The Sandhya

We stayed in this beautiful hotel for 2 weeks. What a beautiful place to relax. The hotel is perfectly located on Kabalana Beach, stylish, extremely clean. The entire team of the hotel was more than attentive, a perfect and incredibly friendly service. You can see that it is an owner-managed boutique hotel. Even the smallest details are very consistent, the motivation to offer guests a great stay extremely high. Thank you for this wonderful time, keep up the good work and stay healthy! 🌸

The Sandhya embodies elegance and refined luxury reimagined for Sri Lanka's stunning south coast. Nestled towards the (quiet) end of the stunning Kabalana Beach, The Sandhya is the crown jewel in Ahangama's burgeoning hotel and tourism scene. From smiling security and housekeeping to the excellent service team led by Taranja, the staff are unbelievably friendly, professional, and attentive in all the right ways. The food and cocktail menu are a culinary tour de force. Try the tuna tataki (ideally washed down with signature cocktails such as Sand & Sun or Gold Dust), it is literally my favourite meal in the world. The Sandhya delivers six-star-level confort, world-class design (wait until you see the iconic floating staircase) and landscaping, and high-end interior and amenity elements. No expense has been spared in ensuring their guests' receive an unmatched customer experience. Crucially, I don't say any of this based on one visit. I've stayed at The Sandhya around a dozen times over 5-6 years and the standards never slip, if anything they improve every year. If you can swing it, try out the Director's Suite - it is a genuine triumph in every way imagineable! Overall, the Sandhya is simply unmatched. It is a must-stay property if you're heading to Ahangama, which you should be! Oh, and the no kids policy may not be for everyone but it's a hit for me!

There is something mystical about The Sandhya from the moment of arrival. The paradox of the imposing yet inviting, luxurious yet natural entrance makes you gasp and grin with expectation before you even step into the elegant interior. There are local touches everywhere...subtle but prevalent, all the same. The smiling welcome when the gate slides back to give access to your Tuk Tuk or your airport transfer; the shoes carefully lined up on the side of the stairs; the aromas and the gifts on the reception desk, the wooden key rings and the leather accessories. You know you need to check-in but you're too busy wondering when you will have time to photograph all the magnificently designed angles. More paradox...minimal, clean, symmetrical with modern-inspired furniture straight out of a magazine feature but cosy, warm, natural materials exuding comfort and that feeling of home at the same time. The boutique hotel's signature staircase allows the floor-to-ceiling windows space to breathe, and the stunning view is constant: day or night. Breathtaking! The concept is easy and simple but remarkable. It's a nine-room home with a lovely team there to make your stay unforgettable. But do they feel like staff waiting on you hand and foot? That would be too stifling, no. They are always there when you need them but this is more like being in a shared villa with friends (who you don't have to see if you decide you want your privacy). Open kitchen, honesty bar, a fabulous breakfast menu, lunch and dinner, board games, reading material, coffee-table books, a pool and garden, but - more importantly - a quiet corner of Kabalana beach, just metres from the azure waters and the waves. It's heavenly! The music, the daily fresh juices and fruit, the surf lessons (should you opt for some), the stretch of sandy beach, the access to everything else on your to-do list, the shared dinner or gatherings if you are fortunate enough to be there on a special occasion (like New Year's Eve with bubbles and fireworks) are carefully curated to make sure you build some unforgettable memories. You could be perched on the bar having a drink with the owner, running along the sand by sunrise, or lying on your sunbed chatting to a couple about their honeymoon. And, if you're alone, you will feel totally at ease doing your own thing in the lounge area or the dining room, tapping away at your laptop or reading your book, safe in the knowledge that someone is always around if you fancy a bite to eat or a refreshment, a massage, some tips on activities in the area or help planning your stay...and wherever you are in the hotel, you are always overlooking the garden and the sea. Magical! The Sandhya is a boutique hotel with a difference. It didn't feel like being in a hotel at all, but it had all the trimmings of a luxury resort. Sri Lanka was amazing, so being able to couple that up with accommodation I never wanted to leave, made every part of my itinerary a moment of anticipation. Did I me

What a gorgeous resort. My wife and I booked for seven nights and we could’ve stayed for another 7 in a heart beat If we had the time. Accommodating staff that were there for every wish annd whim. This place exudes style and Grace . Gorgeous fixtures and fittings, Lighting details, sound system that allow us to play Spotify through the night as we celebrated our first anniversary. shimmering blue waters for swimming in front a famous surf break to the right… we couldn’t ask for more.

From the moment, my girlfriend and I walked into the Sandhya , we were in awe with not only the Architecture, but how calm and tranquil the surrounds were. Gentle tunes, playing in the lobby. Bespoke designer furniture pieces are dotted around the lobby and the gorgeous grand wooden staircase is simply magnificent. The view and the position of this Hotel is second to none . White, wide Sandy Beaches skirt, the crystal clear Bluewater of the Indian Ocean and is literally on the Hotels edge.

On honeymoon we ended up at Sandhya a little by accident ( also we like Telegraph recommendations) and what a good move! This place is magical. It is a very small luxurious hotel. The location is absolutely fantastic right on a quiet, long, beautiful beach. Guests have direct access so no need to take anything when going for a swim or a walk. The beach is quiet but with all facilities including surfing lessons and hire. The hotel is built around its privileged location so there are stunning sea views from every room. We stayed on director’s suite for our special occasion and wow! Really spacious room with to balconies with the most incredible view. Big comfortable bed, fresh white cotton linen, robes, double walk in shower and vanity, fabulous bath with a view ( salts provided daily), huge dressing area, several large mirrors, a/c, speaker, impeccably decorated, no effort or expense has been spared. The theme continues in the whole hotel. The food is fresh and cooked to perfection. Healthy tasty breakfast is included. We did explore a few other recommended restaurants but the best meals were at the Sandhya’s restaurant. Do try the tuna, best we have ever had. The staff are incredibly attentive, knowledgeable and professional and accommodate everything we needed: transport, recommendations, I had the most incredible massage in my room which got rid of all my muscle aches! It is a very personal service and this is a big plus for us. An absolutely magical time in a small, quiet, stylish hotel that catered for every single of our needs in the most privileged location. Perfect as a romantic location or simply somewhere to recharge batteries. Magical memories but we plan to come back. Thank you 😊

Many thanks to the hotel! Me and my boyfriend travel a lot around the world and stay in hotels like this a lot. None of them were as attentive and warm as this one! The feeling when you walk through the door and see this incredible beautiful view and atmosphere in front of you was absolut beautiful. Our room was perfect-very clean, the food was very good so we ate there every day and the outdoor area was great as well. Also a big compliment to the staff! They were always courteous and always with a smile on their faces. The whole exterior was wonderful but for us it was the little details and gestures that made everything perfect. Many thanks to the team for the incredible stay and the great experience we had! - see you soon :)

We stayed at Sandhya for 4 nights and it was an unbelievably great experience. The hotel is beautiful and the location is perfect and Rooms are amazing. The reception was so friendly and courteous that we immediately felt very comfortable and at home in Paradise. The service is incredibly polite and helpful and they really pay attention to every little detail. The food is also an absolute recommendation. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner - everything was perfect. The outdoor area has a wonderful view of the sea and the sunset and if you want to be right on the beach, you are only a flight of steps away and can get a refreshing dip in the sea. The owner was also on site and took the time to look after all the guests personally. It really was a very special time for us and we recommend everyone to make a stop at Sandhya if Sri Lanka is on the list. Thank you Alan and the whole team at Sandhya - we will be back soon!

This is hospitality in perfection. First the lovely team, always there to assist us, giving a smile and feeling us at home all the time. The chef is marvellous, we loved the dinners here: the best we had in Sri Lanka all of our travels around the island. We look forward coming back!