Hotels near Old Parliament Building, Colombo

I had a fantastic stay at the Marino Beach Colombo Hotel, and I’d happily recommend it to anyone visiting Colombo. The energy of the hotel matches the city in the best way—there’s a lively, enjoyable atmosphere that makes the whole experience feel fun and memorable. One highlight for me was the great view from the hotel. It really adds to the overall vibe and makes it feel special, even when you’re just stepping out to take a moment. I’d highly recommend booking a room with a balcony. As a mature solo traveller, that private outdoor space made a big difference—especially in a city that can be hot and busy. Even when the day is energetic, the balcony offers that easy, tranquil respite you need to recharge. And the rooftop infinity pool? Absolutely wonderful—great views, a fantastic atmosphere, and a calm break from the city buzz. I also need to make special mention to Upendra. The entire reception/concierge service was brilliant, but Upendra’s attention to detail truly stood out. He supported me with my eSIM and helped with my transport needs, and I genuinely felt valued and cared for—like I was a beloved auntie. It’s exactly what I appreciate from young, enthusiastic staff. Finally, I have to mention the beach club. It was a great experience—and thanks to the life guard, I even got to enjoy a “tethered” swim in the sea. (And yes—at almost 6 feet tall, tethering this Viking shield Maiden really isn’t as fun as it sounds 😄😂) Thank you again, Upendra—and thank you to the Marino Beach Colombo Hotel team.

I recently stayed at the Colombo Court Hotel, and while it offers good value and excellent rooms, the hospitality felt a bit rigid for a tourist. First, the bright spots: The room itself was fantastic. It was large, impeccably clean, and featured great-quality sheets with plenty of excellent pillows. The bathroom was stocked with plush towels and quality toiletries. Since I arrived fighting a cold, the great selection of coffee and teas in the room was an absolute lifesaver. However, the customer service left a lot to be desired. I arrived at noon after an all-night flight. Even though it's the low season and the hotel felt completely empty, the front desk rigidly enforced the 2:00 PM check-in time. They didn't even offer an early check-in for a fee. Instead, I was told I could wait out in the heat by the pool for two hours. There was also a strange billing issue at check-in. The front desk asked me for a $43 payment, even though I had already prepaid in full. I had to firmly show them my paperwork showing the booking platform's virtual credit card payment before they backed off. They didn't bring it up again, but it felt a bit like a shakedown attempt. Finally, my booking confirmation explicitly stated checkout was between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Yet, at 11:30 AM, staff knocked on my door telling me checkout was actually at 11:00 AM. Even after showing the front desk my confirmation, they insisted their rule was 11:00 AM. The staff was always friendly and polite, but it felt like they were serving their rulebook rather than their guests. The property is very clean but has much more of a business-traveler vibe than a welcoming tourist destination. I have another reservation here for my return leg, but I’ll be canceling it to stay somewhere else.

Location is great, just beside One Galle Face Mall. Plenty of restaurants and cafes around. Beautiful sunset views (from the bar, pool, restaurant, lobby) and Galle Face opposite the road. Rooms are gorgeous and spacious. Checked in Dec 30-Jan 2 peak season. Hotel was fully booked. Waited in the lobby for my room to be ready upon check-in. Front desk said they will find me to let me know. Waited for more than an hour before I asked them again and told me that my room has been ready. Ordered some room service which took more than an hour to be delivered. Granted they told me that it may take about 50 minutes because it was peak hours. Upon delivery they told me it was comped because of the long wait. Pool, restaurant, and bar staff are all great. Very personable and accommodating. Loved the sky pool on the 31st floor. No bar but not as crowded as the main pool. Breakfast was great. A lot of choices. Asian selection is great. Pastries not so much, some didn’t seem fresh. Heard from some staff that it gets super busy from around 9 but didn’t experience any long wait. Plenty of tables to accommodate people. Overall a great experience and will definitely stay here again if I’m in Colombo.

Here’s a professional hotel review you can use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had a wonderful stay at this hotel. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and well maintained. The staff were friendly, professional, and always willing to help. The location was convenient, and the overall atmosphere was peaceful and welcoming. The service exceeded my expectations, and I truly appreciated the attention to detail. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. I will definitely visit again!

The room was close to the sea with a beautiful sunset view. It was clean and tidy, with no unpleasant odors, offering great value for money. The surrounding environment was quiet and pleasant, and the beach was just a few minutes' walk away. The staff were warm and attentive, making for a very comfortable stay. Breakfast offered a rich variety, including local specialties and Western dishes, catering to different tastes. Overall, it was a very pleasant stay and definitely worth revisiting.

According to my booking, I was supposed to receive a king-size bed, but upon check-in, I was given two very small, separate beds instead. The hotel authorities failed to keep the commitment made at the time of booking. Staying and sleeping in these small beds was extremely difficult and uncomfortable for us. This kind of poor service and irresponsibility is completely unacceptable from a reputable hotel. In terms of customer service and maintaining commitments, this has been a thoroughly disappointing experience. I have no intention of ever staying at this hotel again in the future.

Mixed feelings We had quite a mixed impression of the hotel. There are definitely some very good things about it, but unfortunately, we experienced several issues that we did not expect from a hotel of this level. Strong points: 🌊 Relaxing ocean view. If you stay here, I would definitely recommend booking a room with a sea view - it is one of the best features of the hotel. 🛏 Extremely comfortable bed. After five months of travelling around Asia, this was one of the most comfortable beds we have slept in. The mattress and pillows were excellent. 👧 Very attentive reception service. Even though we arrived late at night, the reception team quickly arranged an extra bed for our daughter. We really appreciated how quickly and thoughtfully they handled this after our late arrival. 😊 Friendly and caring staff. I especially want to mention the lovely lady who asked for our feedback at checkout. She was very attentive, kind, and genuinely apologetic about the issues we experienced. Because of her attitude and the way she handled our feedback, I’m adding one extra star to my rating. Weak points: We checked in late at night after an 8-hour flight and found a small insect in the bed. It was particularly unpleasant after such a long journey, we had to change rooms. Our main concerns were related to the housekeeping service on the 11th floor. We stayed in room 1107, and unfortunately, there were several things that could have been handled better. Unfortunately, around midnight, we were woken up by loud conversations outside our door, apparently by members of the staff. Shortly afterwards, the housekeeping staff started vacuuming the room next door and moving furniture around - at night. After a long flight, we simply wanted to sleep peacefully, especially as we were only staying for two nights. This was quite unpleasant and, in our opinion, could easily have been avoided. There were no slippers in our room, which was surprising. We did notice slippers in the housekeeping area, so perhaps they were simply forgotten. There were no hand or face towels in the bathroom - only large bath towels. This seemed quite unusual for a hotel of this standard, and it is not particularly comfortable to use the same towel for your face and feet. The bathroom lighting was also very dim, making it difficult to get ready properly and do my makeup.

We booked for two nights. For me the room size is good there’s only one problem the air condition didn’t function so well. We call the reception to check why it’s not cooling and they responded so quickly. It’s clean and properly maintained. For breakfast, it’s good not so many choices but acceptable.

I had a wonderful stay at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. From the moment I arrived, everything exceeded my expectations. The service staff were exceptionally friendly, professional, and always ready to help with a smile. The hotel environment was beautiful, clean, and very relaxing. I especially loved the garden area, the swimming pool, and the stunning beach views. Waking up to the ocean view from my room was an amazing experience. Even the washroom was well-maintained and offered a great view, which made the stay feel even more special. What impressed me the most was the genuine hospitality of the staff. They made me feel welcome throughout my stay and paid attention to every detail to ensure my comfort. Overall, I would rate my experience 10/10. Everything—from the location and facilities to the service and atmosphere—was simply perfect. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable stay in Sri Lanka.

Amazing location and friendly staff and clean rooms. Will be a added bonus if we can have Jaffna food Available all day from lunch time till midnight. Great experianca. Well done