Hotels with Bars in Balapitiya

This hotel was a replacement at the end of our Secret Escapes tour of Sri Lanka. We spent 5 nights here and it is something of a mixed bag. The location right on a beautiful beach is incredible. It has a stunning swimming pool offering shade or sun at all times of the day. It is very isolated and quiet with just 28 rooms. The staff are lovely and can’t do enough for you and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. On the flip side, it doesn’t rate as 5*. Probably just 4*. The food is little better than average. A bizarre selection of dishes and none of it served piping hot. The staff are a bit like having 11 strikers in a football team. A keen to drive the ball home but without the solidity to really pull it off - nothing that a bit of training couldn’t cure. Some guests have expressed concern about the vendors on the beach. These people do not hassle you and are lovely and pleasant and have a living to earn. Buy clothes or coconuts from them but don’t trust them for a tuk tuk or a tour. Outside the front gate is the house of a lovely guy and his family - Ashela - he can most certainly be trusted. Drinks are great value, the bar staff clearly the most experienced of the people on show and to give them their due as it is post pandemic perhaps many of them are new? During our visit we had 15 hour power cuts and a escalation of state of emergency and the staff did their very best to keep everyone comfortable.

A group of us travelled to Calamansi Cove last week, and had an excellent two-night stay. We were ten adults and eight children ranging from 10 to 1. The place is very well designed for families with small children. The setting is a beautifully maintained garden with villa type rooms, each with its own private garden, outdoor space, and some rooftop space. The food overall was excellent, with something different offered for each meal. However what I would really like to commend were the hotel staff, who made our stay exceptional. Sujith, the hotel lifeguard, made our trip so much easier. He was always attentive without being intrusive, very gentle with the kids, and thoroughly trustworthy. Our trip experience would have been very different without him always on guard. The two serving staff we encountered, Chandana and Thilak, were so friendly, and extremely accommodating and obliging. Also our reservation and check-in were managed excellently by Nirodha, who also took every effort to ensure that we had a great stay. Special mention must be made of Tommy the hotel dog (fully vaccinated), who was also a great companion for the kids. One small problem with our trip was that the sea was not swimmable during our stay. Apparently June is not a great time for the sea here. But overall we had a great experience and would highly recommend Calamansi Cove for groups with small children.

Located in Balapitiya, Raja Beach Hotel is by the ocean, a 1-minute drive from Ahungalla Beach and 7 minutes from Ariyapala Mask Museum. This beach guesthouse is 1 mi (1.6 km) from Balapitiya Beach and 10.4 mi (16.8 km) from Bentota Beach.Take in the views from a terrace and a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access. Additional features at this guesthouse include a television in a common area, tour/ticket assistance, and bike storage.Enjoy local and international cuisine at Raja Beach Hotel, a restaurant where you can take in the garden view and dine alfresco. Or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Continental breakfasts are available daily from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee.Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and multilingual staff. Free self parking is available onsite.Make yourself at home in one of the 8 guestrooms. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include ceiling fans and blackout drapes/curtains, and housekeeping is provided daily.