Thambapanni Retreat, Unawatuna Sri Lanka, The South Coast

The Thambapanni Retreat Unawatuna is 100m or so from the beach itself; a small hotel offering a lovely peaceful enclave in which to escape, once you have tired of the attractions of the beach.

Set in a gorgeous garden on the side of a hill, the overall effect is low key but attractive. The main building is entirely open plan, the restaurant large and a few rooms overlook the pool below. Further rooms are situated in separate buildings on the hill, in amongst the garden. The deluxe rooms occupying the highest ground have magnificent views of the bay and the sea over the lush garden. The superior rooms also have a large balcony area, a sense of space and the facilities are good throughout.

The food is good; western dishes are well made and varied, while the local seafood is well prepared. The wine list is reasonable, although not everything was available when we visited . We had guests staying at Thambapanni Retreat Unawatuna during the tsunami and the response of the staff and owner was nothing short of magnificent.

Thambapanni Retreat Unawatuna has a friendly atmosphere and is laid back though it seems very efficiently run. The pool is long enough for a decent swim as well as a cooling dip and there is yoga, meditation and massages available, adding to the general peaceful air.

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