Review: Shangri-La Colombo

Gotta go to the Galle Face at least once! It's a classic!

@Lucky- the Gateway hotel is quite nice. Not Shangri-La nice, but I found it to be very pleasant and upscale.

"My room was on the 24th hotel."
That's alot of hotels! 😉

That place looks beautiful!
I hope that sometime in your travels you are able to spend more time in Sri Lanka. I spent about 2 weeks there last year and found the whole place to be lovely. Friendly people, amazing sights, and a great value. Especially since you and Ford are finding you like to spend time in relaxing natural areas, I think you would enjoy the beauty of this country.

I would also vote for the Gateway as a decent place to stay near CMB. It's not a luxury hotel but it's perfectly serviceable (and nicer than everything else that's close to CMB, as far as I can tell).

I stayed at the Grand Oriental. Not modern in the least, but I'm a fan of the old fashioned faded beauty type hotels 🙂

Nice review but for those that want the non "corporate" hotel, I would recommend "Tintagel" Its located in a very nice upscale/wealthy area in colombo and the staff is very accommodating. Prince Charles stayed there not too long ago.

My wife and I stayed there for one night after our 2 week vacation in sri lanka and we have nothing but good things to say about Tintagel.

What is the nicest hotel in Colombo? I have an upcoming stay there for 5 daya, and my company is paying for the Kingsbury but I can choose any hotel I want.

What the nicest hotel in Colombo?

There will be a Sheraton opening soon. iTC an Indian chain building new hotel next door to Shangrila. Hyatt will open later this year early next. A Double Tree in Negombo close to airport will also be opening in the next 18 months or so.

There aren't many points opportunities in Colombo and the large "5-star" hotels are uninspired. Galle Face Hotel has a great location and has recently renovated rooms on the north end (aspiring to be Raffles-esque) but service is iffy and not at an international standard. The snazziest place is a large home converted into a hotel, called Tintagel but it is located in a pit of a location (though ostensibly in the ritziest district within Colombo) and again exorbitant for what it is. So, save your money to enjoy Bangkok or Bali or Kuala Lumpur and stay at the mundane Colombo Hilton and earn some points while you're at it....

Architect didn't think of integrating the ramp for wheelchairs in the design?

For a brief stay near the airport, my preferred option is the Jetwing Lagoon! Great rooms, great food, friendly service and a very relaxing atmosphere. Unless you have plans in Colombo itself, there’s no need to battle through traffic.

What about the Kingsbury vs Cinnamon Grand vs the Shangri-La?

Just 20 minutes from the airport, I have always liked The Wallawwa:

http://teardrop-hotels.com/wallawwa/

It is a haven of tranquility and I have often used it on a long stopover for a spa treatment and dinner between flights.

Seconding the Wallawwa

@Lucky: what about the transit hotel inside the aiport? I've used it twice and I found it ok just to sleep and take a shower....Going into the city adds the cost of the visa plus transportation.

@ Lucky:

It's called Golden Circle, not Luxury Circle.

@ Johannes -- I wasn't referring to Golden Circle (their guest loyalty program), I was referring to Luxury Circle (their special travel agent program). See here:
https://onemileatatime.com/shangri-la-luxury-circle/

Have a look at Maniumpathy: really lovely place.
And if you have a longer trip in the country, Amanwella is gorgeous, 3 hours south of Colombo city.

It's nice to read your review about this new Shangri-La hotel. I stayed at Shangri-La Taipei, Taiwan and Shangri-La, Island, Hong Kong before and I really like Shangri-La brand hotels.

I had heard in December last that the Shangri-La Colombo was having teething troubles, so I am glad to see Lucky's very positive review. It looks like a place worth staying at in Colombo. My wife and I stayed a couple of nights at the Galle Face Hotel in one of the balcony suites in the north wing. Lovely, very clean room with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean and the hallways smelled of ironwood floors cleaned with Mansion Polish, oh so redolent of colonial times! There is a 100m length of corridor and an equally long bar exclusively for occupants of the suites. Free drinks and free food from 1730 to 1900 h. Amazing! We had dinner one night at a restaurant called the Sea Spray; exceptional seafood with obliging and friendly staff. Try their signature dessert, a creme caramel made of buffalo curd with burnt sugar on top and accompanied by palm honey and a passion fruit compote. To die for! There is a large restaurant that offers a buffet selection for all three meals; we had breakfast and lunch there and were impressed. Service throughout was very good although some of the staff at the entrance could chat less and be more attentive to guests. We took a tour of Colombo arranged by the hotel but it was a bit farcical because the driver was quite clueless. Interesting hotel museum that carries Prince Philip's first car. Nice saltwater pool and there is a small beach exclusively for guests (ask hotel about safety there). All in all a great experience in what I think is the oldest grand hotel in colonial Asia; it will easily rival the Raffles in Singapore if it invests a few million dollars more. Lucky, you should try the Galle Face Hotel sometime. Meanwhile, I may stay at the Shangri-La on my next visit.

Where are the balconies?

regarding kingsbur vs cinnamon grand vs shangri la, I would say shangri la being the newest is the one to try. Cinnamon grand (and cinnamon lakeside which is a little quieter) are MUCH MUCH MUCH better than Kingsbury. Kingsbury is a "to be avoided" in my mind.

Next time try the Marriott.
You will be upgraded to a suite with concierge level.
You don't need Virtuoso.
And it's on the beach.

BBC News - Sri Lanka explosions: 50 killed as churches and hotels targeted
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48001720