Royal Bar & Hotel

Hotels
8.5 (313 reviews)
44 King's Street, Kandy, Sri Lanka , Kandy , lk

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Air conditioning
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Heritage / colonial charm and character
Helpful and friendly staff who go out of their way
Excellent breakfast and tasty restaurant meals
Central location (close to the Tooth Relic Temple)
Attractive inner courtyard and bar
Comfortable rooms/suites (when booked)
Cons:
Cleanliness concerns (needs TLC; report of used items left in wardrobe)
Occasional hot water issues in showers
Some rooms are small or sparsely equipped
At least one report of a last-minute booking cancellation
Some areas slightly rundown or in need of restoration

Categories

Cleanliness
6.5
Multiple guests mention the property needs restoration and a thorough clean; one report found used incontinence items in a wardrobe and others reported limited hot water, so cleanliness is notably below the otherwise strong aspects.
Service
9.5
Numerous reviews praise exceptionally helpful, friendly staff who went out of their way (sang happy birthday, brought gifts, helped with bags); this consistently positive staff feedback justifies a high score despite an isolated booking cancellation incident.
Location
9
Frequently described as centrally located and very convenient (about 5 minutes' walk to the Tooth Relic Temple), an oasis in a busy city — location is a clear strength.
Room Quality
8.5
Several guests had large, decorative suites with comfortable beds, good showers and A/C; however some reported small or sparsely equipped rooms, so overall room quality is generally good but variable.
Amenities
8.5
The hotel features a well-liked inner courtyard/bar and an upstairs restaurant; amenities support a charming stay and evening drinks, matching the target rating.
Value for Money
8.5
Not explicitly discussed in reviews, assigned the target overall rating as a neutral baseline ('Standard quality for this hotel tier').
Food and Beverage
9
Restaurant food is often described as delicious and well presented and breakfast is repeatedly called exceptional — food & beverage is a strong point.
Overall Experience
8.5
Overall guests appreciate the heritage/colonial charm, excellent staff and food, and great location; a few setbacks (cleanliness issues, occasional hot water problems, one last-minute cancellation) temper the score to the target.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-14 04:55

Property Description

Charming Accommodation in the Heart of Kandy

Colonial Elegance and Modern Comfort
The Royal Bar & Hotel offers elegant rooms with classic Sri Lankan-style décor and modern amenities. Enjoy the charm of hardwood floors, private balconies, and luxurious bedding.

Outdoor Terrace and Exciting Activities
Relax on the beautiful outdoor terrace or partake in activities like cycling and hiking organized by the hotel. Unwind with a barbeque session under the stars, creating unforgettable memories during your stay.

Authentic Dining Experience
Indulge in a variety of authentic Sri Lankan-style cuisines at the hotel's restaurant. Savor light snacks and local beer at the bar, perfect for winding down after a day of exploration.

Book your stay at Royal Bar & Hotel for a delightful blend of colonial elegance and modern comfort in the heart of Kandy.

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:30 AM

Location

Guest Reviews

8.5
Based on 313 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.5
Service: 9.5
Location: 9
Room Quality: 8.5
Amenities: 8.5
Value for Money: 8.5
Food and Beverage: 9
Overall Experience: 8.5
P
Paolo • solo_traveller • it
10
Pros:

Jump back in time. Staff so nice. Breakfast so pleasant

Cons:

Poor English and the restaurant can be skipped off

2026-08-16 • via Nuitee
G
Georgie Boost • family_with_children • hk
8
Heritage Hotel a Stone's throw from the Tooth Relic Temple
Pros:

The heritage feel of the hotel is great - like stepping back in time. We enjoyed a meal at the restaurant for dinner and were delighted to look at the old photographs in the separate dining hall. The service was pleasant and helped with our bags up to the second floor. The meal was lovely and the setting of the courtyard was nice for a drink in the evening. The location is great in the centre of time and 5 minutes walk from the Tooth Relic Temple.

Cons:

Despite loving the heritage feel, we think that a few of the features need restoration and a thorough clean. The property is in a little need of TLC but it adds to the oldy-worldy feel.

2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
F
Francis • solo_traveller • au
9
Pros:

Helpful and friendly staff. Colonial and historical feel. Wonderful breakfast. Good location.

2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • couple • gb
10
Lovely colonial hotel with a lot of character
Pros:

We had a fantastic 4 night stay to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday.
Room was large and decorative as it is an old colonial building , bed was comfortable and a good shower & a/c worked well ( we had the suite )
Great inner courtyard which also serves as a bar.
The restaurant upstairs food was delicious and well presented .
But what made it extra special were the staff in the bar and in the restaurant who went out of their way to make us feel welcome, they even sang happy birthday to my girlfriend and brought her a gift and a cake 🤗.
Do not skip the breakfast it as it was amazing
Definitely recommend this hotel

Cons:

Nothing ,

2026-03-31 • via Nuitee
S
smith • extended_group • au
9
great location in Kandy to walk everywhere . Food at the restaurant was great . Decor was beautiful
2026-03-30 • via Nuitee
A
Amy • couple • gb
9
2026-03-25 • via Nuitee
N
nadine • couple • fr
10
Pros:

Cet hôtel à vraiment beaucoup de charme.
Le petit déjeuner est exceptionnel

2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
P
Pascale • family_with_children • de
9
Pros:

L’ambiance , le décor

2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
W
Wayne • solo_traveller • gb
6
2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
C
Chad • solo_traveller • au
1
Avoid this hotel . My friends and I had a confirmed booking , they cancelled it 1 hour before checking in, leaving us w
Pros:

Nothing as they cancelled our booking 1 hour before checking in

Cons:

They cancelled our booking 1 hour befire check in

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
J
Jacqueline • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Beautiful historic building an oasis of calm in a very busy city.

2026-03-11 • via Nuitee
L
Leigh • couple • gb
8
Trip back in time!
Pros:

Fantastically quaint, easy to imagine that you were staying at the beginning of the 20th century.

Cons:

Slightly rundown and shabby in places, but easily overlooked.

2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
E
EUGENIA • family_with_children • it
8
Pros:

Colazione ottima e ben servita . Ambiente delizioso .

Cons:

Non esiste un direttore e lo staff seppure gentile parla non bene l’inglese . Problemi con acqua calda nella doccia.

2026-03-07 • via Nuitee
W
Will • solo_traveller • gb
8
A well run and comfortable hotel with great people.
Pros:

Well appointed rooms with a great sense of history. Super location if you want to be central. Exceptionally helpful staff who went out of their way to assist.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
P
paul • family_with_children • gb
9
Pros:

A piece of timeless history showing how the colonial hotels were. Pity more hotels are not like this as the hospitality of the staff must have been like it in days gone by.

2026-02-28 • via Nuitee
C
Christoph • couple • ch
7
Hôtel agréable pour rester une à deux nuits
Pros:

Colonial style hôtel restauré à l’identique et beaucoup de goût au centre de Kandy. Emplacement très calme.

Cons:

Notre chambre était très petite, assez sommairement équipé et sur 3 jours nous avions eu qu’une fois de l’eau chaude pour la douche.
Le petit déjeuner est bien, mais si on reste plusieurs jours aucune variation n’est possible donc on se lasse rapidement.

2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
P
paul • solo_traveller • gb
9
A little piece of pure class from days gone by
Pros:

This place is amazing, a trip back into colonial times with staff who can't do enough for you. 🤩

Cons:

Absolutely nothing

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
M
Mariantonietta • couple • it
7
Pros:

Struttura meravigliosa
Servizi bar e ristorante ottimi

Cons:

La camera non era pulita come ti aspetteresti da una struttura del genere nell’armadio c’era una busta aperta che conteneva dei pannolini per incontinenza usati ecco perché c’era puzza nell’armadio.
Questo significa che la camera non era stata pulita adeguatamente

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • ie
8
2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
B
baptiste • couple • de
8
Tolles Gebäude in zentralen Lage
Pros:

L´intérieur du batiment est magnifique, la cuisine du restaurant dans la cour est délicieuse, le personnel est toujours dispo, a qqs minutes a pied du temple de la dent.

Cons:

Chambre pour le prix au Sri Lanka confortable, mais un peu spartiate, un peu bruyante selon le monde au restaurant. Un peu trop cher pour ce confort là. On paye pour le lieu...

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee