Hotels near Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Colombo

My friend and I travelled to Colombo in January from the UK. The hotel is large, modern, well appointed. Comfortable bedrooms, ample choice at breakfast (which can get busy). Our room had a Lakeside view, pretty enough, but it also overlooked the poolside bar/club which had loud music playing till the very early hours, rendering sleep a challenge. I would recommend checking this, before you book, or stay on the other side of the hotel. However, what soured our stay was that the day after we checked in at the hotel, we were victims of a scam. As we left the hotel to walk to the local temple in the morning (still jet lagged), a man claiming to be a hotel employee started a conversation with us. He claimed his name was Sangha Perera. He appeared to be helpful, giving us directions. As it was raining, he advised us that taking a tuk tuk around the main tourist attractions would be easier and cheaper. As he was connected to the hotel, we trusted him. He 'found' us a tuktuk, and even joined us acting as an unnoficial guide. Eventually he ended up taking us to an 'officially credited' government approved jewellery shop, which had 50% off,  he even told us a percentage of profits would be donated to tsunami orphans. We were pressurised by the shop management (all men) into purchasing items.  After that the tuktuk driver told us the ride for 2.5 hours would cost equivalent of £100 in rupees, and things got very heated until we paid up. We reported the matter to the Jeevani Perera, Lobby Manager at Colombo Cinnamon Lakeside hotel. She told us the man did not work at the hotel, and an identical incident had happened previously. We also spoke to the hotel security officer, who said he would check hotel security videos. Later we even sent them photos of the man claiming to be an hotel employee and the tuktuk driver. We were disappointed to receive no response from them. BE WARNED if you stay at this hotel. Scammers are working around there, and the hotel seemingly turns a blind eye, without advising guests checking in! (SEE PHOTOS OF SCAMMERS ATTACHED). Am sure the same thing goes on outside other hotels too... We eventually went to the local police, who were helpful, and they went with us to get our money back from the jewellery shop (Lanka Sapphire Lapidary PVT Ltd., no 83 Dharmaphala Mawatha, Colombo 07), but it was not easy to do so. A salutary lesson.

Location of this hotel was excellent but unfortunately service lets it down. At the breakfast buffet the first day was excellent after that it was a steady decline. We had to ask for a cup of coffee numerous times from different waiters before getting one minus sugar, saucers & teaspoons. One morning one of the managers in yellow tie picked up our plates unfortunately I hadn’t finished & had to grab my good before the plate was taken. With room service one time we had no hand towels that was no big deal the next day they cleaned the room & left no towels they told us they would be back in 5 mins with towels one & a half hours later we had to ring reception to be told they would send someone up straight away, over 2 hours later we finally received our towels. In the cafe we sat at a table had to ask for menus waited over an hour & a half but no one took our order! Not to mention our room bell rang at 11:10pm & someone trying to open our door when we shouted out they said they were bringing us water!

This is the worst Shangri-La I have ever stayed in. The various room types are confusing. It is very unfriendly to guests who want to extend their stay. You cannot check in directly at the front desk. You must book online. Even if you book the same room type and price online, you will be forced to cancel and pay the cancellation fee before you can check in.

Booked a twin room. At checkin was told no twin bed rooms available. Instead gave a king room (premium) with an extra bed which was put inside the room. Room was good but the bed was not comfortable and bit small- which was a downside. Would gave been a great stay if the stay went according to the booking made or some other arrangement was made to accommodate this lack of availability. Room was clean with good amenities.

Pricing was excellent. Location was close to National Museums, the beach, shopping districts, and more all within either 10 min walking distance to 5-10 min tuk-tuk ride. Cleanliness was overall very clean. However, in our first night at the smoking-allowed floor, we found two small termites on our bed. Rest of the night was completely fine and when we eventually moved to a non-smoking floor, we had no bug issues at all. Now the best highlights of Cinnamon Red were their service, hospitality, and facilities. With a small but quaint pool and deck on the top floor, we watched the beautiful Sri Lanka sunset. There's a decent gym there too. Breakfast was marvelous, that is if you don't mind having Sri Lankan style breakfast of spices, curries, and egg hoppers - ”western” options were plenty from poached eggs, bacons, sausages fruits, musseuli, yogurt, order-made omelets, waffles and pancakes, all accompanied by the famous Ceylon tea to die for. Lastly, I cannot praise enough the kindness, hospitality, and smiles from the staff. They were incredibly helpful and supportive to any and all of our requests. Do bring your own soap, shampoo, and conditioners and cameras because the way the hotel is designed, you get an unclustered, incredible view of Colombo from any room.

The room was good, new and clean, especially after the terrible experience of staying at Radisson, Amari seemed to be very cost-effective. The breakfast environment and service were good. Although the food was not particularly appetizing, it was still okay. The swimming pool was also quite long, but the gym was not in operation. In addition, there was no bathroom and changing room in the swimming pool, so you had to go back to the room to change wetly, but these were minor problems. In Sri Lanka, the conditions were already very good.

Granbell Hotel Colombo offers a perfect blend of comfort, style, and breathtaking views. A View – Sunrise & Sunset Magic The highlight of staying at Granbell is the stunning ocean views. Wake up to a peaceful sunrise, watching the golden rays reflect off the calm waters. In the evening, the sunset paints the sky with hues of orange and pink, offering a mesmerizing sight from the rooftop pool or balcony. Right opposite the hotel is the railway station, adding an exciting touch to the stay. Watching people rush to catch their trains, street vendors selling snacks, and the daily rhythm of Colombo’s life creates a fascinating contrast to the serene ocean view. Granbell Hotel is more than just a place to stay—it’s an experience. From the tranquil ocean views to the lively street scenes, every moment is worth savoring. Whether you're here for business or leisure, it’s a stay you won’t forget.

I’m absolutely thrilled with my choice of accommodation in Colombo! The location is perfect—situated in a comfortable and safe area with plenty of restaurants and supermarkets nearby. It’s also very close to the city center, making it super convenient. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, always ready to assist. The rooms are excellent, well-equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay. And the rooftop pool is simply amazing!

The hotel has a beautiful view of the ocean from the roof top pool as well as from many of the rooms. The staff were very welcoming, even though we arrived before 2pm they made an effort to get our room ready quickly and let us check in early, which was very nice after an over night flight. Its easy to walk from the hotel to a number of restaurants, casinos, as well as to some of the popular attractions in the city. The restaurant in the hotel has a nice buffet, as well as a rooftop bar. The hotel was so nice that when we passed through Colombo when we were leaving Sri Lanka, we stayed there again.

I recently stayed at the Radisson hotel in Colombo and was blown away by the experience. The stunning ocean view from my room was the highlight of my stay. Breakfast was delicious and it was made even better by the ocean view from the dining area. The rooftop bar with the pool had the most incredible sunset view I have ever seen. Sipping on a cocktail while watching the sun go down was a truly memorable experience. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a luxurious and relaxing stay in Colombo. The staff was friendly and accommodating, the amenities were top-notch, and the overall experience was unforgettable. I will definitely be returning to the Radisson hotel on my next visit to Colombo.