The promise of serene views and ultimate relaxation are effortlessly fulfilled at the new Heritance Negombo.
Words Keshini de Silva Photographs Vishwathan Tharmakulasingham
Cruising along the coastal Negombo Road it’s hard to miss the towering brown façade of Heritance Negombo. The new kid on the block in the coastal town’s lively hotel stretch is a bastion of tranquility, privacy and of course vistas of the endless ocean. It’s five-star luxury less than an hour away from Colombo and 20 minutes from the airport.
Stroll through the revolving glass doors and gasp at the view of the ocean. While friendly staff bustle about with reservation details, guests lounge on the comfy divans and sample seasonal tropical fruit juice. Everything about the hotel exudes newness and grandeur. Through the reception, you can see the glimmering waves kiss the beach and the pool where guests are enjoying a dip or soaking in the sun.
There are a variety of rooms available at Heritance Negombo to suit your requirements, all tastefully decorated in shades of white and brown with pops of colour here and there. All of them come complete with modern facilities including an iPod docking station, complementary bath amenities and even beach slippers.
But each room category has a distinct character of its own. The deluxe rooms on the ground floor either open straight onto the pool or garden and offer a personal veranda with loungers for sunbathing, while the rooms on the second floor offer more privacy and a better view of the coast.
Climbing on to the third and fourth floors, I was blown away by the mesmerising seascapes. The superior deluxe rooms indeed offer a superior view – the spacious balcony is furnished with wicker chairs so irresistible you’ll be tempted to spend your entire vacation there.
The premium rooms are designed with honeymooners in mind. The bed faces the sea, offering you a chance to gaze into the sunset in comfort, but if you prefer to watch it from the balcony, the cosy wicker chairs are a real treat. The deluxe suites overlooking the poolside include a master bedroom, a sitting room with a SICO wallbed and dining area. The presidential suite is obviously the best room in the 139-room hotel, designed as a luxury apartment.
Cuisine is a carefully curated experience at Heritance Negombo, with seafood the star. The main restaurant, Blue Tan, bubbles with excitement during meal times, with tantalising aromas filling the air and thrilling live entertainment from the open kitchen. Whether you want to eat in the cool indoors, bask in the shade in the garden or enjoy a bit of both worlds on the verandah, Blue Tan will cater to your mood. See Lounge on the top floor serves up some knockout beverages and offers breathtaking views.
More restaurants are based across the street at Banyan, bringing the nightlife of the streets of Negombo into the Heritance Negombo family. Built around a shady banyan tree, the restaurant includes a tapas bar, wine bar and Swiss Bakery & Cafe. The Heritance hotel group’s hallmark quality and perfection of flavour is apparent in very dish.
One of the highlights of your stay here will be the winding pool lined with loungers. There is a swim-up bar, where as the sun set, I saw guests sip at their favourite beverage while soaking in the pool.
A holiday in Sri Lanka is not complete without a spa experience. Trained therapists will massage your woes away and pamper you with luxury treatments at the roof top spa. Once you have indulged and the guilt has begun to set in, the gym on the ground floor is a great place to get those endorphins flowing. With state-of-the-art equipment and views of the sea and garden, it’s a serene place to work out.
Treat yourself to an unmissable experience at Heritance Negombo – everything here revolves around the sun, sea and you.
175 Lewis Place, Negombo
Tel: (+94 11) 2308408
ashmres@aitkenspence.lk
heritancehotels.com/negombo
