Mount Lavinia Hotel

Krish Manoj

A HUGE NO. Never ever stay at this horrible hotel. This is by far the worst hotel I’ve stayed at in my entire life. The room was not cleaned at all and there were cockroaches, not just one or two but many. I specifically requested a quieter room at check-in, but they gave a room on a floor that was extremely noisy. It was unbelievably loud and impossible to sleep even for five minutes. They also made me wait for an hour to check in. To make things even worse, the air conditioning was not functioning. Despite informing them five times, nobody came to check. After going to the reception and waiting another 20 minutes, someone finally showed up only to say they couldn’t repair the AC. Later, the hotel management informed me that the AC could only be repaired at 8 pm, and even that wasn’t guaranteed. With no surprise, there were more than 10 people at the lobby informing the reception about the same issue. One couple along with two friends were even denied a room despite having a confirmed booking and having paid in full. The hotel staff took hours to make a decision to help, and that too happened only after I went to the lobby and started making a fuss. Whoever the lady is who answers the phone when dialing “0” clearly has no idea how to speak to guests. She hung up on me three times while I was talking. They neither repaired the issue nor offered a proper solution. Apart from a couple of staff members, everyone else was rude and completely uninterested in helping. These people clearly have no idea about problem-solving. They either avoid the issue or respond rudely. Eventually, I was given another room with no AC again and was provided a couple of fans. Mount Lavinia Hotel used to be a classy hotel in Colombo with amazing staff. I will never visit this place again or recommend it to any of my friends. The management should seriously look into how this property is currently being run, because the standards are nowhere close to what this hotel used to represent.

Elichai F

This hotel was truly a gem and the center(core) of the hotel(the old Governor’s palace) is elegant and wonderful. The food is amazing and the selection of their buffet is one of the best I’ve seen. However, the rooms are not well maintained and many of the experienced staff have been replaced with young inexperienced staff. It is very sad since this place used to have such a great reputation and is now going down. Especially since this is such a cultural treasure.

Gerard Niroshan

Fantastic location near Colombo with beautiful beach and see view. Food is very good and friendly staff. Hotel infrastructure has seen better days. AC wasn't working properly. It barely made the room habitable. Floor was bit dirty. But eventually it didn't ruin our holiday. I spent 2 relaxing dayes at the property. Overall 3.5/5

Adithya A Venkat

The hotel is one of the oldest in Colombo. The views are breathtaking and spectacular. The rooms on the other hand are poorly maintained and lack basic amenities. The AC is extremely poor we had to request a fan and it was still warm. Everything in the room like the carpet bed posts walls etc need to be cleaned and replaced.There was no phone in 1 room and the other room the phone didn’t work. So had to call using mobile. Room service was slow. The staff are friendly and the night manager was helpful when we needed him. The breakfast was good to with a lot of variety. Overall the view of the beach and the heritage site was the best part of the stay the rest was awful especially if your travelling with an infant

Anjana Silva

Mount Lavinia Hotel: Poya Day Vegan Buffet is a FIVE-STAR Culinary Heaven! ​I had one of the most remarkable dining experiences today at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, where my family and I attended their special Poya Day vegan buffet. This is not just a buffet; it is a meticulously curated, five-star culinary event, and as a vegan, I can honestly say it was absolute heaven! ​The sheer scale and quality of the full buffet menu in a vegan way were breathtaking. It was genuinely challenging to decide where to start, with an incredible array of options spanning everything from various types of rice and artisan bread to numerous complex, flavorful curries and main courses. It wasn't just basic dishes; it was a gourmet spread that demonstrated incredible culinary skill. ​The dessert section deserves its own special mention, as there were so many unique and delicious vegan sweets—it felt like every indulgence was catered for without any compromise on taste or ethics. ​What truly elevates this experience to the highest level is the hotel’s commitment to quality. The dishes are prepared using organic certified food, and the staff proudly mentioned that they use ingredients that meet USDA certificate food standards. This dedication to premium, healthy ingredients sets this buffet apart from any other in the region. ​Please note that this grand vegan buffet is available specifically on Poya Day, making it a highly anticipated event. If you miss it, do not worry; they also offer excellent à la carte vegan options on other days. For any vegan, or anyone who appreciates incredibly high-quality, ethically-sourced food in a luxurious five-star hotel setting, this Mount Lavinia Hotel Poya Day offering is a non-negotiable must-try. Absolutely fantastic!