With its lush landscapes, surf-ready beaches and a growing collection of homegrown boutique stays cropping up between the coconut palms, Sri Lanka’s southern coast is rapidly becoming one of the island’s most sought-after destinations.
Between Galle – with its oh-so-elegant historic properties like Galle Fort Hotel, Fort Bazaar and The Sun House – and Weligama, where the stalwart Cape Weligama has held court as the balmy coastal region has blossomed over the last decade, sit some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful, and most under-the-radar, hotels and villas. This small slither of the island is where you’ll find some of the most exciting new openings in Sri Lanka, one of 2025’s hottest destinations.
We’ve curated a selection of our nine favourite properties in the Ahangama area and beyond. Here are the best hotels on Sri Lanka’s south coast.
Between Galle – with its oh-so-elegant historic properties like Galle Fort Hotel, Fort Bazaar and The Sun House – and Weligama, where the stalwart Cape Weligama has held court as the balmy coastal region has blossomed over the last decade, sit some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful, and most under-the-radar, hotels and villas. This small slither of the island is where you’ll find some of the most exciting new openings in Sri Lanka, one of 2025’s hottest destinations.
We’ve curated a selection of our nine favourite properties in the Ahangama area and beyond. Here are the best hotels on Sri Lanka’s south coast.
The Kip's modern studios rooms
Tucked away on Ahangama’s quieter Dharmarama Mawatha Road, this guesthouse has been a cornerstone of the town’s evolution since it opened in 2017. Run by Seddy Di Francesco and his partner Phoebe Taylor, and a warm, tight-knit team, and set within an elegant old colonial villa arranged around a beautiful courtyard planted with a shady curry tree, the “House” has grown from three rooms to seven, with newly built studios encircling a serene pool hidden at the back of the property.
In addition to the rooms, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated shop offering ceramics, linen clothing and more, while, out front, a leafy café serves up vibrant, veg-forward small plates made from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, alongside expertly brewed coffee (Di Francesco is Italian, after all). The restaurant is more than a dining spot – it’s a gathering place, hosting yoga sessions, music nights and pop-ups that keep the bohemian energy of the property flowing long after sunset.
Dharmarama Rd, Ahangama 80650; thekipsrilanka.com
The Kip
Tucked away on Ahangama’s quieter Dharmarama Mawatha Road, this guesthouse has been a cornerstone of the town’s evolution since it opened in 2017. Run by Seddy Di Francesco and his partner Phoebe Taylor, and a warm, tight-knit team, and set within an elegant old colonial villa arranged around a beautiful courtyard planted with a shady curry tree, the “House” has grown from three rooms to seven, with newly built studios encircling a serene pool hidden at the back of the property.
In addition to the rooms, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated shop offering ceramics, linen clothing and more, while, out front, a leafy café serves up vibrant, veg-forward small plates made from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, alongside expertly brewed coffee (Di Francesco is Italian, after all). The restaurant is more than a dining spot – it’s a gathering place, hosting yoga sessions, music nights and pop-ups that keep the bohemian energy of the property flowing long after sunset.
Dharmarama Rd, Ahangama 80650; thekipsrilanka.com
The Oceanview pool space at The Find
Located on Ahangama’s coastal road, at the Kabalana end of town, this adults-only vision in pink is the passion project of Aussie transplant Myles Pritchard. You’ll know you’ve found it when you spot the majestic hotel mural painted on the villa’s exterior. Opened this year, the oceanfront property has been transformed into an intimate and unconventional beach stay, with nine colourful rooms spread across four floors, all individually designed by Pritchard to maximise their allure. No attention to detail has been spared: you’ll find a fabulously floppy straw sun hat to borrow but no shampoo or conditioner because, to quote Pritchard, “women travel with their own supplies”. Most have sea views and balconies; all have bright quirks such as canary-yellow door frames, fresh floral displays and locally produced incense within to light at your leisure. Bathrooms are a highlight, with curving shower walls in the same rich pink as the external walls – inspired by the Ahangama-sourced terracotta pieces scattered across the property. Bed linens are Sri Lankan, and the voluptuous wooden furnishings were all made on-site. The architecturally striking pool space, backdropped by a geometric pink staircase wall, and scattered with sun loungers and guests’ surf boards, sits out back, kissed by the Indian Ocean waves that draw the surfing crowd to this area each season. A restaurant will open later this year but for now, stop by the bar to enjoy fresh watermelon juices, chilled Lion beers and spicy margaritas (just note, it’s guests only). The all-day breakfast includes fresh tomato salads with a touch of feta, jewel-toned fruit platters, and banana and coconut pancakes.
Galle Rd, Ahangama 80650; thefindhotel.com
The Find
Located on Ahangama’s coastal road, at the Kabalana end of town, this adults-only vision in pink is the passion project of Aussie transplant Myles Pritchard. You’ll know you’ve found it when you spot the majestic hotel mural painted on the villa’s exterior. Opened this year, the oceanfront property has been transformed into an intimate and unconventional beach stay, with nine colourful rooms spread across four floors, all individually designed by Pritchard to maximise their allure. No attention to detail has been spared: you’ll find a fabulously floppy straw sun hat to borrow but no shampoo or conditioner because, to quote Pritchard, “women travel with their own supplies”. Most have sea views and balconies; all have bright quirks such as canary-yellow door frames, fresh floral displays and locally produced incense within to light at your leisure. Bathrooms are a highlight, with curving shower walls in the same rich pink as the external walls – inspired by the Ahangama-sourced terracotta pieces scattered across the property. Bed linens are Sri Lankan, and the voluptuous wooden furnishings were all made on-site. The architecturally striking pool space, backdropped by a geometric pink staircase wall, and scattered with sun loungers and guests’ surf boards, sits out back, kissed by the Indian Ocean waves that draw the surfing crowd to this area each season. A restaurant will open later this year but for now, stop by the bar to enjoy fresh watermelon juices, chilled Lion beers and spicy margaritas (just note, it’s guests only). The all-day breakfast includes fresh tomato salads with a touch of feta, jewel-toned fruit platters, and banana and coconut pancakes.
Galle Rd, Ahangama 80650; thefindhotel.com
Poolside views at Casa Tikiri
Tucked behind a bright-pink gate, far from Ahangama’s oceanfront bustle, adults-only Casa Tikiri is a joyful retreat designed for sun-drenched escapes. Built bit by bit by owners Alice and Stefano Brusadelli, its seven individually styled rooms – named one to seven in Sinhalese – wrap around a palm-shaded pool deck dotted with red loungers and thatched parasols. Eka (One) features mint-green walls and a billowing linen bed canopy in the softest pale pink, while Hatha’s (Eight) al fresco bathroom, walled by tropical foliage, invites morning showers soundtracked by wild peacocks. Antique furnishings, organic textures and bold colours define the spaces.
Breakfasts, included in your stay, offer Italian coffee, fresh juice, and plates like avocado on toast, mango banana smoothie bowl, and classic Sri Lanka dishes. In the evening, the restaurant (open to non-guests) serves Sri Lanka-inflected dishes – think fragrant rice and curry, or a chicken and curry bagel) – alongside impeccable Italian pasta (the Brusadellis hail from Lecco). And the best part? Kabalana beach is just 300m away – or 510 steps, if you’re counting.
Kabalana Rd, Ahangama 80650; casatikiri.com
Casa Tikiri
Tucked behind a bright-pink gate, far from Ahangama’s oceanfront bustle, adults-only Casa Tikiri is a joyful retreat designed for sun-drenched escapes. Built bit by bit by owners Alice and Stefano Brusadelli, its seven individually styled rooms – named one to seven in Sinhalese – wrap around a palm-shaded pool deck dotted with red loungers and thatched parasols. Eka (One) features mint-green walls and a billowing linen bed canopy in the softest pale pink, while Hatha’s (Eight) al fresco bathroom, walled by tropical foliage, invites morning showers soundtracked by wild peacocks. Antique furnishings, organic textures and bold colours define the spaces.
Breakfasts, included in your stay, offer Italian coffee, fresh juice, and plates like avocado on toast, mango banana smoothie bowl, and classic Sri Lanka dishes. In the evening, the restaurant (open to non-guests) serves Sri Lanka-inflected dishes – think fragrant rice and curry, or a chicken and curry bagel) – alongside impeccable Italian pasta (the Brusadellis hail from Lecco). And the best part? Kabalana beach is just 300m away – or 510 steps, if you’re counting.
Kabalana Rd, Ahangama 80650; casatikiri.com
Trebartha East| Credit: Trebartha East
A short tuk-tuk ride inland from Sri Lanka’s southern coast, this striking four-room hotel sits, fort-like, atop a cinnamon-planted hill. The circular structure – four interlinked buildings crafted almost entirely from native woods jackfruit, hora, teak and kumbak – feels both raw and refined, its industrial aesthetic softened by warm timberwork, locally sourced antiques, contemporary sculptures and colourful portraiture by Sri Lankan creatives, plus panoramic views stretching over rice paddies and the jungle canopy.
Life on this five-hectare plantation moves at a slow rhythm. Mornings begin with birdsong filtering through bifold windows, while days drift by as you lounge beside the jade-green pool watching koka (cattle egrets) glide low over the landscape. Come evening, order sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna or coconut lime prawns from the à la carte menu. There’s no surf chic here – just an immersive retreat showcasing Sri Lanka’s wilder side, where nature provides the soundtrack and the setting does the rest.
164A Meegahagoda, Ahangama 80650; trebartha-east.com
Trebartha East The Roundhouse
A short tuk-tuk ride inland from Sri Lanka’s southern coast, this striking four-room hotel sits, fort-like, atop a cinnamon-planted hill. The circular structure – four interlinked buildings crafted almost entirely from native woods jackfruit, hora, teak and kumbak – feels both raw and refined, its industrial aesthetic softened by warm timberwork, locally sourced antiques, contemporary sculptures and colourful portraiture by Sri Lankan creatives, plus panoramic views stretching over rice paddies and the jungle canopy.
Life on this five-hectare plantation moves at a slow rhythm. Mornings begin with birdsong filtering through bifold windows, while days drift by as you lounge beside the jade-green pool watching koka (cattle egrets) glide low over the landscape. Come evening, order sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna or coconut lime prawns from the à la carte menu. There’s no surf chic here – just an immersive retreat showcasing Sri Lanka’s wilder side, where nature provides the soundtrack and the setting does the rest.
164A Meegahagoda, Ahangama 80650; trebartha-east.com
Dining at Palm Hotel, left, and the hotel's industrial architecture
Opened in 2020 by east Londoners Laurie Spencer and Miriam Haniffa, this eco-minded hotel – inspired by the lofty architecture of both London’s warehouse conversions and renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s stylised Lunuganga estate – marries the lush greenery of the outdoors with contrasting monochrome interiors. Centred around a sparkling, 14m pool (backdropped by a pale pink wall), rooms are housed in six liquorice-black, glass-fronted, A-frame metal cabanas, with two deluxe suites and a four-bed villa. By the pool’s glittering waters, you’ll also find the restaurant, bar, lounging space and hotel boutique, while a slow-paced stroll through the coconut grove will take you to a fitness suite and yoga studio, alongside a few hammocks in quieter corners. It’s a little way inland from the island’s buzzy central southern coast – but only a 10-minute ride by tuk-tuk.
Nakanda, Galkadanduwa, Ahangama 80650; palmhotelsrilanka.com
Palm Hotel
Opened in 2020 by east Londoners Laurie Spencer and Miriam Haniffa, this eco-minded hotel – inspired by the lofty architecture of both London’s warehouse conversions and renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s stylised Lunuganga estate – marries the lush greenery of the outdoors with contrasting monochrome interiors. Centred around a sparkling, 14m pool (backdropped by a pale pink wall), rooms are housed in six liquorice-black, glass-fronted, A-frame metal cabanas, with two deluxe suites and a four-bed villa. By the pool’s glittering waters, you’ll also find the restaurant, bar, lounging space and hotel boutique, while a slow-paced stroll through the coconut grove will take you to a fitness suite and yoga studio, alongside a few hammocks in quieter corners. It’s a little way inland from the island’s buzzy central southern coast – but only a 10-minute ride by tuk-tuk.
Nakanda, Galkadanduwa, Ahangama 80650; palmhotelsrilanka.com
Harding's striking, seafront tower building
Rising from between coconut palms, Harding houses six suites wrapped in slatted hardwood and polished concrete, with dreamy Indian Ocean views. Opened in 2021, the smartly dressed stay was one of the first in Ahangama to switch out barefoot boho vibes for clean-cut modernism. Rooms, spread across three floors, are airy, with ice-white walls, wide windows, indoor-outdoor bathrooms, polished concrete tubs (in ocean-facing suites) and open partitions that allow glimpses of the dizzying shades of green in the tropical foliage beyond. At the top of the property, a rooftop bar and restaurant, Mr M, serves up killer espresso martinis from 5pm, plus a menu of globe-hopping dishes, from local rice and curry (and all the accoutrements) to Thai prawn dumplings and spaghetti aglio e olio.
Matara Rd, Ahangama 80650; hardingboutiquehotels.com
Harding Boutique Hotel
Rising from between coconut palms, Harding houses six suites wrapped in slatted hardwood and polished concrete, with dreamy Indian Ocean views. Opened in 2021, the smartly dressed stay was one of the first in Ahangama to switch out barefoot boho vibes for clean-cut modernism. Rooms, spread across three floors, are airy, with ice-white walls, wide windows, indoor-outdoor bathrooms, polished concrete tubs (in ocean-facing suites) and open partitions that allow glimpses of the dizzying shades of green in the tropical foliage beyond. At the top of the property, a rooftop bar and restaurant, Mr M, serves up killer espresso martinis from 5pm, plus a menu of globe-hopping dishes, from local rice and curry (and all the accoutrements) to Thai prawn dumplings and spaghetti aglio e olio.
Matara Rd, Ahangama 80650; hardingboutiquehotels.com
Suite kitchen space, left, and jungle surrounds at Kurulu Bay
You’ll tiptoe your way along stepping-stone paths, past billowing blooms and inquisitive toque macaques, to find your bed for the night at Kurulu Bay. Perched beside one of Sri Lanka’s largest lakes, Koggala Lake, this sprawling estate is wrapped up in the untamed energy of the jungle. It's wilder than the beachside hotels, but the 14 suites offset nature’s hum with their serene, minimalist design.
Stay in the original Kurulu House, a 1960s villa echoing famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s signature style, or opt for one of four pared-back garden suites, three airy one-bed cottages, or a two-bed villa with a private pool. The real magic, however, is found in the four canopy-brushing treehouses that offer lake views and a private viewing of the birdlife and monkey business going on in the neighbouring jungle treetops.
Non-guests are welcome to drop – the spa offers signature Ayurveda experiences and access to the hotel’s pool, while the restaurant serves up a menu that balances indulgence with wellness. Expect butter-poached prawns on brioche with aioli and buffalo curd, Turkish eggs, and red snapper sashimi brightened with citrus – a feast as vibrant as the setting itself.
Kathaluwa, Ahangama 80650; kurulubay.com
Kurulu Bay
You’ll tiptoe your way along stepping-stone paths, past billowing blooms and inquisitive toque macaques, to find your bed for the night at Kurulu Bay. Perched beside one of Sri Lanka’s largest lakes, Koggala Lake, this sprawling estate is wrapped up in the untamed energy of the jungle. It's wilder than the beachside hotels, but the 14 suites offset nature’s hum with their serene, minimalist design.
Stay in the original Kurulu House, a 1960s villa echoing famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa’s signature style, or opt for one of four pared-back garden suites, three airy one-bed cottages, or a two-bed villa with a private pool. The real magic, however, is found in the four canopy-brushing treehouses that offer lake views and a private viewing of the birdlife and monkey business going on in the neighbouring jungle treetops.
Non-guests are welcome to drop – the spa offers signature Ayurveda experiences and access to the hotel’s pool, while the restaurant serves up a menu that balances indulgence with wellness. Expect butter-poached prawns on brioche with aioli and buffalo curd, Turkish eggs, and red snapper sashimi brightened with citrus – a feast as vibrant as the setting itself.
Kathaluwa, Ahangama 80650; kurulubay.com
Leafy gardens at Merchant House
If you prefer a hotel that keeps things a little low-key, book a room at Merchant House. Surrounded by leafy gardens, this elegant old villa in the heart of Ahangama has been transformed into a fully staffed, four-bed stay, complete with elegant, understated interiors, shaded terraces frequented by the property’s snoozing dogs, and an inviting pool in the gardens. The high-ceilinged rooms pair white walls with duck-egg blue-painted woodwork and generously sized four-poster beds dressed in crisp cotton. In the shared kitchen, you’ll find complimentary fruit and yoghurt, teas and coffee, and the property’s on-call tuk-tuk driver will drop you at any nearby restaurants you wish to visit. We recommend popping into Manori’s Kitchen, just five minutes’ from Merchant House, for some of the best Sri Lankan cuisine in town.
36 Mahavihara Rd, Ahangama 80650; merchanthouse.lk
Merchant House
If you prefer a hotel that keeps things a little low-key, book a room at Merchant House. Surrounded by leafy gardens, this elegant old villa in the heart of Ahangama has been transformed into a fully staffed, four-bed stay, complete with elegant, understated interiors, shaded terraces frequented by the property’s snoozing dogs, and an inviting pool in the gardens. The high-ceilinged rooms pair white walls with duck-egg blue-painted woodwork and generously sized four-poster beds dressed in crisp cotton. In the shared kitchen, you’ll find complimentary fruit and yoghurt, teas and coffee, and the property’s on-call tuk-tuk driver will drop you at any nearby restaurants you wish to visit. We recommend popping into Manori’s Kitchen, just five minutes’ from Merchant House, for some of the best Sri Lankan cuisine in town.
36 Mahavihara Rd, Ahangama 80650; merchanthouse.lk
Earthy interiors at Mihira
If you want to be secluded in Sri Lanka’s fizzing, colourful wilderness, you could do a lot worse than stepping inside the moon-shaped doors of this dreamy villa near Kabalana beach. Opened in 2025 by co-owners Cecilia Chiolerio and Sophie Gil, Mihira is nestled between paddy fields and jungle. Three beautiful bedrooms all promise a morning soundtrack of birdsong, and glimpsed vignettes of the richly planted gardens through bifold doors, as well as swaying palm fronds above outdoor bathroom spaces. Walk out your bedroom (a marriage of soft nude hues, moulded bed pedestals that curve gently into the floor and walls, and dark wood accents) and you’ll find a bright, fully equipped kitchen and dining space, gardens brimming with fruit and palm trees, and a small, perfectly formed plunge pool. Head to nearby Black Honey Café for your morning fuel – and take a 10-minute ride by bike or tuk-tuk into town to find the food, surf or socialising required.
Denuwala, Ahangama 80650; instagram.com/mihirasrilanka
Mihira
If you want to be secluded in Sri Lanka’s fizzing, colourful wilderness, you could do a lot worse than stepping inside the moon-shaped doors of this dreamy villa near Kabalana beach. Opened in 2025 by co-owners Cecilia Chiolerio and Sophie Gil, Mihira is nestled between paddy fields and jungle. Three beautiful bedrooms all promise a morning soundtrack of birdsong, and glimpsed vignettes of the richly planted gardens through bifold doors, as well as swaying palm fronds above outdoor bathroom spaces. Walk out your bedroom (a marriage of soft nude hues, moulded bed pedestals that curve gently into the floor and walls, and dark wood accents) and you’ll find a bright, fully equipped kitchen and dining space, gardens brimming with fruit and palm trees, and a small, perfectly formed plunge pool. Head to nearby Black Honey Café for your morning fuel – and take a 10-minute ride by bike or tuk-tuk into town to find the food, surf or socialising required.
Denuwala, Ahangama 80650; instagram.com/mihirasrilanka
