A Boutique Retreat at Eraeliya Villas & Gardens, Sri Lanka

During her 6-month career break travelling around Asia, we sent Contributor Alanna Gibson to discover the luxury tropical paradise of Eraeliya Villas & Gardens, a luxury boutique hotel situated on the on the South Coast of Sri Lanka.  

Eraeliya Villas & Gardens is a luxury boutique hotel offering guests a unique home-from-home experience in a spectacular beach-front location on Sri Lanka’s South Coast. While located in a quiet area, the property is conveniently situated within a 15-minute drive of three sought after beach destinations – Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa. The accommodation comprises of six beautiful Palladian-architecture villas, nestled amongst lush gardens above the Indian Ocean. It feels much more like a private residence than a hotel, where you are left to enjoy the grounds at your leisure with minimal disturbances. The place has an incredibly laid-back vibe, suited for enjoying the slow-life and ultimate relaxation. This is exactly what we needed after an activity-crammed two weeks around Sri Lanka.

This stay was provided as a complimentary media stay in exchange for this honest written review.

First Impressions

The buildings of Eraeliya are beautifully striking, with tall ceilings, large windows and open spaces. The walls are painted a fresh white, with wooden panelling and furniture, creating a fresh beach-house vibe. Each room is adorned with local artwork and handicraft pieces which were selected by the curator, Nyuri, herself.  We stayed in the beautiful Diviya Suite which is situated on the ground floor of the main house, overlooking the infinity pool and Indian Ocean.

The room felt very modern and luxurious, while the big windows surrounded by lush greenery and ocean views gave it a tropical feel. My absolute favourite feature of the room was the large double doors leading out to our private pool-side patio and front-row seat to the ocean. We spent many hours sitting out here, soaking in the views and enjoying great food. 

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Feeling Immersed in Nature and Luxury

One of the things I loved most about Eraeliya Villas was its stunning natural surroundings, which evokes a sense of calm and serenity from the moment you step in. The ocean is really at your feet, with sweeping ocean views from the lawn area, infinity pool, sunset bar and several of the rooms. No matter where you are on the property, you can always hear the soothing sounds of the ocean. The property boasts direct beach access, bringing you to the white sands of Jungle Beach in just a couple of minutes. This is a great place for an ocean dip – the perfect way to start the day in my opinion. If you are more adventurous, you can also access a world-class surf break directly from the property (warning – not for recommended for beginners). For beginner surfers, I suggest taking a short tuk-tuk ride to Weligama and getting a surf lesson from one of the many surf schools located on the beach.

If you don’t fancy getting your toes sandy, you can also relax by the beautiful infinity pool or well-maintained lawn area perched above the ocean. There are plenty of deck chairs, hammocks, and beanbags to choose from – take your pick and watch the waves roll in. The lawn area is surrounded by tall palm trees and native plants, giving the perfect blend of luxury and nature. One morning the staff pointed out some rare purple face leaf monkeys in the trees as we ate our breakfast, which apparently pay a visit each morning.

Core Memories and Golden Sunsets

Now I am a sucker for sunsets, and I can honestly say that the sunsets I saw at Eraeliya Villas were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The property was perfectly positioned South-West for unobstructed views of the sun going down over the Indian Ocean. My fiancé and I enjoyed sipping a glass of bubbly from the Sunset Bar as we watched the sun go down and turn the sky a warm orange. I recommend avoiding rainy season to maximise your chances of a great sunset.

A Boutique Hotel with the feeling of a Private Residence

Eraeliya Villas and Gardens feels like the hybrid of a hotel and a private residence. If you want privacy, you will absolutely be left to your own devices, but you have the luxury of being able to order delicious food and drink in a stunning setting. Despite the property being at full occupancy while we were there, it felt very quiet and secluded. The property had so many great outdoor places to relax that guests could easily spread out amongst the grounds and get their own little slice of paradise.

I do think it’s important to stress that our interaction with staff was relatively minimal during our stay, as we were given to enjoy the property as if it were our own. When it comes to drinking and dining, there is no designated restaurant area, so instead you can order your food and drinks to one of the many seating areas around the property.

We opted breakfasts and dinners on our private veranda, and lunches out on the lawn. The flexibility on when and where we ate made it feel like less of a hotel and more of a home with in-house staff. If you are looking for super attentive hospitality then I would say Eraeliya Villas probably isn’t for you, but if you have a laid-back attitude to service and prefer flexibility and a more tailored experience then it is the perfect place.

The On-site Aroma Spa

I was lucky enough to enjoy a treatment at the recently renovated Aroma Spa, located down a cobble path within the property’s gardens. I opted for a Neck and Back Massage, which I really needed after a few days of surfing on Hiraketya Beach, my previous destination. The spa itself is a small villa-style hut, accommodating just one guest at a time. So, if you book a spa treatment, you get the whole spa to yourself! The spa had a light and airy interior, decorated with beautiful artwork, wooden furniture and plants – it made me feel like I was in a Balinese spa. 

After soaking in the ambience, my wonderful masseuse Renuka started to work her magic. She was incredibly skilled and listened to what I needed, providing me with the perfect mix of relaxation and releasing tension in my muscles. During my massage, I heard the ocean lapping on the shore while the cooling fan created a gentle breeze which really added to the ambience. After my massage, I put on my robe and went back to my suite for a well-earned nap. Total bliss!

Culinary Delights at Eraeliya Villas

If is fair to say that we dined like a King and Queen while staying at Eraeliya Villas. After getting to grips with the laid-back style of dining (eating anywhere, anytime), we enjoyed some fantastic meals in the property. There is a breakfast menu, an all-day dining menu and a speciality menu with experiences like Lobster Dinner for two or Private BBQ for two. All of the food at Eraeliya villas is fresh, organic and locally sourced, with a diverse menu catering to every palate. I highly recommend the seafood dishes, which were all so fresh and delicious. 

Breakfast Included

Breakfasts are complimentary within the room rate. You can select one of several main dishes, which comes with a seasonal fresh fruit platter, a fruit smoothie or juice, coffee or tea and homemade bread and jams. I loved how every day we were given a different fresh fruit drink – my favourite was the passionfruit and banana smoothie. There is a wide range of options available, both Western and local dishes, from avocado on toast to local string hoppers and curry. We enjoyed our breakfasts on our private veranda, overlooking the infinity pool and ocean. It was perfect way to fuel up for the day after our ocean dip and yoga session.

Leisurely Lunches

We enjoyed two leisurely lunches on the lawn. My highlight was the seafood spaghetti, accompanied by a lovely glass of Sauvignon Blanc. We opted to have our dinners on our private veranda after sunset. On our first night, we went for the tuna steak which was so perfectly cooked and well presented. On the second night, we opted for a Sri Lankan curry for two. We were given an array of around 8 different curry dishes (vegetarian and meat), alongside rice and local hoppers. Each of the dishes were very flavoursome and complemented each other well.

Top Travel Tip – when ordering Sri Lankan curry in Sri Lanka, always expect small portions of around 6-8 different curry dishes to come out, rather than one large curry dish.

Beverages (No Spirits but Great Wine)

When it comes to alcoholic beverages, it is worth noting that they currently do not sell spirits and therefore no cocktails (except a Mimosa). I would have liked to enjoy a cocktail or two at the sunset bar area but my glass of prosecco was a good alternative. During my stay I learned that management are working on a change in licensing to allow for spirits to be sold but this is pending approval and not guaranteed. Nevertheless, the wine list was extensive and there was a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks.  

Exploring the Wider Area: Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa

If you want to venture outside of the villas (not necessarily required if you want ultimate relaxation), there are several places you can visit nearby. As mentioned, there is Jungle Beach just a few minutes walk from the property, which has a couple of beach shacks for drinks but no dining options. If you hop in a tuk-tuk or taxi, there are three great locations within a 15 minute drive – Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa. We opted to visit Ahangama which has a very cool “flashpacker” vibe with beautiful beaches, a plethora of beach bars and cafes, shops and surf schools. We also heard great things about Weligama and Mirissa which would both be good options as day trips from Eraeliya Villas.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a private and relaxing hotel, surrounded by stunning nature and vistas, then Eraeliya Villas is perfect for you. I would say that the hotel suits adults rather than families, and would be perfect for couples seeking a romantic getaway or friends looking for total tranquility (if you’re travelling to Sri Lanka with kids, be sure to check out my upcoming review of the family friendly Why House Boutique Hotel) .

The service was very laid back, which may not suit everyone, but is perfect for people looking for privacy and a homely feel. Eraeliya Villas would be a great base for up to 5 days to explore the Sri Lankan South Coast, with so many great beach-towns on your doorstep. Alternatively, you could choose to spend a couple of nights here once at the end of your trip and be guilt-free about not leaving the hotel. Whatever you choose, just be aware that there are not many restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, so you need to be happy eating in the hotel, or getting transport to one of the nearby towns.

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