Casa Colombo Mirissa

A sister hotel to the capital’s Casa Colombo, Casa Colombo Mirissa is a lovely new (2015) boutique hotel right on the beach very near Mirissa, a popular spot with visitors about 20 miles east of Galle on Sri Lanka’s south coast. There are only six suites, some with sea views and all but one are on the first floor. One suite is privately situated by the side of the main building at ground floor level with a private plunge pool – very suitable for families and honeymooners. A private butler is allocated to each room and guests are given a dedicated mobile telephone programmed with the butler’s number so he can be reached at any time – it can also make and receive local calls.

One can’t swim off the beach when it’s rough in February and March, but swimming can generally be done from April – in any case, the pool is right on the beach. Turtles regularly come to nest on this stretch of beach, and the hotel rescues the eggs and releases the young once hatched.

There is a very good seafood restaurant open to guests and the general public offering a wide range of fish and other seafood, cooked in a variety of ways.