The restoration of the Galle Fort Hotel, which began life as an 18th century Dutch villa, adds to Sri Lanka’s select band of luxury old-colonial boutique hotels and offers magnificent accommodation in the heart of one of Sri Lanka’s most historic locations. The hotel evokes a subtle sense of colonial grandeur, skillfully updated for the modern age.   A sense of history does not mean that the Galle Fort’s guests will gather dust; far from it. The small bar-cum-verandah cafe is becoming a favoured meeting point, with the two Australian owners encouraging a convivial atmosphere where intelligent opinions are to be shared, not hidden.

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Accommodation
The Galle Fort Hotel has 12 exquisite airconditioned rooms and suites each with a unique interior and opening out to the central courtyard and the swimming pool. All the rooms are luxuriously furnished with king-sized beds dressed with canopied mosquito netting, crisp white linen and comfortable pillows.  The ensuite bathrooms are stylish and have showers with hot and cold water.

• Garden Rooms: The three airconditoned Garden Rooms have a small private parterre garden, wall fountain, verandah and attached bathrooms with showers. The rooms are elegantly furnished with a modern king-sized four-poster bed.  The Garden Rooms can accommodate two people.
  
• Loft Suites: There are four airconditoned Loft Suites.  These two-storey suites are more like small villas with a romantic loft bedroom overlooking the garden and pool.   A cozy sitting room is located on the ground floor.  A child’s bed is added at an extra cost.  The ensuite bathrooms are stylish and fitted with modern, Italian ceramics.  A private verandah, furnished with planter’s chairs, overlooks the swimming pool, garden and grand colonnade.
  
• Admiral Cheng Ho Pavilion: This is a large two-storey suite that commemorates the visit of Admiral Cheng Ho to Galle in 1406.  The upper floor bedroom has a carved Chinese opium bed and work desk. A screen made from rare, antique columns provides privacy from the generous living area below, furnished with intricate pieces of oriental furniture and a day bed, which can be used for one teenage child.  The attached open-air bathroom has six-metre columns with a large, elevated waterfall shower, which makes bathing seem like a fresh tropical downpour.
  
• Blue & White Porcelain Suite: This magnificent fully airconditioned suite opening out to the central courtyard and swimming pool has a twenty-foot ceiling and its own separate dressing room and ensuite bathroom. The towering, bedroom walls feature 18th century blue & white porcelain imported by the Chinese.  The suite is furnished with an antique four-poster bed and cabinets.   The day bed can be used as an extra bed for one teenage child.
  
• The Mews Suite:  This is Galle Fort Hotel’s latest addition.  This two-storey airconditioned suite is more like a small villa and is ideal for a family.  Children will enjoy spending time on their own on the mezzanine floor furnished with a large single four-poster bed, while the adults relax in the downstairs area, which has a large king sized bed.  The ensuite bathroom has a granite shower.  This suite opens out to a private garden courtyard and separate entranceway.  The Mews is your own luxurious private villa in the Fort with the swimming pool less than a stones throw away.
  
• Library Suite:  This fully air-conditioned suite has two king size beds and separate bathroom with shower. The sitting area opens as a balcony onto the archway of the main building.  The Library suite houses a fine collection of traditional Kandyan hat pins with rough cut semi precious gems and glass, part of the Royal dress worn by chieftains in the Kandyan Perahara.  Antique furniture includes a chest and almirah and the king sized four-poster beds.  Three people can be accommodated in this suite.
  
• Le Grand Apartment du Comte de Mauny: This grand suite more like an apartment occupies the entire top floor of the old wing and has two king-sized bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a private verandah. Covering an area of 2,500 square feet, this apartment also has a living and dinging room with views of churches, a mosque and the scenic Galle harbour.  Private in-room dining is offered at the eight-seater antique dining table.  The apartment features origi
  

Facilities
The inner courtyard, with a tiny garden and 10-metre swimming pool, offers a tranquil and exclusive area for guests. Lasantha, the in-house masseur, is trained in traditional Thai and Swedish Oil massage and offers morning yoga sessions by the pool.  An exciting restaurant, offers classic Asian and Western dishes prepared with freshly and locally bought ingredients, and overseen by the owner-chef Christopher Ong. The staff ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Meals can be taken on the terrace, the bar or in a grand dining room.

Excursions
Lying within the walls of the 17th century Galle’s Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galle Fort Hotel is an ideal base from which to explore it’s heritage and see life unfold each morning within the Fort.  Hours can be spent exploring the maze of narrow streets lined with Dutch and British period buildings still in use, the sturdy ramparts looking out to sea, the growing collection of art galleries, antique shops and restaurants.  There are some fine beaches just outside of the Fort including Wijeya, Unawatuna, Mirissa and Hikkaduwa.