Galle Face Hotel
Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Is Galle Face Hotel good? Overview, pros and cons
Verdict: 8.5/10 (Staylist AI score). Guests praise: colonial charm; seafront pool; piper ceremony. Main complaint: bugs reported.
Staylist AI overview · based on 8 public guest reviews
“Galle Face's colonial charm, worn edges”
Galle Face Hotel is a beautiful colonial-era Colombo icon on the ocean — a seafront pool with pretty sunsets, a daily 6pm flag-lowering ceremony with a Scottish piper, vintage interiors full of character, bathtubs with reliable hot water, walkable to sights and markets, and kind caring staff; historic-building stays are a treat. Two complaints: run-down rooms with bugs and staff — including front-desk manager Paul — who made requests feel like favors; and genuinely historic hardware — a promised sea-view birthday room turned out to be a poor corridor-end one, while a lawn music festival blasted past midnight.
- Rooms
- Characterful vintage rooms; a bug report exists.
- Service
- Kind staff; one favor-doing attitude reported.
- Location
- An oceanfront colonial landmark within Colombo city.
- Facilities
- A seafront pool plus a flag ceremony.
- Noise
- A lawn concert blasted past midnight once.
- Value
- Historic charm at a fair rate.
- Colonial charm
- Seafront pool
- Piper ceremony
- Kind staff
- Sauna
- Gym
- Public parking
- Bugs reported
- Aging hardware
- Event noise
Best forHeritage loversSightseeingCouples
How it compares
Galle Face Hotel ranks #18 of 80 hotels Staylist lists in Colombo and #13 of 22 5-star hotels there. At about $159 a night it is 59% above the median for 5-star hotels in Colombo ($100). The closest listed alternative is Ramada by Wyndham Colombo, 200 m away (score 6.4).
About the hotel
- Address
- 2 Galle Rd, Colombo 03, Colombo, Western Province, 00100, Sri Lanka
- Hotel class
- ★★★★★ 5-star
- Renovated
- 2015
- Check-in / out
- From 14:00 · by 12:00
- Distance to centre
- 1.1 km
- Getting there
- Airport: Diyawanna Oya Seaplane Base (9.38 km) · Train Station: Slave Island Railway Station (0.73 km)
- Children
- Children of all ages are welcome at this property.
Nearby hotels
- Ramada by Wyndham Colombo200 m · 6.4 · $78
- Taj Samudra, Colombo300 m · 8.7 · $90
- Cinnamon Grand Colombo300 m · 8.4 · $92
- Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams500 m · 8.9 · $147
- ITC Ratnadipa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Colombo600 m · 8.6 · $165
Amenities
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Private beach area
- Sauna
- Spa
- Massage room
- Gym
- Public parking
- Airport pick-up
- Car rentals
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Airport drop-off
- Station pick-up
- Conference room
- Multi-function room
- Business center
- Tour and ticket booking service
- Currency exchange
- Wi-Fi in public areas
- Luggage storage
- Pool with view
- Saltwater pool
- Valet parking
- Shuttle service
Frequently asked questions
- What time is check-in at Galle Face Hotel?
- Check-in starts at 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00.
- Does Galle Face Hotel have a pool?
- Yes: outdoor swimming pool, pool with view, saltwater pool.
- Is there parking at Galle Face Hotel?
- Yes: public parking, valet parking.
- Does Galle Face Hotel offer an airport transfer?
- Yes: airport pick-up, airport drop-off.
- What wellness facilities does Galle Face Hotel have?
- Sauna, Spa, Massage room, Gym.
- How far is Galle Face Hotel from the airport?
- The nearest airport is Diyawanna Oya Seaplane Base, about 9.38 km away.
- How far is Galle Face Hotel from the centre of Colombo?
- About 1.1 km.
- Is Galle Face Hotel suitable for children?
- Children of all ages are welcome at this property.