Set within the ramparts of Galle Fort, the seventeenth century building retains much of its original character, the interiors graced by period furnishing – suites and chambers boasting polished teak floors, free standing bathtubs and four-poster beds, the windows looking out over the imposing hexagonal stone fort or the property’s mature gardens.

Watch the world go by from the terrace before eating in The Dining Room, a colonial style restaurant with antique silverware and glittering chandeliers, whilst for sundowners the upstairs balcony is ever-popular. In the spa an Ayurvedic doctor is on hand to recommend treatments.