Nyne Hotels Lake Lodge

Family-owned for decades, the Lake Lodge was one of the first accredited hotels in Colombo. But it’s no nostalgia act. Though it’s still in the family, the newest generation has reinvented it as Nyne Hotels Lake Lodge, a budget-friendly boutique hotel in a style that’s at the same time totally contemporary and authentically Sri Lankan.

Where’s the lake? It’s not some secluded retreat up in the hills, but Beira Lake, right in the city, not far from the U.S. Embassy, the Prime Minister’s residence, and Galle Face Beach. But here on the lakeside, the Lake Lodge’s setting feels secluded indeed — hard to believe you’re barely a mile from the city center.

The villas, naturally, play to this feeling of a private hideaway. Twelve double rooms come with king beds, rain showers, and air conditioning, and the garden suite adds a private terrace. And the hotel’s all-day restaurant serves Sri Lankan specialties as well as international fare, served on the terrace overlooking the lake. It’s a city hotel and a country getaway all in one — just the sort of stuff a memorable stay is made of.