Sri Lanka’s oceanfront Galle Face Hotel, which opened in 1864 by four British entrepreneurs, has completed a 30-month refresh that included its North Wing’s 72 accommodations, F&B outlets, lobby, ballrooms, and executive lounge.
Renovated guestrooms and suites, which range in size from 280 to 645 square feet, now feature mahogany furniture and bathrooms clad in gray marble; a selection of 21 rooms are also equipped with private sea-view balconies. The 1,290-square-foot Empress Eugenie suite offers a 645-square-foot terrace that sprawls across the roof of the hotel’s carriage porch, a restored architectural feature that nods to the original façade.
The North Wing was also upgraded with an ocean-view executive lounge, dubbed the Long Room—an approximately 82-foot-long space that was repurposed from the Grand Ballroom’s dressing rooms and storage area. A new conservatory with arched doors now connects the Grand Ballroom to the Jubilee Ballroom, which were both restored with a new lighting system.
Traveller’s Bar replaced the former Americano Bar, which now features a mahogany bar amongst a photo gallery of prominent guests, while the open-air porch along the Poolside Bar & Terrace was extended. The Verandah restaurant is now twice as large, with two levels of wood terrace seating and a permanent roof that hosts a balcony and rooftop garden adjoining the Long Room above.
The North Wing’s original high-ceilinged lobby was also updated and features Corinthian columns, 17th century Dutch-Colonial chairs, and a wall-length terracotta mural with traditional Sri Lankan motifs.
A storied property, Galle Face Hotel has seen guests that include Vivien Leigh, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, along with a host of royalty and heads of state. An onsite museum pays homage to this 151-year history with images of iconic guests, vintage property photos, and relics such as the car Prince Phillip drove when he lived on the island, which was formerly known as Ceylon.
The hotel is embarking on a redress of the South Wing’s 84 rooms, which were last revamped in 2006.
