The Grand Walawwa

Alles

Totaal niks

Start or finish your Sri Lankan Odyssey here, you'll not regret it. Only here very briefly but our room was mega & we slept well after a long flight.

Property was amazing Staff were beyond helpful

Clean and spacious rooms

The hotel is very nice, lovely style, nice touches with the old car and piano, it feels like travelling in time. The food menu was great value. The staff was very nice

There is a lingering oil smell in the vintage room that’s quite overpowering. It feels more like a wedding venue than a hotel with all the tables and chairs stacked everywhere. You have to go through the empty and dirty dishes to access the dining room, that’s not great.

It was probably the best accommodation we had during the 3 weeks we spent in Sri Lanka, staying in a different place every night. We were the only guests. The pool was beautiful, surrounded by orchid flowers. The food was great. The staff was nice. We slept very well.

The staff says it all in this structure, very kind and available. They help us in every aspect and in the restaurant, the capitan made us feel as at home, together with all the special waiters. We really recommended to anyone wanting to have a cozy experience in a colonial hotel structure.

Just as a recommendation to pay more attention to the cleaning of sheets and lines.

This the most beautiful hotel. Whilst they concentrate on providing a most special location for wedding receptions, all of the management and staff put maximum effort into looking after us and the other guests in the 9 available bedrooms Our room was enormous and beautifully decorated and with all amenities for our total comfort including a beautiful and vast 4 poster bed. Both dinner and breakfast were delicious and perfectly served

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Hospitality, people and food

Google map shows wrong address that lead us to dead end initially

• ​Serene Atmosphere: A beautifully landscaped and peaceful location; the premises are kept in immaculate condition. • ​Creative Hospitality: We loved the unique presentation of the welcome drink and the warm reception. • ​Seamless Upgrades: Upgrading a room was hassle-free and incredibly affordable. • ​Amazing Dining: The food was a major highlight—absolutely delicious! • ​Superior Driver Care: Unlike other hotels, they provided excellent accommodation and food for our driver, making the experience completely stress-free for us.

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walking distance to access to shopping area

I prefer personally to have a glass of wine before the meal at the restaurant which was missing !

The Grand Walawwa is a luxurious property surrounded by lusy green gardens. The rooms are spacious, clean and decorated immaculately. The options available on the food menu are comprehensive and the food was beautifully prepared and flavourful. Staff were attentive and professional.

The property does not stock alcohol by default. They were more than happy to go out and purchase this locally, and did not have a problem serving it, just didn't stock it.

Beautifully designed propert inspired by cololnial times. Spacious room and bathroom which was furnished tastefully. The pool was a nice relief after spending a day at Pinnawala watching elephants.

We have been travelling throughout Sri Lanka staying in hotels for a couple of nights each time, this one was FABULOUS, from the moment you come through the gates, you feel that you're somewhere special, you are then presented with a beautiful turn of century colonial house, the room was HUGE with high ceilings and the biggest antique four poster bed you've ever seen, and matching furniture, the fully modern bathroom is accessed through and old antique door, and the waterfall shower was superb. We dined at the restaurant twice and found the food very good and well priced, we had opted for the continental breakfast, which was again very good, very highly recommended

We booked the entire property to ourselves and it was amazing. The rooms were so tastefully decorated. We stayed in the Presidential suite and it was breathtaking. The pool was also beautiful.

Restaurant was a bit organised. We were a party of 20 and they kept getting the orders mixed up. There was general confusion with every meal that we had

Sehr schönes und außergewöhnliches Hotel. Mitarbeiter sehr freundlich. Alles sauber. Man hat sich wohl gefühlt.

Das WLAN war leider schlecht Beim Abendessen war 3x Stromausfall und wir saßen kurze Zeit im Dunkeln

We had a lovely stay at the Grand Walawwa - we planned to stay here as it was an easy journey to go and see the elephants and also relatively close for travelling back to the airport for our return flight after travels, relative to travelling back down to Colombo We had a pleasant stay and made use of the restaurant for most of our meals, the staff were always helpful. We had a large room to enjoy with our baby.

The only negative though I would say, and not sure if there are any natural/ chemical-free ways to eliminate this, but probably because of the climate and setting, there were lots of insects everywhere unfortunately, particularly ants and mosquitoes Despite this, we had a lovely time

Loved everything! Awesome stay & just beyond our expectations!!! A beautiful Colonial Hotel with Amazing staff & food!!! The welcoming drink with Betel Leaves captivated our hearts on the arrival!!!....Amazing!!!

It was such a beautiful, with the most wonderful staff. We loved sitting by the pool and enjoyed a wonderful meal in the restaurant.

Beautiful property. Breakfast wasn't buffet and it took a really long time for the service

We stayed for one night and it was one of our favorite accommodations in Sri Lanka. An oasis in Kegalle. Staff was friendly and the room was really nice. The bed was very comfortable. Breakfast and dinner menu has a lot of options. Clean and safe.

I didn’t care for the open shower because the water got on the sink and floor but nothing to detract from our stay.

The hotel was very grand and immediately impressed upon our arrival. There was a nicely sheltered swimming pool to relax at. The accommodation was beautifully furnished and the bathroom was excellent. We were presented with a cake and some music to celebrate our wedding anniversary which was a very nice touch. Breakfast and dinner were both excellent. Mr Anand and his entire team excelled during our stay.

Nothing really, a great stay

+ The Garden was beautiful, the hotel is on a hill + The furniture in the room was ok + Very good facilities, but poorly maintained + There was an iron + There was a hairdrier + Warm welcoming - Huge problem with insects - Insects on the sheets - We kill two cockroaches during the night - We rent two bedrooms for the same price, but they were very different in terms of size. - There were stains on the sheets. - Full of ants - The hot water is available when you switch a key, it was off when we arrived - Our door was not maintained properly and it was very hard to close - There was a dead lizard on the floor. There were no other guests except us which was very.

It was just excellent, and incredible value for money.

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The most beautifully restored colonial property, wonderful and attentive staff, incredible room and bed, loved relaxing by the pool. Diner and breakfast was delicious.

Limited hot water. Limited seats ( only 4) around the luxurious pool… wait times for dinner were too long… close to 1 hour on one evening.

Beautiful building renovated to high standards. Tasty Srilankan breakfast.

I stayed at Grand Walawwa with my family on 14th January 2025, and it was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve ever had at any hotel. We booked four rooms through Booking.com under my wife’s name, who is a foreign national, solely because she had a discount on her account. However, I was the one who organised and paid for the stay as a gift for my family members. I paid over 1.5 LKR per night per stay, expecting a premium experience. Instead, we were met with unprofessionalism and discriminatory behavior that completely overshadowed our stay. The check-in process initially seemed smooth. My wife provided her ID, and I, as her Sri Lankan husband( foreign resident), was standing right there. The staff completed the check-in without any mention of needing additional IDs. However, shortly after, when we were no longer at the reception, the staff deliberately approached my brother who is Sri Lankan and demanded two local IDs from him. They did this without having the decency to address me or my wife, even though the booking was under her name and the check-in was already finalized. This behavior was not just unprofessional; it was blatantly discriminatory. It’s clear the staff assumed my wife was the one paying simply because she’s a foreign national, completely disregarding my presence and role in the booking. Their biased attitude toward local guests was evident in how they singled out my brother while treating foreign guests differently. This wasn’t about hotel policy; it was about prejudice. If there truly was a policy requiring local IDs, why wasn’t it mentioned during check-in? Why was my brother approached separately as if he didn’t belong there? This selective enforcement of so-called “rules” is nothing short of discrimination. As a Sri Lankan, I find it disgraceful that locals are treated like second-class guests in their own country, especially when they are paying customers. This experience was insulting, humiliating, and completely...

very nice hotel with big room, bathroom, and great breakfast not far from the elephant river

Lovely property! Beautiful weddings

This property was a wonderful experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating. They were so attentive my teenage kids said they felt like royalty. The food in the restaurant was delicious and the quantities were huge. We only stayed one night as we were between Sigiriya and The Elephant Freedom Project tour. But we would have stayed longer if we could. We loved the pool and the rooms.

Pool, restaurant, staff and rooms

Comfortable rooms and good food. Friendly happy staff. Lovely fruit juices

Breakfast was to die for ( I took a Sri Lankan breakfast, very typical and a lot of spice to it ) there were a lot of options to choose from ( English , American , continental) Huge room with a view to the forest Lovely architecture

Just some wild creatures making some noises during the night ( but we were expecting that as it’s surrounded by the forest )

Beautiful hotel and very spacious bedroom. Dinner was only okay but the Sri Lankan breakfast was delicious! Staff was also very nice and friendly! Pool was a bit small but very clean.

Dinner options weren't great.

Lovely staff, good pool, great bed, shower fab etc

No balcony and only one chair in the room. Woukd have been nice to have two .

Beautiful property and very professional staff

The building is so beautiful with lovely fixtures and fittings. We had previously stayed in the presidential suite, this time we stayed in a double room on the ground floor which was just as comfortable. The pool is a lovely refresher in charming surroundings. All of the staff are attentive and very professional. The location is very nice because it is nestled away and feels very secluded whilst you can still walk into town to explore the shops etc. All in all I can honestly say this hotel is 100% on point. If only this hotel could be replicated throughout the world you’d always have a perfect place to stay!

This is by far the best hotel we stayed in during our trip. The building is beautiful, the staff are attentive and it feels a real pleasure to stay here. The beds are very comfortable and the food is of a very high standard. Everything was immaculately clean. This hotel is perfect. We only wished we could have stayed much longer. The restaurant manager is very nice and the whole team are doing a fantastic job - brilliant staff who exceed their roles.

Very helpful staff, lovely pool and restaurant. The room was comfortable and spacious with great amenities. We loved our stay. We visited the amazing Elephant Freedom Project which was only 13 minutes away.

Colonial chic close to the elephant orphanage

Nothing it was a very nice change to the copy paste chain hotels

Excellent service. Super clean. Indian food quality should be improved. Sri Lankan menus are great. Pool was clean.

Beautiful styling in rooms and outside spaces absolutely stunning. Beds were so comfortable!

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•Everyone is very friendly, especially the manager of the restaurant. very careful and thoughtful, and gave me a lot of useful advice. The day I left the hotel was my birthday, and all the staff gave me a celebration and cake at my breakfast, which made me feel like I was at home •The room was big and clean, and the balcony was comfortable •Well equipped, well furnished and tastefully · food is amazing and the price is reasonable •You can see fireflies and rare birds around your room

• they don’t selling alcohol •There are some small ants on the wood of the nightstand, I guess it is the reason is the material .recommended to paint some anti-ant oil.

Very nice room and overall hotel was extremely clean. Friendly staff and great level of service. My only negative (from a foreigner) would be the food - it was very average/below average, but affordable. They did upgrade our room free of charge when our hot water didn’t work and they were very kind and accommodating when I asked for late check out (we left very late and they didn’t charge any extra for it) they also helped arrange taxi rides at the front desk. Overall, very good stay 👍

Vey beautiful

There’s nothing to do around the hotel.

It is a dreamy authentic structure with all the needed amenities. We stayed at the presidential suite and it was more than wonderful. Huge bed quality sheets and large living room area.

Would be great to have more coffee and possibly some milk in the room. But i am sure we could’ve gotten it upon request.

Awesome staff, large comfortable rooms, great pool area and a nice view of the garden from the room with a lot of attention to detail such as providing welcoming drinks and baked goods in the room. Definitely recommend this place after travelling in Sri Lanka, especially given the value for the price you pay.

The property was clean and unique. We loved the beauty of it and it was a true hidden gem

There was nothing we didn’t like

big room comfortable beds

extra costs for kids bed no alcohol served no pool service

Beautiful hotel with lush and extremely well kept gardens.

Amazing restored colonial hotel - incredible rooms, stylishly and tastefully restored and updated. Takes you back to times gone by. Certainly worth a stay - and also not a bad run through to the international airport as a stop if coming from Ella/mountains. Food was excellent and good menu.

Still waiting on their license, so no alcohol for now. Not their fault!

the location was close to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage so there was about 2-3 hours of activity for a day. moreover, being closer (than Kandy) to Bandarnaike International Airport (1.5 - 2 Hours) it made for a relaxing & convenient stop-over. the property is a serene, calm little getaway in itself. The first night, it was just us - making it very private for us and the second night was had company of other travellers. the pool is just the right size for kids. The rooms are large with high ceilings, good airconditioning, mosquito control and extra large beds which are very comfortable. the linen & towels were clean and fluffy. The staff is amazingly courteous and are willing to put in that extra bit to make your stay more comfortable and enjoyable. they also provided complementary accommodation for our taxi driver.

food is good and they customized it to match our preferences but there is scope for improvement.

Staff services are not upto mark. For hotel booking, not sure why service charges are added apart from taxes.

Food is delicious, staff friendly, rooms super clean and spacious

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Staff were very helpful. Cery nice swimming pool. As we are strictly vegetarian, the kitchen prepared for us special meals in our own pots and pans.

Fantastically maintained and serviced. Beautiful pool area and views.

Lack of other people! Not the hotels fault, more so a product of being newly developed, in a less trodden city.

The Grand Walawwa, a place that had been elevated to near-mythical status by social media, was a destination we just couldn't miss. And I'm thrilled to say, it lived up to every bit of its hype. For those who are enamored by history and the grandiose of old colonial times, The Grand Walawwa is a dream come true. It's like stepping into a time machine, where history and luxury intertwine to transport you back to a bygone era. The restoration of this majestic property has been done with such meticulous care, maintaining its historic and architectural integrity. The rooms offer a plush and luxurious experience, nestled in quiet, serene surroundings. They are a perfect blend of modern amenities and colonial elegance, with four-poster beds and delicate lace trimmings adding to the charm. One of the highlights of our stay was the historical tour. It's an immersive journey that I highly recommend. Unfortunately, the weather didn't permit us to enjoy the quaint plunge pool, but it added to the overall charm of the place. The collection of antiques is remarkable, each piece telling its own story, and providing endless opportunities for stunning photographs. The expansive grounds are impeccably maintained, though we were somewhat limited in exploring them due to the rain. The staff, particularly at the front office, were knowledgeable and courteous, ensuring our stay was comfortable and well-cared for. In summary, The Grand Walawwa is an excellent getaway, particularly suitable for those with older kids, couples or anyone looking to immerse themselves in a luxurious, historic setting.

However, there's room for improvement in the culinary department. The food at The Grand Walawwa, while satisfactory, didn't quite match the authenticity and excellence of the rest of the experience. We're hopeful for a more authentic culinary offering on our next visit.

The accommodation is impressive, with high attention to detail on the finish of each area. Our room was wonderfully spacious and felt like a really special place stooped in history.

Restaurant: - The staff were a little clueless here. Unsure if there's a lack of education in the local area or the business hasn't provided sufficient training. - The menu: whilst it looked promising on paper, they didn't have 80% of the items and in fact had none of the items on the 'indian' food menu. So we wasted time reading through to then have to play a game of guess what they do have available. Recommendation: stick to the basic local options on the menu, since they don't have a clue how to make anything more exotic like pizza. - Drinks: where's the wine/spirits menu!? There's even a bar in the colonial building by the billiards room, yet it's got nothing on the shelf, assume they haven't got a license yet, but would be a nice space if they sort this out.

Lovely newly opened hotel staff and service were excellent. The rooms spacious, well appointed and spotlessly clean. Food of a good standard and promptly served The swimming pool clean and surrounded by plants and shrubs All in all a really great place to stay would highly recommend

No alcohol licence for the restaurant which didn’t bother us but maybe will be a problem for others

Big room Pool Food ok

History Beautifully refurbished Excellent staff

Food menu should have more Sri Lankan options . Food could be improved Excellent service in the restaurant especially Ananda who was lovely

Beautiful hotel. Spacious and comfortable rooms. Great staff. The architecture of the place is beautiful. Food was really good as well.

The restaurant takes so long to prepare the food. Took us nearly 2 hours to get our food from the time of ordering it. Surprisingly, room service was quick. The food tastes really good though.

The hotel is immaculately restored from a former residence, and extended in a sympathetic way to match the original. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable. The pool is small but perfect for the size of the hotel.

There is a new extension along the side being built which is too close to the original building, however this is for wedding events and we were told that when these events are taking place the whole hotel is likely to be booked out by the wedding guests.

Once you enter the property is like stepping back in time, where modernity mixes with history in a very relaxing atmosphere, the staff is young and willing to go above and beyond of your expectation, nothing is impossible, a smile is guaranteed, bed are comfortable and rooms are super well equipped and really chic, food is very good and we cannot wait to come back good job guys!!! Wish all the best

We liked everything

The hotel is a great escape from a busy city. We love the colonial architecture and its comfort. The staff was nice, particularly the restaurant staff who took extra care of our meals. Mr. Brian was an amazing person who listened to our meal requests.

It's just a minor thing. The frant staff seems to not be aware of Booking.com booking and had a slight delay during the checkout.

The hotel is very grand and comfortable. The staff were excellent. They arranged a Sri Lankan food cooking class for us, even though they had a very large organised party going on at the same time.

Stunning and quiet property in the heart of a busy city! We were welcomed by the stuff with some drinks and everyone took a lot of care of us and our luggage. The beds were the best we had during our 2 months Sri Lanka stay 😊

It was all great!

Huge spacious rooms with an old colonial vibe. Our room and the hotel was very clean. The staff was prompt and polite. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala. Not much to do around. Limited eating options outside as well in the Kegalle market. But loved the fact that despite being so close to the main market, the property itself was so quiet and peaceful. Even managed to see a few fireflies in the night. The breakfast was good too!

Limited food options on the menu. Would recommend some local food options to be included in the menu like curries and rice. Was a little disappointed to find beans and carrots as a topping on the veggie pizza.

Attention to detail - manager on site . From the time I made my first call to them , nothing was too much for the staff !

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The Grand Walawwa is a regal colonial property hidden beautifully in the town of Kegalle. Very intricately restored property with touches on the woodwork and furniture which take you back a century. This place seems a perfect location to host an event for family and friends. Rooms are very spacious, clean with comfortable beds and pillows and the hot water in the showers and towels are excellent. Overall I would definitely recommend this hotel and it seems like you are in a private hotel.

We only thought the dinner service was very slow and the staff misunderstood one of our orders.

A perfect stopover between Colombo and Kandy and beyond. Full of old world charm and the tour of the hotel was great! Staff friendly and accommodating!

A bit difficult to find