Staff. Location. Amenities.

location breakfast

“Enjoyable stay, staff were very helpful, good location. Very quiet maybe lacking in atmosphere”

Staff were very nice and location was very good. Pool was good and room was very comfortable.

The location is amazing

“Amazing trip! Thanks for making my proposal special”

Beautiful spot. Amazing staff

Peaceful beachside location

Absolutely outstanding from start to finish. The property is as beautiful as the photos suggest. The location - in essence, you've got a private beach in front of the hotel - means day will drift by, between beach, pool, sun loungers, restaurant, and back again. The food was the best in all of Sri Lanka - not a single dish was an afterthought, including the Western and vegetarian dishes. Every meal was a delight, from the day of arrival (lobster pasta, prawn curry), to the day of departure (chicken cordon bleu with parmesan sauce, crab soup). Looked forward to breakfast every day - a platter of super ripe fruit (procured from the market every morning at 5am, apparently), a lovely fruit smoothie, good coffee (a rarity in Sri Lanka, in my experience),, generous bread basket, and then a selection of a Sri Lankan breakfast or a European brunch type offer. So, there's absolutely no incentive to leave the hotel! Superb all round.

“I highly recommend it to those who want a quality vacation in a great boutique hotel.”

A hotel run with Swiss precision and organization. Beautiful design, immaculate cleanliness, trained and friendly staff. Delicious à la carte meals. The beach is beautiful and clean, but it is difficult to swim due to the large waves and currents (but this is not the hotel's fault, as most of the island is like this).

“Absolutely amazing”

We have just returned from our stay – and we felt the need to write this review right away because we have rarely felt as welcome and genuinely cared for as we did at Villa Thamburu. From the very first moment, there was this feeling of truly arriving. The warmth of the entire team was exceptional – sincere, attentive, and never forced. It’s the many small details that made this place so special: fresh coconuts by the pool, the lovingly prepared afternoon tea ceremony, and the evening turndown service with delicate flowers placed on the pillow. A truly special moment for us was Valentine’s Day: our room was beautifully decorated with roses, and we were surprised with a heart-shaped cake – such a thoughtful and personal gesture that deeply touched us. We were especially moved by how naturally and kindly the team responded to the special needs of our friend. The level of care, sensitivity, and genuine attentiveness meant so much to us and made our stay even more meaningful. Any individual requests were fulfilled with ease – excursions were organized perfectly and tailored to our wishes. The villa itself is a dream: architecture in perfect harmony with nature, creating a sense of peace that is hard to put into words. The setting is stunning – but what truly made this place magical were the people who filled it with so much heart. A place you don’t just remember – but one you truly want to return to.

“A beautiful hotel with great food, beverage and service in a beautiful peaceful setting.”

Beautifully designed hotel ( in the tropical modernism style) in a great setting onto the beach, with very good and charming staff , and excellent food and drink options. Good service consistently, and great bespoke breakfast options, and a good menu in the all day restaurant. We loved that the hotel put comfy bean bags on the beach for sundownowner drinks, brought complimentary coconut to your lounger in the morning and afternoon tea and snack too !We wanted to go out to the Bawa brothers country residences and this was arranged easily through the hotel using the hotels own (branded) tuk tuk for very reasonable cost.

“Paradise by the beach”

Absolutely stunning. Was our last stop on a one month trip so spent a bit more than usual- well worth it. Building is stunning, right on the beach with bean bags for sunset! Staff are outstanding- especially Rohan, Sagan and Janika. Food is great too.

“Maybe the best hotel I've ever stayed in.”

Beautifully designed select hotel with direct access to a stunning beach in a quiet location. The quality of the food and drink at the hotel was fantastic, with great choices for all meals. Staff could not be faulted. There is also a courtesy tuktuk for guest use.

“Unfortunately Villa Thamburu was the first place I stayed on my trip to Sri Lanka and I think it has spoilt me as I don’”

The design, the quiet luxury, the attention to detail, the impeccable service, the location directly on an incredible beach..

“Serene Oasis in Bentota – Exceeded Every Expectation — exceptional food options from breakfast to dinner”

I recently returned from a wonderful stay at Villa Thamburu, and it was easily the highlight of my trip to Sri Lanka. As a solo traveler, I found the property to be a beautiful, intimate sanctuary that offers the perfect blend of modern luxury and coastal tranquility. The Breakfast I felt compelled to mention this after seeing a bizarre 1/10 review from last week criticizing the food. I honestly couldn't disagree more—the breakfast was exceptional. From the traditional Sri Lankan hoppers to the fresh international options, everything was high-quality, beautifully presented, and delicious. It was easily one of the best breakfast experiences I’ve had at a boutique hotel. Highlights of the Stay • The Design: The villa’s architecture and garden layout create a very peaceful, upscale atmosphere. • The Service: The staff are incredibly attentive and genuine; they truly went out of their way to make me feel welcome and looked after. • Location: Having the beach just steps away for sunset walks was a dream. Final Verdict: If you are looking for top-tier service and a tranquil escape in Bentota, ignore the outliers. Villa Thamburu is a 5-star experience through and through. I can’t wait to return — next time with my wife and teenagers.

“A peaceful and relaxing small hotel with excellent warm and welcoming staff”

Beautiful architecture created a serene and relaxing environment. We enjoyed the peace and tranquility and the pool area was well equipped with sun loungers and plenty of space between them. The pool was lovely and it was great watching the sunset sitting in bean bags on the beach. The menu was varied and delicious. Despite being one of the smaller rooms, we were very comfortable. The bathroom was luxurious and we enjoyed sitting in our sunny private balcony for our morning cup of tea. I gave in some laundry to the front desk shortly after we arrived early afternoon and it was returned before dinner! We’d definitely go back!

“Incredible relaxing stay at stunning hotel”

This place is just incredible. The hotel itself is absolutely stunning and the rooms are beautifully appointed. The gardens and pool are amazing and the beach is beautiful and serene, not busy at all. The service at the hotel is exceptional, all the staff were lovely and incredibly professional. The breakfast was amazing, all the food we ate at the hotel was delicious and fresh. Lovely touches like complimentary king coconuts by the pool and complimentary tea and snacks in the afternoon just added to the overall wonderful experience. I don't usually stay at this type of accommodation, but I would definitely return to Villa Thamburu and highly recommend it to anyone.

“Great service, great location and relaxing atmosphere”

Beautiful architecture and garden Property very well maintained

“A gem in Bentota”

Delightful hotel, everything was absolutely outstanding. The staff were lovely and attentive. We spent our time by the pool, we had breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel. It was a great place to unwind. The restaurant food was so tasty, every dish we tried. We would definitely come back.

Thank you so much to all the staff for this unforgettable stay! Everything was amazing from start to finish. Everyone was so kind, polite, and always smiling — such lovely people! All our requests (even the extra ones 😅) were taken care of with pleasure. Service at the restaurant was always top-notch — special thanks to Rohan and all the waiters for their wonderful hospitality! The hotel itself is beautiful, and the whole area is spotless. The pool was cleaned every day, just like the beach area. Our room was made up daily with fresh towels and new bedsheets — super clean! The restaurant is honestly the best we’ve been to in Sri Lanka. Breakfast (included in the stay) was made with fresh ingredients and looked amazing. We especially loved the traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Dinner felt like a celebration every night — the menu is huge, and every single dish we tried was 10/10, especially the seafood! The chef always came by to check on us and have a nice chat — such a lovely touch. We were treated incredibly well for the whole week and honestly didn’t want to leave. I highly recommend this hotel if you’re looking for exceptional service, aesthetic interiors, spotless cleanliness, and the most delicious food — you’ll truly enjoy the island to the fullest! ❤️

“Beautiful relaxing stay”

For two nights we had the most wonderful time. It was so relaxing, the staff were really lovely and very attentive. We ate at the hotel quite a bit and were so impressed with the food. It honestly felt like paradise after a few busy days travelling