Elephant Stables

Elephant Stables is a small boutique in a quiet hilltop setting removed from bustling Kandy. Rooms are housed in a large two-story, grey-and-white colonial building with teak window frames. The house used to be owned by Sir Cuddah Ratwatte, the patriarch of Sri Lanka's leading aristocratic family. In front of the house, there is a green lawn lined by potted plants and with a circular lily pond in the middle. To the right of the entrance, two black 1940s-era cars are parked next to each other. Interiors are a mix of homey furnishings such as floral wallpaper, blue-and-white scallop-patterned couch, and a fireplace, with more elegant decorations such as parquet flooring and handcrafted pottery. Drawings of Sri Lankan landscapes, elephant objects, and a framed painting of female tea farmers are attractive nods to the location. The rear houses the lovely infinity pool with valley views and surrounding tables where guests can take meals.  This hotel is best for well-to-do tourists, particularly couples as there are few kid-friendly amenities. 

Elephant Stables is located on a private road on top of a hill overlooking the city of Kandy. The hotel is surrounded by other hotels, so the only actual business within walking distance (eight minutes) is the Asiri Family Restaurant, which has well-reviewed Sri Lankan food. The Temple of the Tooth, a Buddhist temple with a relic of the Buddha's tooth, is a 12-minute drive away. The Royal Botanic garden, with over 4000 species of plants and renowned for its orchids, is a 22-minute drive away. The Ceylon Tea Museum, a four-story building with a tea cafe on the top floor, is a 21-minute drive away. The Kandy railroad station is a 14-minute drive away. Free parking is available on-site.

Elephant Stables has eight spacious rooms, with three of those that are even larger (for families or just guests who want extra space). Every room has its own twist on colonial decor, but all have light stone floors, white walls, and four-poster wooden beds (some with canopies). Patterned accents, artwork, and decorative objects such as wicker baskets and animal statues provide interesting touches. Many rooms have windows with views out over the city. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, kettles and Sri Lankan tea, and safes. Sleek bathrooms have gray slate tile with rainfall showerheads and occasionally bathtubs as well. There is an extensive array of toiletries, plus bathrobes, slippers, and hairdryers.

Elephant Stables has a pretty restaurant with walls made up of mostly floor-to-ceiling windows and most of its seating outside on the cement veranda. The restaurant serves full English, Sri Lankan, or continental breakfasts (free for all guests), as well as delicious coconut pancakes. They also offer an outside afternoon tea and a dinner choice of either a three-course meal or entrees off the a la carte menu. Food receives rave reviews from past guests. There is a full bar as well, with a signature cocktail -- the Elephant UNstable.The hotel also has a small infinity pool on the edge of the hillside with pretty views of Kandy and valleys below. It's surrounded by a handful of cushioned loungers under yellow umbrellas. There are no gym or spa facilities, but there are a library of 100 English movies and free Wi-Fi throughout -- though guests warn it can be spotty.