredible - do not miss the breakfast! - and the dinner felt like it was cooked by a French chef with excellent coq au vin and beef bourguignon. They have a really stylish wine bar as well with great champagne available. It’s the perfect retreat for travelers at the beginning or the end of a trip to Sri Lanka whether you want to ease your way into Sri Lankan lifestyle or transition back from the jungle and have some well earned comforts after travelling around this beautiful island. Christophe and Beatrice made us feel right at home and were very friendly with great stories to tell. We absolutely loved it and as a French national myself it felt like a home away from home.