Colombo Hotels with Balcony

"Overall, I had a really nice stay at this hotel. The highlight for me was definitely the view. I had a room overlooking the ocean, and waking up to that scenery every day was absolutely beautiful. The room itself was lovely as well clean, well-maintained, comfortable, and furnished to a high standard. The location is great in many ways, but there is one thing worth mentioning. The hotel is right next to a train station, which unfortunately can be quite noisy. I’m a light sleeper, and I often woke up when trains arrived, especially late at night or early in the morning because of the warning sounds. I ended up using white noise to help me sleep. If you're only staying for a night or two, it probably won't bother you much, but for a longer stay it may be something to consider. I didn't get a chance to use the facilities, but I did have a look at the rooftop bar and swimming pool, and both looked fantastic with amazing views. The breakfast was probably the weakest part of my experience. I only had it once and then decided to explore some of the nearby cafés instead. Honestly, I enjoyed those much more, and it was a nice way to discover the area. As for the service, the staff were always polite and helpful, but they seemed quite stretched. Whenever I called for assistance, it usually took around 30 to 40 minutes, and sometimes I had to follow up. That said, it wasn't something that really upset me or took away from the overall experience. Despite a few minor drawbacks, I genuinely enjoyed my stay. The beautiful room, stunning ocean views, and overall atmosphere made it a memorable experience."

"Shangri-La's quality truly lives up to its reputation. The location, service, and room amenities are all top-notch. I felt that the staff's professionalism was significantly higher than in other hotels. However, the security checks when entering and exiting the hotel were quite strict, which was a bit inconvenient, likely due to a government building being right next door. The hotel's direct connection to the mall is a fantastic feature; you can walk straight from the lobby into the shopping center, which is great for shopping even on a hot day. The mall also offers a wide variety of restaurants with different cuisines. There's a large city under construction directly across from my room, which will probably take a year or two to complete, and this does impact the quality of the sea view. Still, I caught a beautiful sunset from my room on the day I checked in. Finally, I have to mention Shang Palace – it was quite disappointing. The dishes I ordered were all very average. I had held onto some hope after seeing mixed reviews, but it didn't meet expectations. If you have high standards for Chinese food, I wouldn't recommend trying it. I hope the hotel considers improving the quality of its Chinese cuisine."

"I booked this hotel online two months in advance (February 2026). Upon arrival on May 5, 2026, at 4:00 PM, I provided my valid ID. My wife did not have a physical ID with her. Nowhere in the hotel’s published policy does it state that every guest must present a physical ID. Instead of helping, the front desk staff were shockingly rude. They created a scene and treated us like criminals. Our first impression of what was meant to be a 3-day stay was ruined before it even began. It was clear they had no intention of resolving this minor issue professionally. Their handling of the situation was absolutely horrible. With great difficulty, my wife was able to get a copy of her ID via WhatsApp. If not, the consequences would have been unthinkable—even though we had fully complied with all documented hotel policies and had paid in full two months earlier. I was deeply disappointed and disgusted by the front desk staff. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a peaceful welcome. That said, the room service was excellent. That is the only reason I am giving a good rating instead of a lower rating."

"Excellent Stay – Super Convenient Location I had a great stay at this hotel. The location is extremely convenient, right next to Oasis Marino Mall with lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance. The rooms were clean, spacious, and well-maintained. Housekeeping did a wonderful job daily. Check-in and check-out were both smooth and efficient – the front office staff were friendly, professional, and very welcoming. Overall, an excellent experience. Definitely will stay here again on my next trip and would recommend it to anyone visiting the area."

"We came to Sri Lanka for Chinese New Year, and the country gave us a wonderful experience. The hotel's service was excellent; they even added an extra bed for us since we were traveling with a child. That evening, we had Chinese food on the 10th floor and saw the stunning infinity pool. The Chinese food was quite good. Breakfast was also fantastic, and we got to see the small seaside train from the second floor where we ate! And, of course, the ocean! The tea here is excellent, definitely worth trying."

"We recently stayed at Galle Face Hotel, Colombo with my family. Overall, the hotel experience was good, especially the location and service. However, the rooms feel overly traditional and colonial, which does not fully meet modern-day requirements. The heavy wooden furniture and old-fashioned, posh décor may appeal to older patrons who appreciate classic heritage styles, but it may not suit travelers looking for a more contemporary stay. The electrical points and facilities are also quite outdated and not convenient for today’s laptop- and gadget-dependent travelers. I would suggest that the hotel consider modernizing some rooms and amenities, while still preserving a few heritage-style rooms for guests who prefer the traditional experiences."

"Room is very clean and spacious. The staff are friendly and always happy to help. There is a small kitchenette in the lobby for use if needed. Location is in walking distance to the fort. It is however next to a train station that can be quite noisy. There is also a family of pigeons living in the roof that you can hear scrambling about all day. The noise seems to stop at night but you can also see them from the balcony."

"Facilities: It's an old hotel, but well-maintained, and the pool is quite nice. Cleanliness: Clean and tidy. Environment: Strong Christmas atmosphere, and there's always live performances in the lobby, which is amazing! In the morning after breakfast, I saw a young man playing the piano, and in the evening, there was a band playing. It was a great experience. Service: The doormen were all very welcoming. Five-star standard service!"

"The room was clean and offered a view of the Lotus Tower. There is also a restaurant on the rooftop. The front desk staff were polite, spoke good English, and recommended attractions within a 20-minute walk. They also gave us a refrigerator magnet as a gift. The hotel has security stationed in the lobby. However, the soundproofing in the room wasn't the best. We could hear people talking in the hallway, and in the morning, there was noise from cawing crows and broadcast announcements. Overall, it represents good value for the price."

"This hotel is in Wattala which is only 7km from the Fort train station but feels ages away. Service - excellent. As in all areas of Sri Lanka the staff are very friendly and helpful. All say hello and genuinely seem to enjoy their jobs. There seems to be an army of cleaners and wait staff and again, all are friendly with very good English. The doorman was my favourite with a massive smile and great personality! There were some issues with the half-board deal I was on regarding when and where you can have the half board - which is only breakfast and dinner although on Trip it reads like you have a choice of when you can have your two meals a day. So just clarify when you arrive to be sure. Facilities - big open ground, big swimming pool which you could do laps in if you wanted but also with decent steps on the side so younger children can play. There is also a small children's pool too which is adjacent to the big pool and next to the sun bathing area which has around 10 sun chairs in pairs with an umbrella and small table around the grass area, with more chairs and beanbags set up on the higher area. I have seen big groups playing team games, cricket, football, some weird waterpolo/volleyball/handball game in the pool and even a few keen cricket players today. Restaurant - the floor level open air restaurant is well staffed, nicely proportioned and the buffet breakfast, lunch or dinner is extensive (if a little repetitive after three days). On some occasions there was live music which was nice and not overpowering, playing mainly English music. Bar - The Fishery is the outdoor restaurant for al e carte food service and some drinks. You can choose to sit under the roof bar area or under trees next to it, on big picnic style seating. Gym - this is located next to the pool/restaurant and although it is a bit tired, it has everything you need. The running machines are a bit clunky but at least they work, the weight machines are a little stiff to move but again they are functional. There are free weights and area to work out - even a small space for yoga or stretching if thats your thing. There is also air conditioning - and in 30+ heat, very much needed! Downside - its a bit hard to get to and you have to take a taxi or tuk tuk (don't pay anything over 5,000 for this!). The beach which you can see and hear, is very close but not suitable for swimming - especially for young children. Also the beach isn't particularly clean - outside the hotel the beach is raked for appearances, but walk 50m to your left or right, and its not too pretty! Not really a downside but be aware that if you are here in weekend, this place seems to host a lot of parties, weddings and events - which is great energy with lots of noise and atmosphere. It is a lot quieter in the week days. And the pool becomes full in the afternoons!!!"