Nyne hotels – Rock Villa

Introduction

Nyne hotels – Rock Villa is a fabulous 170-year-old Sri Lankan wallawwa with a fine reputation set on a two-acre coconut grove fronted by the spectacular sun-kissed beaches of Bentota, which are safe for swimming between December and April. This wonderful beach villa is is set back from the turquoise seas behind a 60 metre-wide growth of lush green mangroves and coconut palms providing much privacy. It is owned by Nayantara Fonseka, a renowned Sri Lankan lifestyle designer and creator of several other dream destinations on the island. The old wallawa has been caringly refurbished, maintaining its original architectural features of courtyards, veranda and hand-carved ornate timber window frames. Interiors are contemporary in style with a relaxed, informal ambience. Dutch-period antiques, plush sofas and colourful soft furnishings are combined with contemporary art and sculptures, fresh lotus flowers and ethnic touches to create stylish interiors. The main wallawwa consists of two bedrooms and a living and dining area opening out to the gardens. A newly-constructed set of rooms with a lounge blends seamlessly with the old wallawwa architecture. A spacious dining pavilion overlooks the swimming pool. A beautiful beach stretch lies at the bottom of the garden, accessed by a few strides across the simple, single gauge railway line. Most find this occasional train interesting and unobtrusive. Young children should be well supervised when crossing this railway line to get to the beach. Rock Villa must be booked in its entirety for a minimum of two nights and can comfortably accommodate 12 guests.

Accommodation

There are six rooms in total - two Deluxe Rooms, two Superior Rooms and the Walauwa Suite. Interiors are stylishly furnished with twin or king-sized beds and equipped with a/c, overhead fans and a safe. Ensuite bathrooms have h/w showers. All rooms have a veranda with garden views.

Walauwa Suite: This original two bedroom wallawwa also has a living and dining room opening out to a private veranda with garden views. Two additional beds can be provided upon request. The suite is booked in its entirety. Maximum occupancy in this suite is 4 adults and two children.

Deluxe Rooms: These two rooms are closer to the entrance and are furnished with king-sized beds.

Superior Rooms: Of the two rooms, one is a double and the other a twin that can be made into a triple.

Facilities

The spacious open-sided dining pavilion overlooks the 50ft swimming pool and gardens. Traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry and international cuisine is served. Meals are prepared with fresh seafood purchased from the local fisherman and vegetables from the local market. Other facilities include: a TV lounge, books and board games; relaxing massages with prior notice; laundry service and room service, and complimentary Wi-Fi – only in the public areas. There are hammocks and sun loungers to relax on in the gardens. The beach frontage here is relatively isolated and safe for swimming and snorkelling from December to April.

Why We Like It

Refined yet never stuffy - we adore the utterly stylish and restful mood of this prince among Sri Lanka's small boutique beach properties

Location

Bentota is a popular family beach resort area offering numerous water-sports on the Bentota Lagoon. The journey from Colombo’s international airport will take about two hours.