No. 11 Upatissa Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka | (618) 248-8274
Within walking distance to many restaurants and a shopping mall
10- to 15-minute drive to several attractions such as Galle Face Beach
Contemporary rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air-conditioning
On-site restaurant with 24-hour room service
Free Wi-Fi and parking
Some small rooms with tiny bathrooms
Noise from outside and neighboring rooms can be bothersome
No gym
Location can be a bit hard for taxis and tuk-tuks to find
The 37-room, mid-range Ceylon City Hotel is located about a 15-minute drive south of famous Galle Face Beach. Many local restaurants and shops are within walking distance, as well as a large shopping mall. The hotel's design is largely utilitarian and unmemorable, but rates are affordable and include free Wi-Fi and parking. Contemporary rooms have large flat-screen TVs, minibars, and air-conditioning, but they can be small and let in noise. There is a restaurant on the fourth floor offering a variety of cuisines and 24-hour room service. The similarly priced Drift BnB has comparable in-room amenities and receives more consistently positive reviews, though it lacks an all-day restaurant.
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Scene
Three-pearl property with contemporary locally inspired interiors
The Ceylon City Hotel is a mid-range property housed in a white, nondescript five-story building featuring a blue vertical neon sign with the hotel's name on it. Inside, the locally inspired lobby has a black-and-yellow design consisting of gold brush metal walls, shiny black and chartreuse front desk, and black-cushioned couches with gold patterned throw pillows. There's also an abandoned coffee shop in one corner that is now used for storing luggage. The only other public space is the restaurant featuring wooden dining sets with orange accents and one wall lined with gold curtains. The design throughout is contemporary but lackluster, however, guests come for the affordable rates and not the style.
Location
Shopping mall within walking distance of the hotel
The Ceylon City Hotel is located on a narrow side street that is a block away from the ocean (though there is no beach). There are many restaurants and shops within a five-minute walk scattered around the Colombo-Galle Main Road. It is an eight-minute walk to the Majestic City shopping mall. The beautiful Viharamahadevi Park (with a national museum) is a 10-minute drive away, while popular Galle Face Beach and urban park is about a 15-minute drive. The Independence Memorial Hall and Independence Square are 12 minutes by car, and the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is a 15-minute drive away. Bandaranaike International Airport can be reached in approximately 40 minutes by road.
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with minibars and flat-screen TVs
The Ceylon City Hotel has 37 contemporary rooms divided into three tiers: Standard, Deluxe, and Junior Suite. The Standard and Deluxe Rooms are decorated in neutral-tone patterned carpet, dark wooden furniture, and muted colors such as beige, brown, and gray, while the Junior Suites are decked out in bright colors such as peach and pink. The accent walls behind beds -- some of which have attractive silver damask wallpaper -- match the bed runners and throw pillows. The only views that can be seen out of room windows are of the buildings and construction across the street. All rooms have work desks, air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, kettles with tea and coffee, minimally stocked minibar, free bottled water, safes, and ironing facilities. Some of the rooms are small, and guests complain about noise coming in from the street and neighboring rooms at night. Bathrooms are even more compact, equipped with shower stalls, a few toiletries, and hairdryers.
Features
On-site restaurant, but little else
The Ceylon City Hotel doesn't offer much in the way of amenities, but it does have the fourth-floor Flamingo Restaurant on-site. It offers a wide range of cuisines, including Sri Lankan, Italian, Western, Indian, Arabic, and Chinese. It's open all day and offers 24-hour room service. Other hotel amenities include free parking and Wi-Fi, plus airport transportation for a fee.
