After Vishvi visited The Habitat, she could not stop talking about it. I got the opportunity to visit Taprobana this weekend and let me tell you, it was a wonderful experience.
A beach hotel on the outskirts of town in Wadduwa, Taprobana by Asia Leisure is about an hour's drive from Colombo.
Accommodation
They've got 24 deluxe double rooms and 3 suites. A deluxe room (inclusive of breakfast) goes for about 12k-40k per night, depending on the number of guests and whether or not you choose to include lunch and/or dinner. A suite starts at 19k and upwards. All rooms include a mini bar, flat screen TV, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and a coffee maker.
(The prices are dependent on season timings and what room or deal you get. Therefore, check booking.com for updated rates.)
We stayed in one of their suites, which was incredibly spacious with a comfortable king size bed. It was beautifully arranged full honeymoon-style with petals on the bed and two smooching swans. The room also has a sliding-door wardrobe, a vanity table, a counter, two chairs and a coffee table.
In addition to all of this, the suites have their very own Jacuzzi which is ideal to chill in, with a glass of bubbly. The bathroom was posh with a marble finish and lots of amenities plus a glass window that opens up to the garden, past the jacuzzi.
All the rooms were facing the garden with a beautiful view. It was simply gorgeous and the perfect way to start your day with coffee and a book; sitting on comfy chairs and enjoying the view.
Drinks & Dining
Their restaurant – Salt – hosts all three meals and we enjoyed some fantastic food while we were there.
There's enough seating to house all the guests at once. If you'd like to dine by the poolside, they have seating arrangements for that as well. You could listen to an audiobook or better yet, read. They have a small bookshelf on the corner just for that.
Breakfast
Their breakfast buffet included a pancake/waffle station and an egg station. Additionally, there was toast, baked beans, bacon, croissants, banana bread, pretty much what you would come across in an international buffet. Of course, there was a Sri Lankan corner too.
We opted for a western breakfast and the pancakes we had were probably my favorite. They were the fluffiest pancakes I have ever had. There was also an excellent scrambled egg which didn't make it to the pic because it was already gobbled up. They also have great coffee and a very refreshing watermelon juice.
Lunch
As for lunch they had a set menu, which was another success. It was a full course meal with a starter, a main course, and dessert.
Our mains consisted of a Sri Lankan Rice and Curry with Prawns and a Herb Coated Grilled Chicken. The rice and curry was a massive portion with a spicy pol sambol which would probably tear up anyone who can't handle their spice. The highlight was their prawn dish – delicious and soaking in a succulent gravy. The prawns were slightly overcooked, but extremely moreish- we couldn't stop eating them.
The grilled chicken was phenomenal. The herb coating brought out a burst of flavors and the chicken had a tender, juicy texture to it. It came with a side of rosemary sauce which only boosted its flavour factor.
As for desserts, we tried the Chocolate Fudge Slice and the Strawberry Cheesecake. The fudge slice was quite decent with a great homemade coffee ice cream. The cheesecake was the only thing that came up short. It was definitely not cheesecake, more like a strawberry flavored pudding with a side of ice cream.
Drinks
Later on in the evening, we tried some cocktails from their bar – Crimson.
We tried a Cosmopolitan (left) and a Long Island Iced Tea (right). The Cosmo was a concoction of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice. The proportions were all perfect. The Iced Tea was my personal favorite. Made with vodka, tequila, light rum, triple sec, gin, and a splash of cola, it was strong, refreshing and delicious.
Service and Ambiance
Their service was excellent! Everyone was friendly, chatty and accommodating. They walked us through the hotel, gave us a small tour and afterwards we were left to enjoy ourselves and do our thing.
The hotel is beautiful with an open-air ground floor with lots of space and natural lighting, giving it a homely feel. The garden leads to the beach but due to high tide, we were told to stay away. The hotel also hosts a fully equipped gym as well as an in-house Balinese Ayu Spa.
They've got an amazing pool which you can spend days on end with lots of lounge chairs and tents. Guests can swim, sunbathe, play ball – the choice is yours.
Conclusion
Our experience was nothing short of amazing. I'm definitely considering going back there. The impeccable service, great food and hours in the pool; no better way to spend a vacation.
