Hotels with Bars in Dambulla

Amba Yaalu — A Swan-Like Masterclass in Women-Led Luxury I arrived at Amba Yaalu by Thema Collection without quite knowing what to expect—after all, it was my first time staying in a “women-led” hotel. I wondered what the experience would feel like, and what new energy the concept might bring. What I found was exceptional: the service was of the same highest standard I would expect from this caliber of hotel chain—yet delivered with a distinctive style, unmistakably described as “swan-like.” 🦢 There’s no question the women are working ferociously—in the way a swan’s feet move beneath the water to create effortless beauty. And that’s exactly what you feel here. Under the surface, everything is operating with precision, speed, and strength. But what guests experience is something else entirely: grace. poise. warmth. smiles that arrive with such ease that it feels like the entire property glides. The atmosphere is genuinely welcoming. I noticed it not only from the staff, but in the way kindness seems to move through the whole guest experience—women, men, and children all smiling in a way that is tender, natural, and beautifully effortless. And yes—because luxury should be truly thoughtful—all of my bags were carried to my room for me. No fuss. No lifting. Just seamless, dignified care from arrival onward. If you’re looking for a stay that pairs top-tier hospitality with a rare, elegant spirit, Amba Yaalu is it. A hotel that doesn’t just host you—it makes you feel quietly cared for, beautifully welcomed, and entirely at ease. Truly unforgettable.

Stayed in room 234. Lets start with the bad. The shower rose did not work. Extreme caution is needed when using the shower, as the water could potentially give you third degree burns and the floor was very slippery. Now the average. I personally thought the dinner menu was a little restrictive and food quality lacked. Now the good. Very spacious room and bathroom. Quality bed linen and towels. Comfortable bed and good AC. Staff very polite, responsive and helpful. Would stay again, but they need to get the shower sorted, as it is dangerous.

I used it on an anniversary trip. I was very impressed with the surprise celebration at the last night's dinner. All the staff responded with a pleasant smile, and I was able to spend a very comfortable ３ day with a peaceful atmosphere of the hotel. Of course, Ayurveda was also the best. The departure time was early on the last day, but he adjusted the time accordingly and was treated. It was a hotel that I would like to stay longer.

The location is quite suitable for visiting Sigiriya. They also have triple rooms. It's clean and tidy. The only drawback might be that the entrance is a bit hard to find. Even our local driver had trouble finding it at first.

The hotel is nice, spacious beautiful room at check in we were treated to a refreshing juice. There is a big pool on the grounds and a big jacuzzi with hot water in the room.  Minuses of the hotel: Far from the attractions. Taxi from the center only go there for the price of pick me x2. Hotel taxi are 3 times more expensive. There are no stores and restaurants near the hotel, so inside the hotel prices for food x3, Also after 6pm it is dangerous to be outside because elephants are walking around. Now let's talk about the premium status and the five races. In 7 years of traveling, this is the first hotel that did not have a bathrobe, slippers and toothbrush and toothpaste in the room. The plumbing in the shower leaks, and the doors creak so much that you could call the spirits at night. Regarding the attention to the customer. I mentioned my upcoming birthday in conversation with the manager, but this fact was not used in any way to show any form of attention from the hotel. This is a huge miscalculation on the part of the staff at a premium hotel. We also had a late departure and our request to delay in the hotel for a couple of hours was refused. This was not due to the arrival of new customers, as the manager offered to extend our stay for a fee. For future customers this fact may be decisive in their choice. In general, the hotel is not bad, but the service and flexibility of the staff, as well as individual approach to customers, does not correspond to the premium level and requires improvement.

Abbiamo pernottato qui due notti per poter godere delle due attrazioni principali della zona. I ragazzi sono molto disponibili ed il responsabile è un giovane simpatico che ci sa fare! La posizione è molto tranquilla anche se non molto lontano dai locali. Camera buona e anche la colazione servita all'ultimo sulla terrazza che guarda sulla rocca. Di notte la strada sterrata è completamente buia e vi sconsiglio di andarci a piedi meglio se con una macchina o un tuktuk.

This is a nice hotel in a great location in terms of seeing the key sights in the area we wanted to visit (walking distance to Sigiriya and Pidurangala rocks, and a short tuk tuk ride to a night loris walk). It is on a main road so there is a bit of noise from that if you have a room at the front of the hotel like we did - especially some loud music playing early in the morning. I recommend asking for a room as far away from the road as available. The room was more basic than I expected for the price but importantly it was big and clean. I think you are paying the price for a proper hotel in this location. The hotel pool is big and very clean, it is perfect for a dip to cool down - and very scenic, surrounded by lovely trees. We were a bit disappointed with the hotel restaurant menu which has nearly no vegetarian options on it, and similarly the breakfast buffet wasn’t worth it for us to purchase, but there are lots of other restaurants walking distance from the hotel to go to. The staff were helpful especially in putting us in touch with the loris night tour.

Kalundewa Retreat has an amazing concept and a beautiful, secluded location that really stands out. The surroundings are peaceful and unique, making it a lovely place to disconnect. That said, there are visible signs of wear and tear in certain areas, and some aspects of property maintenance could be improved. However, what truly made up for this was the hotel team — their service was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The food was excellent and clearly prepared with care, which added greatly to the overall experience. With better upkeep, this place has the potential to be exceptional.

The staff were superb! They couldn't do enough to make our stay a memorable one. The room was clean with plenty of space. Air conditioned and comfortable beds. Breakfast was really good: fruit, roti, coconut pancakes, eggs how you want them, fruit juice, other bits too. Our table was hardly big enough to hold it all. An excellent location to visit Lion Rock and several restaurants and bars within walking distance serving local and western options.

The hotel is a bit off the main road, nestled in the jungle. It has a large, beautiful property with a decent restaurant that served tasty food. In the room, there's a concrete bed and concrete countertops, and the outlets are inconveniently located under the nightstands. Maybe the design was cool initially, but now it looks a bit tired. What I didn't like was the lack of soap (though they brought some when I asked), and the shower gel and shampoo bottles were already half-used. Also, the toilet seat didn't fit properly. The hotel staff, in general, were willing to help with any issues within their power.