Dendrobium House

While ‘the pillows are the fluffiest I’ve ever felt’ (yes this will be a well recognised prompt by Tripadvisor guests that love leaving deserving and otherwise reviews for hotels) allow me to elaborate while you take a few minutes to read my review that will attempt to do justice to an extremely fine boutique establishment. Our love for Dendrobium House has become a bit of a joke among our well meaning family and friends in Colombo when they hear that we are escaping there YET AGAIN! A chance discovery: We discovered it by lucky chance and instantly it became a fixed family favourite. Being here, one our first visit we were reminded of our once home country - England especially the blissful cool, but there was so much more to love about the villa itself that soon within 2 years we have visited it some 5-6 times, bringing friends and family along too, and the kids not ever complaining about the drive from Colombo to get to this hidden gem of a place. What makes it special: the vistas from any direction, the pine-lined approach and views from room windows, the mountains that envelope it - best viewed from the pool and heated jacuzzi, the lush green surrounds and the birds and crickets song, the promise of mystery in the wild further (I’ve heard leopards do prowl in the stealth of the night), are among my favourite things. The staff: However I would be lying if I didn’t mention the excellent staff always alert annd receptive to guests needs and ever so kind and friendly. The team is headed by Mr. Gavin and the fine dining experience is headed by Chef Ravindran. Gavin has the kind of attention to detail with exquisite hospitality that is seldom found these days. He is polite and interesting. He draws from his clearly diverse experience in global hospitality ensuring that the minor details are attended to. He is chivalrous, timely and orderly. The staff have clearly trained very well under his stewardship. Chef Ravindran and his team are exceptional. Like Gavin his attention to detail for not only taste but also presentation with every course of every meal has never failed to impress us all. From the finest butters, spreads and breads (not just to rhyme :)) made in-house through to his flair in both continental European and Sri Lankan cuisine means no stone is left unturned to make every dining experience thoroughly satisfying. The rooms: All rooms have an air of sophistication and luxury only trumped by the ‘Raptor’ room which is a cut above the rest! The bathrooms are immediately more relaxing with their constant supply of warm to hot water (yes this makes a difference given the cool climate), the furnishings both soft and hard are exquisite and tasteful, the pillows (and duvets) I’ve already mentioned…and the study desk too allows for time for one and all to retreat in peace and quiet. Hiking and sports: Pekoe trail walks, from Hantana to Galaha are extremely accessible from here. I dare say that this would be a most favourite property as there are none to compare with this manner of boutique hospitality for miles, if the more sporty guest wishes to embark on a 4 hours and back walking trial, whilst enjoying the relaxed hospitality of your base, for the rest. Other things that are satisfying include geared mountain bike rides through the hill roads and doing a botanical tour with the naturalist. Final points: This is an excellent venue for large groups too who wish for peace and serenity, in this quiet place with its gentle nature rhythms both inside and outside. One is sure to sleep like a baby! Activities such as their curated tours with in-house naturalist, books and board games, cycling, hiking (Pekoe trails and intrepid) and visiting Kandy are all up for grabs for the more active type of holiday maker. As a family with school age kids, a couple or a group of friends and family consider Dendrobium House the perfect escape, just as we and ours will endorse it while hearted. We thank you Dendrobium House for being a home away from to us!

Dendrobium House is perfect in every way. The rooms, aesthetics, cleanliness, location, the food which was exceptional, the service and the pool all are nothing but perfection. Gavin and his team did everything to make sure that we are comfortable during our two nights visit. Can't wait to return to this place.

Half an hours drive from Kandy, nestled up in the mountain, this jewel of a property is located surrounded by tropical forests and lush green. The rooms and all public areas are designed with a lot of eye for detailed everything is clean and well maintained. The pool has a scenic view and even has a little jacuzzi area. The botanist is very pleasant and knowledgeable, he offered various walks and activities to learn more about indigenous plants and animals. A special highlight is the amazing cuisine every single dish was a highlight of its own beautifully presented and so delicious-even any special short notice requests were taken care of always the very attentive team. The property manager, Gavin, and his team, Pradeep and Darshana undertook every effort possible to make our stay even more pleasant and have been exceptionally kind and helpful. We'll definitely come back!

Dendrobium House is quite the way up Hanthana. The road up the Hanthana Hill, past the Bogambara grounds ( off the hospital road) can be challenging due to the sheer number of buses that visit a newly built temple. The hotel is quite accessible otherwise. This is a very charming property thats lushly decorated. The stairway with the huge birdcage with plants, the vividly coloured paintings all make it quite unique. I loved that the main living room had paintings of the 34 endemic birds by Gamini Ratnavira. We stayed in the Raptor suite. This was a beautiful furnished room with paintings of the various birds of prey. The large four poster bed was very comfortable. I loved the large bathroom with separate sinks. The service and food here was top notch. We tried the high tea one afternoon and loved it! We also enjoyed going on nature walks and bird watching with naturalist Dileepa. This is a great place to escape to if you want a quiet weekend to unwind. Kudos to Mr Gavin and team for giving us a memorable experience!