Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Good food
Cons:
Poor cleanliness
Noisy disturbances

Categories

Cleanliness
6.2
Bathrooms were gross and very dirty with unclean conditions.
Service
10
Service was standard, though issues were reported with staff not answering during disturbances.
Location
10
Great location by the beach, enhancing the overall experience.
Room Quality
6.17
Rooms were smelly, damp, and dirty with broken floor tiles.
Amenities
9.71
Standard amenities, but tea/coffee sachets were not provided.
Value for Money
7.16
Felt that the high price did not equate with the service and cleanliness provided.
Food and Beverage
9.19
Food was noted as a positive aspect of the stay.
Overall Experience
7.15
The experience was overshadowed by cleanliness and noise issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 06:37

Property Description

Luxurious Colonial-Style Retreat

Private Beach & Spectacular Views
Enjoy a private beach area and terrace overlooking the bay and Colombo’s skyline. Indulge in spa treatments and savor delicious meals at 3 dining venues.

Unique Historical Tours & Balinese Spa
Explore the underground historical tunnel and museum tour exclusive to our hotel. Unwind at the Balinese spa with serene beach views.

Modern Amenities & Dining Experiences
Relax in colonial-style rooms with modern comforts and private balconies. Take advantage of 24-hour travel desk, gym, and game room. Delight in fresh seafood at Seafood Cove or international buffets at The Governors restaurant.

Book now for an unforgettable stay at Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: CMB

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is needed).

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 5 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 6 years old to 11 years old stay for US$25 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 12 years old to 17 years old stay for US$35 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Adults stay for US$25 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 749 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.2
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 6.17
Amenities: 9.71
Value for Money: 7.16
Food and Beverage: 9.19
Overall Experience: 7.15
T
Tim • family_with_children • gb
10
Super , I’ve stayed many times .
Pros:

As always the hotel was amazing, the Mount Lavina hotel really appeals to those that like old style colonial charm , polished woodwork and fittings, you really can feel the history in this hotel , it’s more than just a hotel , the staff know how to pamper you .

2026-03-04 • via Nuitee
R
ROBERT • solo_traveller • fr
9
2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
C
Chamindra • family_with_children • gb
1
Won't go there again
Pros:

Location and breakfast

Cons:

Had to wait for an hour for the room key even after check-in.
Room was not prepared and was dirty. The toiletries what the previous guest used were still in the bathroom.
The bedding were smelly which was obvious that they were not changed.
All were explained to the manager the next day and asked for a refund where we were asked to contact Booking.com for a refund.

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • couple • gb
7
Please sort the Accommodation
Pros:

Public Areas, Food, Pool and staff fantastic.
Some old Colonial class but....

Cons:

The Accommodation is a disgrace. The lift feels like it about to collapse. The hallway on floor 5 is dangerous and splintered.
The Bathroom had dirty water seeping through the floor and we had no floor mats. There was no furniture on the Balcony
The Fridge didn't work and the TV would not connect. The A/c runs too hot and cannot be adjusted. We had to ask for all of these things twice and eventually they came.
It was apparently the electrics that was the problem not the Appliances. The Housekeeping came once in three days and I had to resort to taking Water and essentials from other empty rooms nearby.
The Security would not let us return from the beach through the direct gate and we had to clamber over the railway line to get back to Hotel front.
Please pay some attention to your accommodation as the place is steeped in History and could be amazing with some love and care.

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • family_with_children • gb
9
Mt Lavinia
Pros:

Great location.

Staff friendly and helpful

Cons:

N/A

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
B
Björn • extended_group • se
9
2026-02-28 • via Nuitee
J
j • family_with_children • no
3
Pros:

The only good thing is the location.

Cons:

Very Bad Experience Not Recommended.
I had a very disappointing stay at this hotel. The room was extremely dirty and had a very unpleasant smell as soon as we entered. It felt very uncomfortable and unhygienic.
The air conditioning was not working properly, which made the stay even worse. The entire room and facilities look very old and badly maintained. Everything needs urgent renovation.
Overall, it was a very bad experience and I would not recommend this hotel to anyone

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
U
Uzair • family_with_children • au
4
2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
L
Lex • family_with_children • be
6
ICONIC BUT not vintage more ahum...... don't dream.. it's over
Pros:

Iconic hotel with great food ... BUT...

Cons:

POOL open until 19h ... poolchairs taken away at 1815 , towels needed to be given back at 1915 while seating for a drink and eats while wet and...service really slow
Only 1 chair at the terrace really ???

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
E
E LISA beth • family_with_children • de
10
Pros:

We was so welcomed.
With a warm heart.
The Smiles. The Food.
The Terrace..all extra ordenary!
The Rooms. The Sea and the wunderful evening and Weekend Events.
The Place is blessed with Beauty and the People there so kind and lovely.
The Food is not only Food..it us higher Kulinarik.
After 8 Times we have not enought
Planed for the next year or 2027.

2026-02-24 • via Nuitee
E
Eranga • couple • lk
5
2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
T
Thiru • couple • lk
4
Pros:

View is good

Cons:

Dirty carpets and steam cleaning required, pungent smell

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
L
Lakshi • extended_group • nz
3
When with excitement excited highly disappointed
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Not maintained at all sad to see the status

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
N
Nina • family_with_children • ch
8
2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
G
Gerda • family_with_children • be
10
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
S
Sachithra • family_with_children • us
7
2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • solo_traveller • gb
8
Overall I loved this place
Pros:

The Public Areas / Pool / Bar / Restaurant are exceptional.
It still has all the charm of its history, its location on the beach and for the sunset are second to none.
The sea view from room ( new block ) is outstanding.

Cons:

The rooms are tired but still very acceptable. My carpet was like a 1970's English Pub carpet.
The junior staff could do with some extra training on hospitality
There was a problem with my payment on check out so keep your receipts.

2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
K
Karina • family_with_children • dk
8
Vælg hotellet for beliggenheden, poolen og personalet. Absolut ikke for værelset!
Pros:

Beliggenheden er fuldstændig vanvittig smuk og genial - den er hele grunden til at man lever med de ærlig talt uhumske værelser. Samtidig er poolområdet virkelig skønt og personalet gør alt hvad de kan for at servicere.

Cons:

Værelserne er decideret uhumske, beskidte, slidte, fyldt med mug og skimmelsvamp. Det er både selve værelset og badeværelset. Der er fugtigt og lugter fugtigt - under hele taget har man ikke meget lyst til at opholde sig på værelset eller gå i bad på badeværelset.

2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
M
Madushanka • couple • au
1
Not coming back this is my first and last stay
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Everything

2026-01-29 • via Nuitee
Y
Yohan • couple • lk
1
A Colonial Nightmare: Avoid This Dilapidated Trap at All Costs
Cons:

My recent two-night stay at the Mount Lavinia Hotel was, without exaggeration, one of the most harrowing hospitality experiences of my life. From the moment I stepped into the lobby, it was clear that this "grand" hotel is nothing more than a crumbling relic of the past, managed by people who clearly do not want to be there.

The "Disappearing" Reservation
The nightmare began at check-in. Despite having a confirmed reservation through Booking.com, the staff had the audacity to tell me they weren't sure they could even provide a room. It was only because I had the foresight to call them days prior and kept my own records that I wasn't left stranded. Their lack of internal organization is staggering.

Death-Trap Infrastructure
Navigating this hotel is a safety hazard.

The Lifts: The elevators are ancient, glacially slow, and felt genuinely unsafe. After one "horrifying journey" in them, I spent the rest of my trip taking the stairs.

The Room: Calling the room "dated" would be a compliment. The carpets were thick with dust and grime, and the room felt like it hadn't been deep-cleaned since the 19th century.

Zero Connectivity: The plug sockets are so outdated that they wouldn't fit any modern device. To make matters worse, the room phone was dead. I had to hike back down to the lobby (via those terrifying lifts) just to ask for a converter, only to be told they didn't have any.

The "Awful" Washroom & Hygiene
The bathroom was a total disaster—old, dingy, and honestly, felt unsanitary. It’s one thing for a hotel to be "vintage"; it’s another for it to be decaying. The atmosphere in the washroom was genuinely awful and made it impossible to feel clean.

Hostile & Discriminatory Staff
The absolute lowest point of the stay was the staff. I encountered members who were not just rude, but blatantly racist. They have no concept of professional communication or basic hospitality.

2026-01-29 • via Nuitee