Halcyon Mawella, Tangalle

Mawella Beach is the actual dream... Secluded with safe swimming, gorgeous curves and peaceful. So very peaceful.

Now, Mawella has a lovely little hotel too. Opened in 2022, Zander, the brilliant local team and Loki the dog welcome guests at this relaxed 10-room boutique hotel and restaurant near Tangalle. It opens right onto the golden sands of Mawella Beach -  your room is mere steps from a lovely swimming pool and some of the best sea swimming and body boarding conditions along the south coast.

The restaurant has created a bit of a buzz locally and is a great option even if you're staying elsewhere in the region. Dishes include traditional Sri Lankan Rice and Curry, Singhol Slow Cooked Goat Curry, and a variety of excellent pan-Asian options like Indian Veg Thali and Seafood Laksa. The cocktails are memorable, too - and we tried vainly to figure out the secret recipe for the delicious Halcyon Spritz - a hibiscus and lime concoction that was a little too delicious! 

Halcyon has eight rooms in 4 cabanas - each with a traditional illuk roof. Cabanas are divided into an upstairs room with a balcony and a downstairs room with a terrace. Each cabana opens directly onto the pool area. Though they're relatively simple in terms of amenities, they have been meticulously thought through by an interior designer with unusual antiques, beautiful fabrics and top-quality bedding. In addition to the cabana rooms, there are 2 Family Rooms in the main building - these feature a mezzanine level where children can sleep. Though the family rooms are good value for money, the ladder to the mezzanine would be too precarious for younger children and the rooms back onto the small bar area- we recommend taking the upstairs and downstairs of one whole cabana.

Beyond the beach, Halcyon have kayaks available to explore the Mawella lagoon and Hireketiya, with its horseshoe bay and neat sets of waves, is nearby too. Hireketiya is a surf mecca and an ideal place for some introductory surfing lessons; it's also well-known locally as a hotspot for yoga classes. Though we'd generally recommend an overnight visit, Uda Walaawe and Yala National Parks are close enough for a day trip if you're tight on time.