We stayed here for one night over the Xmas period. Food is good but during our stay we made a complaint about an issue that had arisen. The night staff were not interested and made no effort to help us with our problem. This was a shame as the hotel has lots of character and most staff were friendly.

This hotel needs time to grow on you, and I can only review it fairly by dividing features into good and bad.

Very Good - Genuine, warm and friendly service (ie not staff just looking for tips). Some of the best food, and choice, we had on our trip around Sri Lanka. Very atmospheric 'colonial' communal areas, and lay out. Extremely comfortable, brass bedstead beds. Some lovely antique furniture of the period.

To improve - There is no benefit in early twentieth century electrical supply in the rooms, the lighting in the rooms could be improved ( too dull) , the antique furniture could do with some tender loving care. Put in more sympathetic air conditioning and fridge units.

This could be an amazing hotel by any standard, it just needs some work. As it is, it is more like staying in a museum. If you stay, accept its shortcomings, in return for good food, good service, a good nights sleep, and a view into the past.

stayed here one night as part of an Explore Worldwide tour group. It was pouring rain and chilly the day we arrived so I cannot be too sure if the a/c and fan were working. Nice big room with high ceilings. All the furnishings are contemporaneous with the hotel. Clean with hot water and an actual claw foot bathtub. Very nice buffet dinner and courteous staff. Too bad we could not stay another day to get a real feel of the place. 400 Rupees for use of the billiards table for an hour. Reminded me at little, but just a little, of the Elgin Hotel in Darjeeling.

Great hotel to stay at I believe it dates back to 1902.Full of old colonial charm.Staff friendly and attentive.Bar and sitting areas very relaxing with a lovely feel.The kind of bar where you just wanted to sit long into the night.Rooms were very clean with rather quirky furnishings great A/C and fab shower [best one we had in Sri Lanka] they were based round an inner courtyard and made for a very quiet nights sleep.We had dinner and breakfast here and both were buffet style but were a cut above other hotels.Many choices both Sri Lankin and Western and a grill area where fresh dishes could on request.Wish we could have stayed longer.