“A little piece of paradise in Bentota”

Nisala Arana is such a tranquil oasis. The grounds are beautiful and there’s something very special about having breakfast whilst watching the kingfishers, green bee eaters and other lovely Sri Lankan birds. The breakfast was the best we had on our travels. We also ate dinner there a couple of times and it was delicious. The team were really accommodating of our 2 little kids and provided high chairs and child appropriate food. The rooms were lovely with a great hot shower and good aircon. They had mosquito nets and anti mosquito coils. They even provided a cot with a net over it for our baby. We would love to come back here some day, it’s a special place.

The only positive aspects were the friendly staff and very tasty breakfast.

“Stunning garden setting, gorgeous rooms and lovely staff in a charming location”

A stunning garden setting full of wildlife and with beautifully stylish rooms . We loved the authentic village setting away from the busier areas and close to the river. The staff were absolutely lovely.

“Paradise!”

A stunning location, with a real WOW factor, we had such a lovely stay at this unique and beautiful boutique hotel. Our gorgeous accommodation was immaculate, spacious, with an amazing bathroom. Every morning, before a delicious breakfast, we enjoyed a swim in the fantastic sized pool, situated in well kept gardens, whilst listening to the tropical birds in the background. It was just bliss! It is up there as one of best places we have ever stayed. A big thank you to Tony, and his fantastic team, for their wonderful smiles, incredible welcome, generous hospitality, and always going the extra mile. We didn’t want to leave this idyllic place, and definitely hope to return one day.

“Beautiful hotel and garden, great staff, wonderful place to relax.”

Beautiful grounds, wildlife and buildings. Pool was refreshing and well maintained and not overly chlorinated. Large garden and pavilion area with hammocks to relax and enjoy the peace and birds. All staff and especially Tony were so accomodating and looked after us well. Free to use bikes for getting around the neighbourhood. Very close to the lagoon. Would highly recommend.

“A little piece of heaven”

We enjoyed a week at Nisala Lodge. Very tranquil location set in beautiful gardens. Tony and his team were amazing, and we were truly spoilt during our stay. We even managed a cheeky little ride in the Morris Minor, which was a fabulous ending to the week

“A place to unwind in beautiful surroundings .”

Everything. Wonderful staff and fabulous garden. Excellent food. Spent 5 days here and totally relaxed. Many thanks to Toby and the team.

Another amazing accommodation! Huge pool with large gardens, comfortable rooms (they do have a designer touch). Cleaning service daily to the roof Staff goes over their way to help: laundry, organised yoga and the amazing breakfast, 4pm tea and dinners daily. location is around the lake, within a quiet area where you can meet locals. Beach is just a tuk tuk away!

“Wonderful boutique hotel with beautifully decorated rooms, very nice staff, great pool and lush garden to relax in”

Wonderful boutique hotel with beautifully decorated rooms, very nice staff (thanks Mr Tony!) and owner, great pool and lush garden to relax in. Great curry. It had everything we needed to unwind from the long flight to Sri Lanka with a baby and a toddler. The kids loved the place as well, and it was a short and fun tuktuk ride to the beautiful beach.

“Peaceful stay but very rustic.”

Unique and tranquil small scale property about 10 mins Tuktuk ride from the beach/station. The Sri Lankan manager Tony was a gracious host.

“Graceful living amid Sri Lanka’s landscapes.”

Discover architecture that blends seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. Elegant furniture and refined décor create an atmosphere of timeless taste. Savor exquisite cuisine at a charming restaurant, where every dish is prepared with care. Our dedicated staff provide service that is attentive, discreet, and flawlessly considerate.

beautiful old colonial property with lots of character and great pool

“Peaceful”

It was beautiful. I felt like home.

The property felt authentic we felt like we were staying in an authentic colonial house the house was beautifully restored and furnished the staff made the stay they were incredibly friendly and could not do enough for us always with big smiles. A wonderful place to stay

“The ideal escape for a truly authentic experience”

We had a great few days at Nisala Arana on landing in Sri Lanka. The staff were incredible, so attentive and welcoming and the hotel itself is lovely; think old world charm with modern amenities. Plenty to do to keep busy on the grounds and worth taking the bikes to explore Bentota. The breakfast each morning was fresh and the dinner menu in the evening varied and delicious. Thanks to Ben and Gavindu and the Team for our wonderful stay, highly recommended to experience authentic Sri Lanka.

“Wonderfull place. Stay here longer next time!”

Benjamin was extremely helpful and very friendly through email, thinking along with us and accommodating to (for example) dietary wishes of our 8y/o. At the property Conrad was extremely helpful and kind too. We booked this as our first night stop on the way to the south, with our whole route booked ahead of us already. But we kept longing back to this place. So beautiful and serene.

“Beautiful surroundings, lovely staff”

This is a beautiful location. The gardens and buildings are exsquisite, it is a lovely place to spend time. The surroundings are very beautiful anda lot of thought has gone into their design. The breakfast is delicious. I highly recommend taking the available bikes and exploring the quiet streets in the village. Bentota is a really lovely spot. Most importantly, the staff are lovely, Conrad and team went above and beyond to make sure our stay was perfect. My son even got the chance to play cricket with them, which he loved! I highly recommend this beutiful, perfect spot.

A beautiful place, peaceful and stylish

“A soulful sanctuary – our Sri Lanka highlight”

From the very first moment, our stay at Nisala Arana was a total success – and became the absolute highlight of our Sri Lanka journey. This hotel was far more than just a place to stay; it felt like a true home full of soul, nestled within a lush, peaceful garden paradise. The expansive garden is a tranquil oasis right in the heart of vibrant, rural Bentota. We loved exploring the quiet backstreets by bike (freely available), observing local life and reaching the serene, uncrowded beach in just minutes – perfect for swimming and surfing. A fantastic Ayurveda centre was also nearby. The accommodation is stylish, immaculately kept, and yet wonderfully welcoming – it immediately gave us a sense of belonging. Special thanks go to General Manager Conrad, who hosted us with incredible warmth, attentiveness, and insight. He was not only a perfect host, but also a cultural guide and a true friend – making everything possible, from a fresh seafood BBQ to tracking down a lost phone. Even the owner went above and beyond – including sourcing a guitar for us! We actually stayed at Nisala Arana twice – once at the beginning of our trip, and again at the end. That’s how much we loved it. The second time we brought friends and enjoyed an almost private guesthouse experience, complete with a talented chef who prepared amazing curries and menus tailored to our tastes. In short: a place with true heart, deep respect for its guests, and a very personal level of service. Perfect for families, couples, and anyone seeking a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere – not about Instagram hype, but about real soul.

“OMG! How amazing is this place! A wonderful stay, as if we were welcome guests at a friend's house.”

It is difficult to adequately put into words how wonderful our 6-star experience at Nisala Arana was. As soon as you enter the gate, you step into another world. The serenity and beauty of the place is incredible. It is definitely one of those, 'OMG! How amazing is this place!', type of places. My husband & I have travelled a lot and Nisala Arana is definitely up there as one of our best stays. The buildings on the property are beautiful and the attention to detail in their design, decoration and furnishing is incredible. It was also the best sleep we had in our 10 day trip around Sri Lanka - comfortable beds, soft bed linen and in a very peaceful environment as the property is away from any large roads and it backs onto jungle. The only sound we could hear in the morning were the twitters of the birds and the distant sound of the baker's tuktuk playing Für Elise. The staff were also very professional and extremely helpful. Conrad, the manager, was always on site if there was anything we needed - we missed the baker's tuktuk, so he had one of the staff go to the bakery to get our boys some sugar buns. In his down-time, it was really nice to have a chat to him about this and that. We also liked that there was a restaurant on-site. Having two young kids and being out all day, it was great not to have to go out for dinner. We had a wonderful crab curry in the open-air pool pavillion and the chef was more than accommodating to our two fussy eaters - making them pasta and fried rice. In all, we had an excellent two-night stay at Nisala Arana. We felt as though we were thoroughly welcome guests at a friend's house, rather than plain guest in a hotel. We would definitely recommend Nisala Arana to anyone travelling along the southern west coast of Sri Lanka,