8 Geoffrey Bawa Hotels in Sri Lanka that Will Blow Your Mind

If you are traveling around Sri Lanka and are at least the tiniest bit into architecture the name of Geoffrey Bawa will inevitably come up. The most renowned Sri Lankan architect was one of the first proponents of the tropical modernism style and influenced architects around the world. There are multiple structures on the island designed by the master himself: from the Parliament Building to Seema Malaka Buddhist Temple Complex to Ruhuna University Campus. But the easiest way to admire his unique style as a tourist is to stay at one of the Geoffrey Bawa hotels in Sri Lanka.

I’ve been living and (or) traveling around the island since 2010. If memory serves me right, my first-ever encounter with Bawa’s work was at Lunuganga, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. To witness not just any building he designed, but his own home was eye-opening.

At the time, I didn’t have the means to stay overnight. So I did a tour of the premises. To say that my mind was blown is an understatement. I have never seen nature and architecture blend so seamlessly together. I decided then and there it was my goal to stay at all the hotels in Sri Lanka designed by Geoffrey Bawa and I have been working towards accomplishing that goal ever since.

I have either stayed the night or visited most of the hotels on this list, with two exceptions. I clearly state it in the description. I have also personaly paid for my stays, none of them were comped.

The links in this post are affiliate links which means if you book the hotel I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how I can continue publishing free content on this blog. If you find this (and many other guides I have on Sri Lanka) helpful, please, consider booking through one of the links below. I greatly appreciate your support of my work!

8 Geoffrey Bawa Hotels in Sri Lanka that Will Blow Your Mind

Jetwing Lagoon

Jetwing Lagoon was the first hotel Geoffrey Bawa designed. Jetwing Lagoon is named so because it is located right by Negombo Lagoon. You get unobscured lagoon views while dining at the main restaurant. On the other side of the hotel is the Indian Ocean. You only need to take a 5-minute walk to get to the beach.

The rooms are spacious, and equipped with handmade wooden furniture. Each room features a large, open-air bathroom with a bathtub. There’s plenty of outdoor space to walk around, as well as cute nooks and corners to hide with a book or have a drink and a chat with your travel companions.

The hotel features the longest swimming pool on the western coast of Sri Lanka. It’s best to use it early in the morning or late in the afternoon because there’s no shade to save you from the merciless Sri Lankan sun.

The food at the restaurant is quite exceptional, especially the Sri Lankan dishes. Their rice and curry are authentic and delicious (do try the black pork curry and brinjal moju).

Personal experience: I stayed here several times: with my husband and later as a family of four with our kids, both times were exceptional. It’s a short drive from Colombo, as well as from Bandaranayake International Airport which makes it a perfect stop when you arrive to Sri Lanka or just before you leave.

Check the prices here.

Number 11, Geoffrey Bawa’s Home

Not only can you book a room at a hotel designed by Geoffrey Bawa, but also stay overnight in his own house. If you are into architecture, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Bawa’s house is located in one of the nicest neighborhoods of Colombo. The name comes from the actual address: #11, 33rd Lane, Bagatalle Road.

Bawa’s home was initially a group of four houses located at the end of a cul-de-sac. He bought the first house in 1959 and the rest not much later, then renovated them to be a single space. The property offers two bedrooms, a sitting room, a loggia, and a viewing deck on the 4th floor. It is as magical as you would imagine the house of the most famous Sri Lankan architect to be.

The home is only rented out in its entirety to a single party. You should understand, though, that this is not a hotel, but an important historical property. Tours of the house take place daily, and that is a great way to see it if you are not ready to splurge on an overnight stay (the prices are rather steep).

Personal experience: I haven’t stayed here yet, but took a tour of the house which was educational and gave a great look into the life of Geoffrey Bawa.

Tip: just steps away is the Gallery Cafe which used to serve as Bawa’s office. It’s one of the best restaurants in Colombo, famous for its delicious food and stylish interiors. Perfect for a date night.

Check the prices here.

Lunuganga

From Bawa’s house in Colombo to his estate in Bentota! Hands down, my favorite hotel on the island. It doesn’t look or feel like a hotel and that is because it wasn’t planned as such. Lunuganga is Geoffrey Bawa’s home in the South of Sri Lanka. While he lived and worked in Colombo, he would spend his weekends and holidays at this 15-acre rubber-plantation-turned-estate.

The area is enormous. It can easily take you 20 minutes to walk from the estate entrance to the rooms at the very back of the property. There are 10 suites and bedrooms available, including the Geoffrey Bawa Suite, the original room occupied by Bawa himself; the Glass House, a glass-walled elongated room above the portico; and several bedrooms at Ena de Silva House, located on the far edge of the estate (this is where we stayed).

Staying at Lunuganga is experiencing tranquility at its best. The area is so vast that you barely meet other guests, except for at the restaurant. The main dining area is overlooking a lake. The food is delicious (especially the rice and curry varieties).

There’s a pool in a secluded area of the estate. Nooks and corners for reading a book or observing nature are at every turn. The artworks are thoughtfully curated. All in all, staying at Lunuganga is an experience in and of itself.

Breakfast is included and so are the coffee and cake in the afternoon. Daily tours take place at the property. If you are a guest, the tour is free of charge. The tours are a perfect way to see the hotel if you can’t yet splurge on staying overnight.

Personal experience: I first came here on a tour and my mind was completely blown. So we came back as a family with kids and my parents-in-law to stay for a weekend. It was the most relaxing, unique, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. I am planning to return as soon as I can.

Check the prices here.

Cinnamon Bentota Beach

Cinnamon Bentota Beach was designed by Geoffrey Bawa in 1967. Recently, it went through a two-year-long restoration and opened its doors again in 2019. The hotel is located in Bentota, not far from Bawa’s Lunuganga Estate. Set between Bentara River and Bentota Beach, it is a perfect example of tropical modernism: lush greenery, indoors and outdoors blending into one seamless space.

The renovations were done with great attention to detail and respect for the original design. Channa Daswatte, one of the leading architects in Sri Lanka trained by Bawa himself, took over the renovation process.

Probably, the most recognizable feature of the hotel is the reception hall ceiling made of multiple batik panels that were designed by Ena de Silva and Anil Gamini Jayasuriya back when the hotel first opened. The current panels are a second copy of the original, created by the Aluvihare Heritage Centre. The first time the panels were recreated was in 1994. The same team of craftsmen worked on them both times.

There are many other artworks throughout the hotel that were either lovingly refurbished or remade. The bright orange batik ceiling in the bar was also recreated to closely match the original handloom fabric that was designed by Barbara Sansoni and Barefoot.

The peacock made of welded copper and brass sheets by Laki Senanayake in 1967 is the original and has been occupying the same spot ever since the hotel opening.

But as much as I love art, the most amazing thing about this hotel to me is a kids club! This is something I haven’t yet seen in any hotels in Sri Lanka: a large room with all kinds of toys and entertainment (including a ball pit and a slide) and professionals who will take care of your child while you work out at the gym or do a spa treatment. There is a gym and Spa Ceylon Ayurveda on the premises.

Personal experience: this is one of the two hotels on this list that I haven’t yet visited. But it’s really high on my list of things to do in Sri Lanka!

Check the prices here.

Villa Bentota

Villa Bentota is a gorgeous boutique hotel on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka that was built as a residential property in 1880. In 1980 it was acquired and remodeled by Bawa to be turned into a hotel. Today it belongs to the KK Collection group of hotels and welcomes guests in its 14 suites and bedrooms.

I was lucky to stay here just last year as my sister-in-law got married at Villa Bentota. It is located on the front line, but not directly on the beach. Getting to the ocean is a matter of a 5-minute walk. The waves may be too rough to swim, but it’s perfect for watching sunrise or sunset.

There are train tracks directly in front of the hotel area. The trains pass every couple of hours and you can watch them from some of the rooms and the pool area. In my opinion, it was utterly romantic, but not ideal if you are sensitive to loud noise. However, we stayed here with two little kids and no one had a problem sleeping.

The wonderful thing about this hotel is that it’s not one building, but rather a succession of villas sprawled around the vast property. You have plenty of space to walk around, chat with other guests over a drink, and marvel at the works of art by Sri Lankan artists featured at every turn (you can buy them, by the way).

There are two pools, one of which has a shallow area perfect for kids. Our dining experience was fantastic: both the food we were served at the wedding (the rice and curry was incredible) and the breakfast the next morning.

Personal experience: I stayed here for several days during my sister-in-law’s wedding. Everything from service to food to ambiance was incredible. I would definitely stay here again.

Check the prices here.

Jetwing Lighthouse

Jetwing Lighthouse is located in Galle, about 7 minutes away from the Galle Fort by tuk-tuk. It features 85 rooms, which was a complete surprise to me, as I have always associated Bawa’s name with boutique hotel experience. He did however design several large hotels, and Jetwing Lighthouse is one of them.

You will notice his signature style immediately: boulders of all kinds of shapes and sizes are scattered around the property. The hotel is located right on the front line of the ocean. There’s no beach access (there’s no beach at all for that matter) because the waves are too rough to swim. But I honestly think that is an advantage: the view of the rough ocean right from your room is impressive.

Three pools make up for the lack of beach access. One of them is small and shallow, perfect for kids. The pool in the back of the property is ideal for doing laps. And the one in the middle is located right by the bar, so you can relax and have a drink here.

The most famous feature of Jetwing Lighthouse is its spiral staircase with intricate bronze and copper sculptures that depict the battle of Randeniwela which took place during the Portuguese colonization. The staircase was designed by Laki Senanayake, a Sri Lankan architect.

The rooms feature teak floors, hand-carved furniture, and balconies from which a view of the ocean opens up. I wasn’t too happy with the food, but you can always dine at one of the restaurants in Galle Fort instead.

Personal experience: I have stayed here for one night. The rooms are absolutely gorgeous and convenient (there was a walk-in wardrobe, for example, and a large bathtub). I would say, though, that when in Galle it is easier to rent a room in a hotel inside the Galle Fort. The lack of really good food (which was a surprise as Jetwing group of hotels usually does food well) was also a downside. I would recommend staying here for a night to experience Bawa’s unique style and then move to a hotel in Galle Fort.

Check the prices here.

Heritance Kandalama

Another Geoffrey Bawa hotel in Sri Lanka is Heritence Kandalama which features a whopping 152 rooms. It is located in Dambulla and is a perfect place to stay if you are exploring Sigiriya Lion Rock and Dambulla Cave Temples.

Bawa made sure that as soon as you arrive at Heritence Kandalama, your visual journey begins: from the entrance group that features a large raw boulder as one of its walls through the corridor that takes you into a spacious lobby and out to the viewing point of the Kandalama Reservoir. The walls of the hotel are drowning in green — nature and architecture blending into one.

Personal experience: I haven’t stayed here yet, but stopped for a cup of coffee and snacks while traveling through Sigiriya. They also serve amazing afternoon tea (do make a reservation in advance).

Check the prices here.

The Last House Tangalle

This is the second hotel in this article I haven’t yet personally visited, but it’s on my list. The Last House is a classic Sri Lankan boutique hotel with only 5 individually-designed rooms. The name comes from the fact that this was the last hotel Geoffrey Bawa designed.

The rooms are set in the midst of a tropical garden and offer a view of the ocean. White walls and grey cement floors create a calm peaceful environment, with accents in the form of antique furniture and Sri Lankan art.

Personal experience: Unfortunately, young kids are not allowed to stay here (the minimum age is 10 years) and I currently travel with two little boys, 4 and 2 years old. So it might take a while for me to stay at the Last House. They allow, however, to book out the whole property (then there’s no minimum required age).

Check the prices here.