The WallawwaReviewed by Emma Boyle

It might be situated just a few kilometers from the airport but The Wallawwa feels nothing like a transit hotel. Sitting in acres of beautifully mature gardens, The Wallawwa or ‘The W’ as it is affectionately known is a sanctuary of serenity and style where the old is merged beautifully with the new. Built over 200 years ago in the traditional “Dutch warehouse’ colonial design, the W is the most ancient manor house in the entire province and was the ancestral home for many years of the Dias-Abeysinghe family – Maha Mudaliyas who originally hailed from Galle. More recently, the house with its broad pillared verandahs and outbuildings was first occupied by the Royal Air Force during 1939-1945 and later by Mr Arun Tampoe, a prominent Kandyan lawyer, and his family who were largely responsible for the design of the fabulous tropical garden and its upkeep for over 28 years.

With its completely secluded location, The W is a luxurious private hideaway whose 14 boutique bedrooms, exquisite food and wonderfully oversized Z Spa provide the perfect ingredients for a relaxing and memorable stay, even if a couple of nights can only be squeezed in at the beginning or end of a holiday. The bedrooms, located around a courtyard pool in a new building carefully blended to the rear of the main house, have been designed to offer the weary traveller the very best blend in traditional and modern comforts. Rooms are spacious, beautifully designed with plenty of privacy and feature modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi and flat screen TVs.

The W has many quiet and contemplative public areas, both inside and out, as well as a sociable front verandah where inspiring Asian fusion cuisine and a medley of cocktails and drinks are served. The A.R. Tampoe Library and Collection is an especially unique feature of the hotel in that it was left by the previous owner – Mr Tampoe – in its entirety. It is full of unexpected delights awaiting your discovery. The W’s signature swimming pool languishes in the garden a short distance from the house under the shade of huge trees while a yoga garden is peacefully located beside the spa. The croquet lawn might invoke your energies on more than one occasion although you may prefer to relax in the seclusion of one of the cosy canopied chairs scattered throughout the tropical garden, drink, most definitely, in hand!

Each room at The W is designed to offer the traveller exquisite comfort and every convenience, whether staying in the standard W Bedrooms or the more spacious Garden Suites.

W Bedrooms
Designed with the transit passenger in mind, these stylish bedrooms are equipped with modern luxuries such as rainshowers, Balinese four-poster beds dressed in high thread count cotton sheets, Wi-Fi and widescreen satellite TVs. French windows open out onto small private verandahs furnished with cosy cushioned seating. W Bedrooms can be booked with an interconnecting Garden Suite, making them ideal as a family choice.

Garden Suites
These spacious suites comprise 55sqm of living space including terrazzo lined walk-in wet rooms boasting rainshowers and twin vanities. Comprising every luxury of the W Bedrooms, Garden Suites also have seating areas and a writing desk as well as large double doors that open onto a spacious private verandah.

 - Admire the oruva catamarans bringing catches of fresh fish to the early morning markets

- Bike around the network of canals

- Travel to Kalpitiya where you can whale and dolphin watch. Extremists can try kite-surfing!

- Visit Horathapola, a coconut and spice plantation

A wonderfully family friendly hotel with interconnecting rooms. There is a special kid’s menu and the garden and pool are popular with children. There are plenty of activities on offer in the area including a visit to Horathapola estate where you can ride on a bullock cart and learn about the different spices and how they grow.

The W boasts excellent home-cooked cuisine that combines the finest Sri Lankan and South Asian cookery with the best of the West. Recipes have been designed by Executive Chef, Alex Stanich, a New Yorker who has lived in South Asia for over six years perfecting the art of Asian fusion cuisine. His keen interest in experimenting with different cooking methods has seen the introduction of the innovative cinnamon wood BBQ pit at The W, which has produced irresistible and highly popular cuisine! Simply un-missable!

Seasonal a la carte menus are on offer daily, from breakfast to dinner. Tables are laid on the spacious front verandah where the red and black furnishings become even more seductive and inviting come nightfall. Flight weary guests may delight in the in-room dining option, giving them that extra time to relax! Space is a luxury at The W where there is plenty of room for a private moment; tables can also be set up in the garden.

The cocktail menu features a range of ecliptic concoctions and traditional drinks that can be sipped at leisure from any scenic spot of your choosing. Tea from the hills is also available. Choose to enjoy it beside the pool, from the open-air lounge or inside one of the gorgeously cosy canopied garden chairs.