Sri Lanka has gained its popularity as a tourist destination in Southeast Asia. The hospitality industry has seen a rapid expansion in Sri Lanka as tourists’ flock to the paradise island every year to experience the many great resorts and tantalising hikes in national parks. Most people will stay in Colombo for a few nights to visit the museum, the Red Mosque and fight off the jetlag. Because it can be quite hard to choose a quality hotel in Colombo, I have put together a list of the best luxury 5 star hotels in Colombo.
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5-star hotel Marino Beach Colombo
Marino Beach Colombo has a legendary rooftop infinity pool overlooking the ocean. This hotel is among the top 5-star hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The hotel offers pristine rooms overlooking the ocean. It has a rooftop pool, a fitness centre with a personal trainer and a bar. The hotel also boasts a hot tub, a concierge service and is an excellent fit for families.
It is close to some of the critical landmarks and government building s such as the Galle Face Beach (2.4 km away) and U.S. Embassy (1.7 km away). This property has a garden and a terrace as well. Besides, there is a 24-hour front desk, room service and also a currency exchange point for the incoming guests. This can be quite handy as a lot of tourists arrive quite late.
One of the prominent hotels in Colombo boasts a spectacular view of the Colombo Harbour and the Galle Face Green. It offers majestic accommodation and a whole range of opulent dining options.
Its location is at the heart of the commercial capital of the nation. It is within a short walking distance from major landmarks such as the World Trade Centre and also the Colombo Harbour.
All the rooms in this hotel are very airy and well-designed. The rooms do have large windows from where the guests can experience beautiful views of the Galle face Green and also the Colombo Harbour.
The rooms have a cable T.V., a minibar and tea /coffee maker. All of the rooms have an en-suite bathroom.
The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and also a spa where the guests can go and relax. Apart from this, there is also a gym where visitors can keep up with their regular workouts to remain healthy.
The restaurants in the hotel do also offer different varieties of dishes and caters to a variety of dietary needs.
Kingsbury also has a lavish bar with tantalizing cocktails and live music.
There are restaurants such as Yue Chuan offers Chinese and Sri Lankan –Chinese fusion dishes. Another restaurant, Ocean, is a premier seafood restaurant that offers an excellent selection of wine and also an exotic range of seafood dishes. There are several other restaurants apart from these where the guest can savour mouther watering dishes during their stay in the hotel.
One of the best hotels in Colombo, the view from the rooftop pool is to die for and I can really see myself sipping a cocktail by the pool here!
The restaurant at the Trillium Boutique City Hotel serves an array of different dishes – most of them international. You wake up to an amazing buffet breakfast every morning and all the rooms are airconditioned and equipped with a flat screen TV and free toiletries.
Josh and I actually looked at Trillium Boutique City Hotel when we were looking for a hotel to bunker down in. I had fallen in love with the rooftop pool and loved the little seats by the bar.
However, the rooms are quite small and look a bit dated because of the hideous red carpets.
Among the top-notch hotels in Colombo, Taj Samudra has rooms overlooking the Indian Ocean. It has an outdoor pool, 7 dining option and also tennis courts.
The rooms of this hotel are quite open and also elegant with classic wood furnishing along with comfortable seating areas. The rooms also have a cable TV, a portable refrigerator and even a tea/coffee maker.
The guests can have a relaxing massage in the spa inside the hotel after a long tiring day spent exploring the city. The hotel also has great fitness facilities, so you won’t have to skip leg day.
The attentive staff of the hotel can also provide business and even childcare services if you want to head out for date night.
Guests can also choose from some amazing dining options at the Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant and also the Navratna Indian Restaurant. Apart from these, the other dining highlights of the restaurant include the Steak and Grill House.
I love the view from the rooms at Platinum One Suites: the perfect combination of both city and sea.
This design hotel with light and airy rooms is located in the middle of the city. From the rooftop pool you have an amazing view, and if you would like, you can always have your dinner outside by the pool.
All the rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen T.V. Each of the units here has a personal seating and dining area.
This place also has a spa centre and a sauna for its guests so that they can have an enjoyable experience.
Another unique feature of this place is that it offers free grocery delivery for those who would love to prepare their meals.
One of the best five star hotels in Colombo offers a new level of luxury in the city. It is located in the heart of the business and entertainment area. This 5-star hotel in Colombo provides lavish guestrooms and a mesmerizing view of the Indian Ocean.
Shangri La is the ultimate dining destination with several top restaurants and bars such as Capital Bar and Grill ( for delicious steak and seafood grills), Kaema Sutra (Sri Lanka’s new age bar and restaurant ) and many more for the visitors to explore.
The guests can have direct access to the Shangri La’s own One Galle Face Mall.
The Health Club offers state-of-art fitness equipment and personal trainers to help the visitors maintain their physique even if they are away from home. Also, Chi Spa provides holistic therapies to help you and your body relax.
A stylish co-working space provides a versatile environment to meet, work and come up with new ideas. These include private offices, meeting rooms, work pods and also individual work stations.
As a 5 –star hotel in Colombo, Movenpick welcomes guests with a restaurant and a rooftop bar. It also has an infinity pool, a sun terrace and free parking available at the site.
Apart from the air-conditioned rooms with all the necessary facilities, it boasts Spa Ceylon, which is one of the best Ayurveda spas in the country. Also, there is a dedicated yoga, Zumba and a fitness room and a 24-hour state of the art fitness centre.
Located strategically in the heart of Colombo, the Hilton Colombo Residence is among the most prominent hotels in Colombo. It has rooms and suites that offer panoramic views of the city, harbour and the Indian Ocean.
The suites of this hotel are ultra-spacious and offer comfortable lounge areas with 40 inches LED TVs and Blu ray. Also, this hotel boasts modern amenities, including a washing machine and ironing facilities.
The Hilton Colombo Residence also has a state of the art gym, sauna and also has a hot tub where the guest can relax.
Cinnamon Lakeside is located beside the banks of the Beira Lake. The hotel hosts 9 dining options and also a full-service health club.
The guests can also enjoy the outdoor swimming pool and if you are tired of their massive, beautiful pool, a massage at the famous Azmaara Spa.
The hotel also has a tennis court, squash court and even a gym where they can do workouts to remain healthy and fit.
It also has a Library that is a lounge during the day and a club by night.
Cinnamon Lake offers both indoor and outdoor lakeside dining and 7-course Mediterranean delicacies, cocktails and wines. The guest can choose from Thai, Singaporean or Japanese dining options.
Cinamon Grand is a luxurious 5-star hotel in Colombo which is located at the heart of the city. The hotel is close to several famous landmarks in the city such as the World Trade Centre, National Museum and also iconic temples. Cinnamon Grand offers Rooms and Suites, The Award-Winning Angsana Spa, Outdoor Swimming Pools, Fitness Centre, 14 Dining Options Including “Lagoon” the best seafood restaurant in the city and free Wi-Fi.
The hotel offers a range of services for each traveller and room such as Pillow menus, Turn Down services, Breakfast in Bed Options, In-Room Safes, Tea and Coffee Facilities.
Jetwing is one of the famous hotels in Colombo, and has a rooftop infinity pool where guests can soak in a beautiful panorama of Colombo. Also, the hotel has a sun terrace, and a spa where the guests can enjoy a meal in one of the several restaurants present in the hotel
Each of the air-conditioned rooms does have all the necessary facilities so that the guests can enjoy a pleasant stay here. All guests have access to free wifi and free parking.
This 5-star hotel in Colombo is located in the heart of Colombo. The hotel offers contemporary and comfortable accommodation with free Wi-Fi service throughout the entire building. It has a rooftop infinity pool and provides complimentary parking for its guests at the hotel.
This 5 star hotel has air-conditioned rooms, offers satellite T.V. and some rooms will have a seating area. Each of the chambers has a private bathroom with all necessary facilities, including the towels, hairdryer, bathrobes, etc.
The 24-hour front desk service assists guest with car rentals, currency exchanges and also laundry services.
The iconic hotel which has a colonial touch to it was built in 1864 and has a spa and saltwater pool facing the Indian Ocean. The rooms of this hotel have hardwood floors offering an exotic view of the ocean, Galle Face City and the Colombo City as a whole.
Each room of the hotel has a T.V., a private bathroom and a hairdryer.
The hotel provides a business centre, gym and also aa spa for its guests to use.
Guests can also enjoy international dining options from its on-site restaurant and also enjoy drinks at the bar.
One of the most renowned hotels in Colombo is the five star hotel D Pavilion Boutique Hotel. It has an outdoor swimming pool to drink cocktails by. D Pavillion Boutique Hotel has air-conditioned rooms, that is equipped with the satellite T.V., seating area and also a minibar. There is also an electric kettle which the guests can use to prepare their beverages and even a work desk.
I absolutely love the design and the aesthetic of the hotel. This is one I have earmarked for when I return!
The resort is almost 2.5 miles away from famous Sri Lanka ‘s National Museum and the Nugegoda Railway Station (one of the oldest railway stations in Sri Lanka). is 1.8 miles away from the hotel.
Island Hostels is among the prominent hotels in Colombo. This hostel is one of the cheapest hotels in this list at prices starting from $8 a night. You will still have access to the amazing pool and all the hotel’s facilities.
The dorms and rooms are incredibly beautiful and modern. They are clean and you get a lot of privacy – even though you need to share the dorm with other people.
As this is a hostel you will need to share the toilets and the shower facilities.
This place offers accommodation with a terrace and also free private parking for guests. Also, there is a 24-hour front desk and a shared kitchen in the property.
Guest can also enjoy an Asian breakfast here.
One of the best and most breathtaking hotels in Colombo, Residence by Uga Escapes is located just a few hundred meters from the National Museum of Sri Lanka. Apart from this, the guests can also visit the Khan Clock Tower, which is relatively close to the hotel.
This absolutely amazing hotel is a breath of luxury with large rooms and giant bathrooms. Every detail in this gorgeous hotel exudes luxury.
Apart from the general room oriented services, the hotel offers meeting facilities, luggage storage and also ironing facilities. Also guest can park their vehicles for free in here.
This 5 star hotel in colombo is located at the Cinnamon Garden in Colombo.
As one of the best hotels in Colombo, it is decorated with lavish interiors and Egyptian cotton linen.
All the suites of this 5-star hotel in Colombo offer DVD/CD player, a minibar, a kettle and also materials to self-prepare tea/coffee. The private suites do have a balcony and even a private courtyard where their guest can rest and spend some quality times with their loved ones.
The Library in the hotel does offer almost 500 leather-bound books for the guest to browse through. Also, there is free internet access here for the guests to browse online content for their work or research alike.
Hilton Colombo Hotel is located at a picturesque location beside the Indian Ocean and the Beira lake. The 5-star hotel in Colombo is very close to an essential landmark of the city- The World Trade Centre. The resort also has an outdoor pool, 24-hour business centre and around 10 dining outlets.
Dining highlights of this place include Sri Lanka’s only trattoria, Il Ponte, which features homemade pasta.
The hotel boast a hot tub that the guest can use after an effective workout in a well-furnished gym or tennis court.
Among one of the best hotel in Colombo, Galadari Hotel is just 300 metres away from the World Trade Centre. It hosts 8 dining options (both local and international) and also has an outdoor pool and even a spa.
Other local landmarks that the guests can visit during their stay in the hotel include the Beira Lake and also the Khan Clock Tower.
The hotels comprise of spacious air-conditioned rooms that have large windows that offer cable T.V., tea/coffee making facilities and also a personal safe.
This villa provides accommodation with Free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a restaurant and access to a garden with an outdoor pool. There is also a free parking spot for the guests and also a 24-hour front desk.
The guest will be served with continental or a la carte breakfast.
The villa has 4 bedrooms,4 bathrooms, a flat-screen T.V., a dining area, a completely equipped kitchen. The guests can also order towels and bed linen for an extra charge.
Some of the landmarks closest to Ishq Colombo includes—Galle Face Beach and the American Embassy. This resort also provides a paid shuttle service to the airport.
Le Papillon
Le Papillon is among the well-known 5 star hotels in Colombo. It is located in the Kollupitiya district.
Each of the rooms in the hotel is equipped with a closet that is with the bathroom toiletries, a bidet and a hairdryer. The rooms do also have a flat-screen T.V., air conditioning and a few rooms have a seating area.
All rooms are modern, white and have tons of natural light. This is, however, the only hotel in this list that does not have a pool.
Lieze Neven is a globetrotting travel writer and expat currently based in Nepal. With a passion for exploration, she has lived in Dubai, the UK, and Belgium, alongside her international teacher husband. Her parents live in France and she tries to visit Paris at least once a year. Together, they travel the world looking for the best hotels, experiences and food locations have to offer!