Paradise Road The Villa Bentota

Once known as Mohotti Walauwa, the stately two-acre property was converted into Sri Lanka’s first boutique hotel by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa in the 1970s. The 19th-century Dutch colonial mansion was once again refurbished in 2007 by the iconic designer Shanth Fernando, with a new wing, pavilion, and swimming pool added shortly after. While the boutique property has been modernized, much of the original design remains, adding to the charm of this once ancestral home. The hotel has a black-and-white theme throughout and feature antiques such as wooden animals and celadon pots and a huge collection of contemporary artwork. Expect lots of gray concrete, chic white seating, animal figurines inside, and palm trees, lush lawns, and loungers outside. Most guests at the hotel are couples looking for a relaxing getaway, but some families and groups of friends also stay here. Note that a train runs by the property, which can disturb the peace. 

The hotel is located in the beach town of Bentota, halfway between Colombo and Galle on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. It's a few minutes' walk from a palm-fringed beach, but train tracks need to be crossed to get to it, and due to rough waters, the ocean is not always swimmable -- common for Sri Lanka. There are several hotels and eateries within easy walking distance. The capital of Colombo is 90 minutes away by car and Bandaranaike International Airport is just over two hours. The hotel offers free parking. 

Paradise Road the Villa Bentota offers 15 stylish rooms and suites that blend the villa’s historic charm with modern amenities. The individually decorated room types range from Single Rooms to the Mohotti Suite, spread out in two-story units among the grounds. Like common areas, they have a black-and-white color scheme, elegant rattan furniture, and contemporary paintings and sculptures. On the downside, some guests have complained that the rooms can be damp and dark. Additionally, the sound of passing trains can be heard in most rooms, including at night.

Single Rooms have one-person beds with mosquito nets, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, safes, free Wi-Fi, and Spa Ceylon toiletries. All other room types feature king-size beds and add sitting areas, flat-screen TVs with cable channels and a DVD library, as well as minibars. Bathrooms vary a little bit, with either concrete or white tiling or wood floors. They come with either walk-in showers or separate showers and tubs, in addition to hairdryers. Except for Executive Suites, all rooms come with furnished balconies or terraces overlooking the swimming pool and the ocean or the garden.

The boutique hotel offers a good amount of features given its size, but it notably lacks a gym and full spa -- though a treatment room is available for Ayurvedic massages. The beautifully manicured grounds are peppered with palm trees, loungers, and a series of tables under pergolas, plus two pools. One pool is surrounded by umbrella-topped loungers, and a smaller courtyard pool lacks loungers (a part of the villa’s original design). Those seeking quiet contemplation can settle in one of the numerous sitting lounges or the open-air thatched roof pavilion; all spaces feature bells to summon staff if needed.

All rates include a well-reviewed a la carte breakfast, served in the open-air Villa Cafe. It also serves local and international cuisine -- with a focus on Italian and seafood dishes -- for lunch and dinner. Located at the far end of the garden, the open-air Lion Bar features white-cushioned rattan sofas, blue-and-white-striped pillows, and large glass bottles as decoration. A gift shop sells goods from the Paradise Road store in Colombo, and the Villa Gallery displays artworks available for purchase. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.