The Palace by Ocean

My sister and I stayed at The Palace by Ocean for 3 nights from 13th July after attending a wedding at the Taj Bentota Resort & Spa. We were looking for somewhere quiet to unwind and this place was exactly what we needed — calm, relaxing, and beautiful. The hotel is very small, with just 7 suites, and during our stay there were barely any other guests, which made it feel even more peaceful. On the second day it was just the two of us there! We stayed in the Queen Suite which was gorgeous — spacious, comfortable, and really well kept. The hotel has two pools (indoor and outdoor), and we spent most of our time reading and relaxing by the water. What really stood out to us was the service. Every single staff member was kind, polite and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. We had breakfast included, and the team asked in advance what we’d like to eat each day. Because the portions were generous and we didn’t want to waste anything, we mentioned we’d be happy to share meals — they were totally understanding. We didn’t realise they offered massages but were so happy when we found out. The masseuse was lovely and very attentive, checking throughout to make sure we were comfortable. Another lovely gesture — the young guy who checked us in (he was only 17!) even let us use his phone to make a local call to our previous hotel when we needed to get in touch. There’s also a cosy lounge upstairs with a TV. They don’t have Netflix but we found enough to watch on YouTube, which was perfect for some downtime. A huge thank you to Jalitha, Dilitha, Dilhan, Dilum, Udayanga and Reman — you were all so kind and made our stay extra special. This trip was just what we needed, and we’re so glad we chose The Palace. Highly recommend for anyone looking to slow down and switch off for a few days.

My family stayed here for one night and we absolutely loved it. Wished we had stayed longer. The staff were exceptionally friendly and greeted up with smoothies and cold refreshing towels and were always ready to help out. We really recommend the Sri Lankan breakfast which comes included. Kushan (the manager) made so many delicious curries for breakfast it was such a treat. The hotel was pristine and is only 2 years old (in 2025). The beds were very clean, comfy and cosy. We spent lots of time in the pool, which was a perfect temperature. Eagles flying overhead. There is a supermarket nearby with snacks and after walking for a short distance down a jungle lane is the beach. On the way back there is a nice restaurant (Sunshine Restaurant) and as it grew dark glowing fireflies appeared.

We booked this hotel for a few nights before leaving the UK. We planned to travel south after our stay. As soon as we arrived we knew we wanted to stay for our whole holiday (11 nights). The hotel is beautiful. Attention to detail 1st class. Spotlessly clean. Amazing fixtures and fittings. All the staff are very friendly and can’t do enough for you. Every member of staff helped us to experience the real Sri Lanka. Manesh (owner) was there at 6am to let me out to go fishing with Tiny most mornings. I fished with the locals off the rocks a few minutes from hotel. Sunrise was a true experience. The food in the restaurant is outstanding. They have a very talented young chef. We ate here most nights. Hoppers for breakfast or a selection of homemade curry certainly gets you off to a good start. Whole king coconut served chilled every morning. Wow. We stayed in the Princess room and were lucky enough to watch a troop of monkeys playing in the yard most evenings. They have the best Tuktuk driver. Ronaldo will take you anywhere, wait while you have dinner or a swim. He took us to Yala for the day and set us up with an amazing guide to tour the safari park. Thoroughly recommend this gentleman. He really made our holiday. Take him shopping with you to make sure you pay the correct price. Thank you Kushan. We will see you in March 2025 when we will return for another two weeks.

A wonderful stay, for us a couple who needed a silent and comfortable prolonged weekend, after weeks of hard work. We were treated like the king and his queen, with genuine kindness and respect. We are looking forward to come back. It is great to know that we have found our "getaway" place on the coast. Thank you for an amazing stay.

We recently stayed at this lovely hotel, and while it's a bit farther from the beach and town, we still had a great experience. The beach is about a 10-minute walk away, and getting to Bentota town is easy with a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride. The highlight of this place is that it feels like staying in a beautiful, modern mansion. Everything is super new, and the facilities are in excellent condition. The staff is also incredibly welcoming and attentive, which made our stay even better. If you're looking for a peaceful and well-maintained place to relax, this is a great option!

The place is well maintained. Modern and clean. Worth the money. Hands on staff. It’s in between Bentota and Hikkaduwa. The accomodation offers transport to anywhere you need. The driver is very helpful and friendly! Place is well worth the money.