Jetwing Lighthouse
Galle

Perched on a dramatic rocky headland, just three miles west of the storied ramparts of Galle Fort, Jetwing Lighthouse is where tropical modernism meets the Indian Ocean. It’s where Geoffrey Bawa’s architectural genius comes to life, with cool white colonnades and stone pathways that open onto polished teak interiors and sweeping ocean views.

The location is sublime; golden sand and curling surf, framed by swaying palms and the endless blues of the Laccadive Sea. And while Galle’s boutiques, cafés and 17th-century Dutch charm are just a five-minute tuk-tuk away, you may find it difficult to tear yourself from your balcony view, massage table or your quiet spot beside one of the hotel’s pools. This is not just a beach resort, it’s where place and history meet a slower kind of luxury. 

Designed as a homage to openness and serenity, the hotel’s layout draws you inwards and outwards all at once. Noted Sri Lankan artist, Laki Senanayake’s sinuous bronze balustrade winds up the central staircase, a sculptural tribute to Sri Lanka’s ancient warriors, and Bawa’s masterful handling of space and light ensures the ocean is never far from view.

There are 60 Deluxe Rooms and three themed suites, each with generous sea-facing balconies, super king-sized beds and spa-style bathrooms reimagined with contemporary flourishes following a thoughtful refurbishment in 2019. Timber panelling, crisp white linens and that soft hush of waves as your background soundtrack, everything here is designed to soothe.

Days unfold at your own pace - sink into a lounger by the lower pool or book a spicy Ayurvedic scrub at the spa. For the more active, a tennis match or gentle paddle on the Mahamodara River awaits. Jetwing’s concierge can arrange everything from tea estate visits to rainforest treks or seasonal whale watching off the southern coast.

Dining is both varied and atmospheric; for unbuttoned, toes-in-the-sand moments, Cardamom Café offers casual all-day dining by the ocean, The Cinnamon Room is more refined, a romantic spot for candlelit dinners and fine Sri Lankan cuisine, and Nihal’s, helmed by executive chef Nihal Senanyake, offers creative fusion dishes in an intimate setting. Then there’s the Verandah for open-air bites, Lorenzo’s for pizzas and the moody, colonial-style Coat of Arms Bar, the perfect spot for a sundowner Negroni.

Jetwing Lighthouse is a timeless classic, warm, welcoming and quietly stylish. A place that honours Sri Lanka’s past, embraces its landscape and gently coaxes you into its rhythm.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson