Reef Villa

Wonderfully thought out boutique resort. Appreciate the attention to detail by the owners.

Small things like door hinges etc need replacing. This would give it its crisp edge back

I'd give Reef Villa 6 stars if I could. First the service, what can I say, it was just exceptional, thank you Malith, Dino, Rohan, Asanka, Sandy, gardeners and security (including Fred and Wilma the friendly but vigilant golden retriever security team!) for making our stay the most relaxing and enjoyable I've ever had (and we have travelled all over the world). Special mention to Sandy for showing me the baby fish and trying :) to teach me the Sinhalese names of the birds, our mutual love of wildlife meant the language difference wasn't a barrier 🙏. The property and gardens are beautiful, 'Raj' in style, spotlessly clean (thanks Rohan and your team), comfortable. Asanka you are a top chef, your dishes prepared and presented would not be out of place in the best hotels. Dino, you are a gem, your attentive service was just exceptional and we enjoyed our many chats and your stories, you made us feel part of the Reef Villa family. Lastly location, it feels off the beaten track, the grounds and rooms are very quiet, with direct access to the beach from the garden and pool on one side and the railway line and quiet access road on the other. It's only 10minutes quiet amble to the railway station, bustling little market (2 banks and grocery stores). It's undeniably poor by western, but I was only pestered three times, it's generally super friendly and the place is not as littered as many places in India. I spent a couple hours every morning just wandering around with my camera. Be respectful and ask if people mind their photo taken and you're usually rewarded with a genuine smile and occasionally a slightly bemused expression (as I'm sure I would give in the same situation). We took the commuter train along the coast, that was an experience not to be missed. Finally I'd go back tomorrow if I could, it was a beautiful, unique boutique, relaxing 2 weeks with lovely people on the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

We stayed 3 nights at the end of our 12 nights in Sri Lanka & all we wanted to do was relax & this place certainly ticked the box. What we weren’t prepared for was that we had the whole place to ourselves! At first this was a little uncomfortable to grasp but then it hit us - you have an amazing villa with your own private chef & staff to look after you. & boy did they. Dino was amazing, always on hand to ask if we wanted a drink by the pool, occasionally bringing us a lovely sorbet & always with a smile & great stories. We had the lily pond room which was lovely. All rooms look lovely especially the 2 suites in the main house. The house is full of lovely antiques but has a very contemporary feel with the main staircase. The pool is large & welcoming in the heat of the day. The beach is lovely but after storms is strewn with plastic rubbish. There isn’t much around that tempted us but we were happy just to soak up our surroundings. The food was amazing. Breakfast very substantial. We are not lunch people but had dinner in the restaurant each night. Whilst there isn’t a big choice we did ask for something off the lunch menu for dinner on our last night & this wasn’t a problem. The curries were amazing & you could probably share one. Yes the prices are high, the highest we paid in the whole of our holiday but the fact that we were the only guests made it worthwhile & very special. In summary this is an amazing place to spend a couple of nights at the beginning or end of your Sri Lankan trip. Whilst we loved the fact we were the only ones there, this place needs guests to survive & my recommendation would be just go, you won’t be disappointed.

We stayed in a private villa with huge, vaulted ceilings filled with colonial antique furniture. There was an inside and outside shower as well as a huge tub. A private patio crossed our own Koi pond. Ten steps to a restaurant. huge pool, and access to the beach. Relaxing while wandering in the tropically landscaped grounds, gazing at the sunset, we felt transported to a different era. Only about 1.5 hrs to Colombo airport by the toll highway-this would be a great stop to unwind after arrival or before departure

We had a 3 night stay at the Reef Villas & Spa, it’s worth noting there is no spa and we probably would not have booked had we known (though in fairness the website doesn’t feature it). We were in Sri Lanka and stayed in 10 hotels, the Villas at the Reef are really nice, really large colonial style, with lovely furniture and comfortable beds with mosquito nets. Worth the price of the of the rooms. The food in the restaurant was also good, particularly at breakfast. Perhaps not quite as high as the expectation we had from other reviews. The main complaint was the relatively small menu didn’t change for the 3 nights we were there. Our main beef was the prices of the drinks (in particular), and the food. There is limited choice locally for food, but beer was the most expensive we paid in our whole time there, so unsurprisingly we didn’t tend to drink in the hotel restaurant or at the pool, a shame. The beach is lovely and the service was great, particularly Dino who was always so keen to please, and had a nice sense of humour. The manager Mike and the rest of the team on site were helpful and again keen to please. Lastly it’s only a smallish place and doesn’t run anywhere near capacity so you can guarantee a very peaceful place.

I am so glad we booked Reef to finish off our Sri Lankan holiday - it was absolutely perfect from the huge, luxurious suites to the exceptional service and food. Dino and team could not do enough for us, but it was never over the top - we just felt well hosted by the entire team. Worth every penny to stay in such a secluded space on a beautiful coastline - we saw more cows on the unspoilt beach than people and you get a beautiful western sunset from Reef.

Small quiet boutique hotel, lovely architecture, lovely staff and great service, perfect 2 to 3 night start to our Sri Lankan coastal mini adventure

Perfect 3 night start to our Sri Lankan mini coastal adventure . Early November is the start of the season and we were the only visitors, great for us but shame the hotel isn’t busier as the Hotel is a real Gem. The staff, service and food are all amazing - if you want to switch off recharge and relax please book the reef - Special thanks to the small team that looked after us so well, Malith, Dino, chef and housekeeping.

The Hidden Paradise. It’s a dream for anyone to be their, great staff, delicious food, unforgettable sights, unbeatable decorations BUT very clear ignored paradise by owners No marketing No people was alone with my mother wife and daughter No maintenance many rusty lamps, toilets rusty sanitary tools, dry wood, etc. Even the name is Reef Villa & SPA even they have complete massage house but it’s closed. Again it’s the hidden forgotten Paradise. Whenever I will be in SriLanka I will only go to Reef Villa

Architectural gem. Lovely Interior decor with an eclectic collection of mainly south asian antiques that worked well together. Staff were brilliant and the food was very good. Great place to relax and do nothing.

This is a great hotel with the best chefs in Sri Lanka. The food was superb. The staff were so helpful the rooms and public areas lovely however they need more guests. The combination of recent events ,the Covid crisis and an environmental problem have been negative. This is a great shame as the hotel is a great place to stay. Not a huge amount to see in the area but a trip to the turtle sanctuary was much enjoyed.

Unique, tasteful, boutique hotel with great detail to attention and architecture. Excellent food and service.

The location and style of the resort

How the management was..not helpful..in last day they close the electricity at 12 pm on us to let us go out of the villa..and they kept call us to do checkout..unprofessional unfortunately

We just had a wonderful short stay at Reef villas - rounding off a trip where we travelled to many parts of this beautiful country. The hotel is stunning with gorgeous rooms. The staff are very efficient and friendly and can’t do enough for you. Malith and Dino in particular looked after us splendidly. The chef is excellent and the food is great. Perfect place for a special stay. We saw very few European visitors on our trip round the country - I would urge you to go. It is a beautiful place with lovely people and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We have just returned from our third visit to this delightful, well designed hotel. As usual, everything was perfect. The property is constantly maintained with lovely walks to the rooms beside the tree lined waterways and on to the garden and large pool, which we enjoyed daily. We stayed in a beautifully decorated Ocean View suite, with its four poster bed and my favourite additional outdoor waterfall shower. The entire suite was spacious and comfortable. We wanted for nothing. Also very much appreciated was the large shady verandah and watching the fish in the extended pool running alongside it. Best of all was the care given to us by the staff. Thanks to Malith the manager, who was always ready to help with a smile. Dino in charge of the restaurant was there to give any further assistance, ably supported at tables. by the friendly and energetic Malin. The food was delicious and our compliments go to our cook Asanka, for his great food. From breakfast to dinner, the restaurant is a treat. We have travelled widely in Sri Lanka and the Reef is our favourite hotel of all. Don’t miss it.

The hotel is one of the kind indeed! The one you remember among others because it’s really special: amazing colonial style design with antique pieces of furniture, beautiful green and flowery territory, nice swimming pool overlooking the palms and the sunset over the ocean, delicious European food we enjoyed greatly, professional service and assistance when all was done to satisfy your every need and wish. Thank you Mr.Malith Perera for your professional management of the hotel and the enthusiasm, your babies Fred and Wilma are one of the wonders of the hotel :) Thank you Chef Asanka for meeting our gastronomical tastes, the hotel is lucky to have you in the team! Thank you Mr.Dino for your experience and wonderful service over breakfasts, lunch and dinners! Thank you Nalin for always being near and ready to assist on almost everything! Wishing Reef and its Team prosperity and many more good clients! Regina&Ella

A beautiful boutique hotel, stunningly designed and presented in a lovely location. The whole place is full of fascinating antique objects and creative decoration. Plantation House rooms are quite exceptional - spacious, extremely comfortable and well equipped, gorgeous. Charming and super helpful staff. Very good chef, delicious menu, flexible to requests. Lovely swimming pool.

This was a gift for our honeymoon and We stayed at "Manel" suite. The place is so romantic and peaceful. It opens to a quiet beach and the ourdoor pool overlooks sunset. The staff had been really great, Dino and Malith took care of us, they had been very accommodating. Our complements to the chef, the food is top notch. Crepe suzette, fish brochette, pumpkin ravioli, Florentine with mushrooms 🤌 were perfection. The interior was unique with collectors items, woodwork, mangroves and fish ponds adjoining each suite. It's also ideal for photoshoots. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and will recommend you to our friends. We will always cherish this beautiful weekend...

It was the most beautiful experience to have stayed at the Reef Hotel & SPA . The location on the sea , the super chic architecture, the exquisite food, the kindest service and the most beautiful house pets Fred and Wilma. If you want to be uplifted and have a memory for life you need to stay at this hidden GEM 🙏🏼✨💫

We are coming to the end of five nights at this amazing hotel. We stayed in an ocean suite which was huge. The furnishings and decor are beautiful and it is very well maintained. Housekeeping does a wonderful job and very unobtrusive. The food and drinks on offer are varied and delicious. We have enjoyed traditional curries and many other Sri Lankan dishes at dinner and breakfast. The roti breakfast choice was so tasty and one I will try to create once back in the UK. We also enjoyed a lesson in how to prepare a tradition Sri Lankan chicken curry. The chef also made me a delicious cake as a surprise to celebrate my birthday. A huge thanks to all the Chefs and restaurant staff. The gardens and pool are beautiful and again very well maintained. Watching the wildlife has been entertaining too. We have also enjoyed a game or two of table tennis. Mallith runs the hotel superbly and nothing is too much trouble for him and his staff. Fred and Wilma are delightful, so lovely to have dogs around. It really has been a 5 star service throughout our stay and we hope to return one day.

This was our third visit to Sri Lanka and we think that Reef Villa must be the most stylish and tastefully decorated hotel on the island. We stayed in one of the large comfortable Ocean Suites and we very well looked after by all the staff. The menus offered lots of choice, the food was superbly cooked and presented and the friendly service second to none. The pool and large garden were a delight and enhanced by the antics of the resident Red-Wattled Lapwings and their chicks. We cannot imagine how anyone could describe this lovely hotel as anything other than perfect. We will return!

It’s a perfect place to take a rest, eat well and enjoy Waduwa beach. Garden with pool is huge and full of birds. Staff is amazing, very helpful and nice. Rooms are beautiful and very clean, with awesome bathrooms. Our room had also outdoor bath and shower. This place is magical! owner and staff takes care of every details.

This was our fourth visit to Sri Lanka and the sixth occasion that we have stayed at Reef Villa. Given the pandemic that has effected the world over the last two years, we were delighted to find that the owners had been able to retain the services of many of the established staff with the General Manager, Chef, Head waiter, Head of Housekeeping all being familiar faces and helped make our holiday very enjoyable. The Island generally was still taking precautions against the virus and the controls that the Hotel exercised made us feel very safe and enabled us to stay relaxed during our stay. All our requirements were attended to without any fuss, including the search for a battery charger, which we had inadvertently left at home! There is a wide selection of food available throughout the day which is all prepared and cooked fresh, making the most of the exceptional quality of produce available on the island. We spoke to the chef and he was able to prepare our food just as we requested. The service throughout our stay was exceptional, we are so pleased that we had decided to return and are already planning another trip to Sri Lanka in a couple of years time and undoubtedly we will return to the Reef. If you are seeking a relaxing location with excellent service and quality produce, we can throughly recommend a stay at the Reef. Considering the anxiety that has been experienced over the last two years, we had been concerned at how the pandemic might have effected Reef Villa, but we need not have worried. The quality remains and will improve further as the Island reopens. An excellent location and most enjoyable stay

Thank you for a beautiful stay in your hotel. Great food and very nice, friendly staff! The food was amazing, the chef really is great. Staff were friendly and attentive. Also Fred and Wilma the dogs were a bonus, it was nice to have them running around. Lukasz

What a magical place! If you are a lover of antiques this is the place to be! But...... If you are a lover of antiques, magic, ambience, service and a holiday to remember for ever, this is not a place to stay. Well, you may have better luck to tick these boxes but I did not! 1) I found the room that had not been cleaned to a standard of a 5* property let alone a 3*. Cobwebs, dust, insects (dead), ants in the rooms. These faux pas noted within 5 minutes of walking into the rooms. 2) The bathroom was stocked with half used set of shampoo/bath wash. This was evidently leftover from the previous occupants of the room. 3) No turn down service. Guests were expected to arrange and open mosquito nets and remove the numerous pillows adorning the bed, because housekeeping is not available after a certain hour. We arrived at 8pm because we drove from Colombo airport to Wadduwa having landed in the morning but decided to include a day trip to Negombo. Our late arrival was communicated in certain choice responses as an inconvenience. It was further mentioned that our annoyance at these remarks that we dont not have a sense of humour. 4) My wife has food intolerances that were communicated by the booking agent and we personally followed up and re-communicated the same to the kitchen staff at the Summer Breeze restaurant during our first night dinner, but during breakfast the next morning these instructions, whilst noted the night before, were not adhered to during breakfast. When this was pointed out this little mistake was denied even though it was physically evident on the plate of food. 5) These issues were communicated to the management and person(s) who know who they are but they were again in total denial until I decided enough is enough and I would rather check out and risk finding a lesser quality property for the rest of my stay. At this point it was agreed and an apology was offered this is not acceptable and that they had let us down regarding the cleanliness, dietary requirements and house keeping issues. But since it had to take my decision to cut short my stay to get the staff to realise they had let us down in the less than expected service, it was too late for my mind to be changed. I am sure if you decide to stay at this property after reading my experience, I think you will find that your stay has been magic, as it should be because my experience has made the management realise they need to up their game 100 fold. I am sure you can make your own mind up.

Amazing location, directly at the beach, very kind and caring staff, amazing food - specially recommend the fried shrimps with fries and the currys. You can play all sorts of games on the property. The rooms are huge, we loved the outdoor shower.

Dieses Hotel ist ein Stück Himmel auf Erden. Die Zimmer gross und wunderschön, alles top-sauber, das Essen ein Genuss, der Service bestens, der Strand wunderschön - wärmstens zu empfehlen. Es geht wirklich nicht besser.

Reef Villas is a perfect luxurious place to stay and while away the hours. Huge villas, excellent service and the best curries we have ever had.

Staying at Reef Villa and Spa was a highlight of our Sri Lanka holiday, and I can't imagine staying anywhere better. The position is perfect, fronting the beach with a quiet village road at the back. The grounds and buildings are stunningly beautiful. The rooms are huge and eclectically furnished with the best antiques. The staff are professional while being friendly, providing perfect individual service. We are already planning our next visit. Thank you Fred and Wilma!

Everything was perfect! The rooms were enormous with up to date facilities complemented by tastefull items collected from many years of travels. The sea was at the end of the garden and the swimming pool a perfect size.We could find nothing to fault. The food and staff were great with everything cooked to order with the freshest of ingredients. What more could you ask for a terrific break in a delightful setting.

The boutique resort offered a very unique experience! We were greeted by the owner / designer of the resort herself and she gave us a tour of the resort and some history / background information. The resort only has 7 rooms (we were surprised to hear that) which makes the price of the room reasonable (or at least understandable!). We were only there for a day but thought it was a very enjoyable experience. Everything was first class! I would recommend others to check it out.

I chose the Reef for my honeymoon because of the excellent reviews it gets. I was not disappointed. Everything about the Reef is simply brilliant. We stayed in the Nelum - the biggest suite in the Villa, although frankly, every room is just amazing. The Reef is clearly a labour of love for it's owner, Brendan. Every member of staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming. The Head Chef was more than happy to indulge my love of curry to go 'off-piste' with their menus.

Fantastic experience to stay here. Each room and the overall hotel has had the fullest attention to detail with nothing left unthought of. The surroundings and location make you forget all about any city hustle and bustle and the staff are simply exceptional. The range and depth of food was really satisfying, and the kitchen would also prepare some specific meals we requested too. We've been lucky to stay in many good hotels around the world, but Reef Viillas has the best combination of location, facilities, design, atmosphere and staff attentiveness that we've experienced. Would highly recommend and stay again without hesitation.

The Irish proprietor is always on site to welcome and greet the guests. He makes the experience as personal as a hotel stay can possibly be. Not only did he build and design the property, train and manage the staff, but he also takes personal care of each guest, ensuring they feel like a guest in his home. The devil is in the details. At this boutique, no stone is left unturned. Every coffee table book, napkin, pillow case, and door knob is hand picked or custom made. The property is immaculate and the service is nothing short of excellent. problem solving staff anticipate your every need and even go beyond that. While eating breakfast, one staff with idle time walked the beach and selected the finest shells and delivered them to me while I ate. I didn't ask for it - he just did it. What a nice little gift I thought. I would recommend this hotel to anyone traveling in Sri Lanka who may be looking for a boutique hotel rather than a big beach resort. The character of this place cannot be replicated. it is truly special. wonderful sunsets, nice pool. Privacy. Big beautiful villa suite rooms full of antiques and colonial trinkets. great food and personal relationships with those serving you.

An amazing hotel. Great attention to detail. Very attentative staff. Location, rooms, decoration, gardens, food and service ten out of ten. It is worth the money.

Simply, one of the best I have ever had. Excellence in all aspects. I strongly recommend it.

Just had the most amazing and relaxing week at Reef...from driving through the wooden gates, entering the main house and the ocean suite (Namal) just blew us away from the moment we arrived!! The beautiful colour schemes, size of the rooms, the granite bath, rainfall shower, the many historical artefacts, pictures, floor tiles, not to mention the beautiful grounds, swimming pool, outdoor restaurant and gardens, every detail has been so carefully planned and selected by Brendan and Bernadette. The extremely high standard of service, the staff, the most amazing food also make Reef one of the very best places we have ever stayed!!! A favourite of ours was enjoying the most stunning sunsets by the pool with cocktails each evening. We will definitely be returning!!! A huge thanks to Brendan and Malith (General Manager) for a perfect week!

Nothing to fault, food room staff were excellent. Felt very relaxed would go back again. Thank you Brendon Patricia

Un sueño de hotel, atención inmejorable, el mar en agosto esta bravo, comida excelente.

Driving down Gaul Road looking for signage, a blue sign indicating where to turn suddenly appears. A cocunut just misses the car as we traverse the lane way only to see a railway line with a further sign beckoning us to cross and drive down a dirt track. Turning left we see gates which are opened after you press the button. We are greeted by a lady with frangipani leis and the manager. Walking down a track we are suddenly overwhelmed by spectacular ponds and a gorgeously designed entrance. Inside, was a throw back to the Raj. We are treated to magnificent hospitality during our stay, which opened with a delicious cold drink on arrival brought to us by manager Malith. Whilst the villa is lavish to say the least, a 19th century Four Poster bed is not out of place. The 100 year old floor tiles are cool and calming on the feet. the pool is 15 steps away, whilst the restaurant is likewise situated from our luxuriously appointed room. To the owners Brendan and Bernadette you have encapsulated the tranquility beauty and peace of the Reef. We are already looking forward to our next visit and the return cricket match, led by Nihal an avid enthusiast of the game.