Jetwing Warwick Gardens.

Jetwing’s Warwick Gardens is a beautifully renovated Edwardian style bungalow nestled in the hills in Ambewela. With cozy rooms, gorgeous surroundings and excellent Sri Lankan cuisine, this old school gal bangalawa encapsulates a perfect vacation in the hill country.

The Bungalow

Having lived in Nuwara Eliya during my early childhood and hearing twenty eight years worth stories from my dad, it’s easy to see just how much NE has changed over the decades. While it’s great to see the modernisation of the town, it’s also sad see it lose some of it’s colonial charm which made it our little England. There are, however, a few gems that have retained that colonial beauty, and Jetwing’s Warwick Gardens is a perfect example. Located about half an hour from NE, it’s away from the hubbub of the town, surrounded by mountains and tea estates.

At around 6000 feet above sea level the temperature at Warwick Gardens varies between 14°C – 23°C, making it perfect for reading and relaxing.

This is pretty much the perfect gal bangalawa with thick stone walls for insulation, beautiful colonial style interiors with cozy couches, a grand piano, glass chandeliers, functional fireplaces and candlelit dining tables.

The garden is another highlight; maintained impeccably with the front lawn giving a perfect view of the valley and the mountains.

Due to the estate’s altitude there’s a constant mist and occasional fine drizzle which feels amazing when you step out into the garden. Because of this, you’ll also see a bunch of rainbows throughout the day when the sun hits the mist at the right angles.

The Rooms

Warwick Gardens has a total of five rooms so even on the rare occasion where it’s fully occupied, it won’t feel crowded. The two rooms we were staying in were very much different from each other; one with crimson walls and two twin beds and the other white washed with a spacious four-poster bed.

Each of the rooms came with a fireplace in case it gets a little too chilly at night, which is a nice touch that’s become harder to find.

One thing we have to mention are the brilliant bathrooms at Warwick, which are some of the best we’ve come across. They’re pretty much the size of another room, with windows that give a view of the estate and mirror-like ceramic counter tops.

One of the rooms even came with a full sized bathtub, which makes for a brilliant way to end the day with a warm soak.

(Ed Note: We've also separately stayed in the White Room and Master Suite, which are the premium accommodation options. Check out Jetwing's gallery for a feel, they're gorgeous and we felt like low-key royalty)

The Food

Being a bungalow, Warwick Gardens sticks to a well balanced à la carte menu which gives you options for either western, Indian or local cuisine, along with a good variety of meats to choose from. We tried a bit of everything and came away quite happy in general, but particularly impressed with the top notch Sri Lankan food.

We generally don’t pay much heed to bread baskets but few do it as well as Warwick Gardens. Their buns and breads were like pillows. light, airy and very flavoursome. So good in fact that we ended up taking some to our rooms for late night noms.

This may sound a bit boring, but for lunch we definitely recommend their rice and curry. Ours came with spicy beef curry, sautéed chilli potatoes, mango chutney, onion baduma with peanuts and a creamy parippu along with papadam. The standout here was that beef curry which was at like Muslim aunty levels with tender meat, a nice hit of pepper and chilli with just the right amount of coconut milk to balance the heat.

If you’re more interested in western cuisine, Warwick Gardens serves up a legit breakfast which comes with fried bacon, sausages, sautéed button mushrooms and a egg. It’s not very complex but the flavours were on point, especially with the local omelette that had which was packed with onions and green chillies.

Another interesting detail that we found out was the fact that Warwick Gardens actually grows most of their vegetables in their own little farm, with their tea and coffee also coming from their own estate.

The Walks

The area surrounding the bungalow makes for some excellent walks along the hills and the tea plantations. We suggest waking up as early possible, going for the walk and then heading back for a hearty breakfast. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Getting There

Warwick Gardens is actually around 18 kms from Nuwara Eliya town which is about a 30 minute drive from Nuwara Eliya town along the Hakgala Road (A5), passed the Hakagala gardens and turning to the Rendapola road (B507). The final kilometre is a bit treacherous but we were told that the road would be fixed up in the coming months.

Conclusion

Jetwing really outdid themselves with the renovation of the Scottish planter’s bungalow, keeping things clean and true to its roots. At the time of writing this review the rooms at Warwick Gardens start at Rs. 23,350 on a BnB basis, which we feel definitely worth it, with all that they offer.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Beyond the Hook: Exploring Totally Hooked’s non-Seafood dishes

By Hashini Pathirana Totally Hooked CMB, as we are all aware, is widely renowned for

Kamu Yamu Guide

The Art of Fusion Cuisine at Mövenpick Hotel

By Vera Wadugodapitiya We walked into Robata Grill, Mövenpick. Instantly, what struck me about the

Highlights Kamu

A Taste of Mexico – Cinnamon Red’s Latest International Cuisine

By Shamrina Carim Every month, Cinnamon Red has come up with an exciting initiative to

Highlights Kamu

A Classical High Tea Encounter with the Coronation at Mount Lavinia Hotel

By Shamrina Carim Mount Lavinia Hotel hosted a casual evening of classic high tea encounters

Highlights Kamu

The Bento Box at Royal Thai, Cinnamon Lakeside

By Hiruni Herath When you step into the Royal Thai Restaurant at Cinnamon Lakeside, you’ll

Highlights Kamu

Totally Hooked – The Ultimate Seafood Destination

It is not a surprise that “Totally Hooked CMB", the talk of the seafood town,

Highlights Kamu

Trending.

Chef Sanjay Brings the Flavours of Our Neighbours to Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo

Colombo, Monday 05th June 2023: Despite Sri Lanka’s proximity to the Indian Sub-Continent and a

Trending

Award Winning Indian Restaurant Junior Kuppanna in Colombo

Junior Kuppanna, opened its newest international branch in Colombo on 25th May 2023. The new

Trending

Hilton Sri Lanka Unveils ‘Enchanting Beginnings’ Wedding Sale

Swoon over exclusive wedding packages in stunning venues for a lifetime of memories Colombo, Sri

Trending

Ramada Colombo’s Exclusive Limited Time Wedding Discount

Book before June 15th and enjoy 25% off Planning the perfect wedding can be an

Trending

The 30th Gratiaen Prize shortlist was announced with the launch of the Gratiaen Trust Young Writers Club

The Gratiaen Trust in association with the John Keells Foundation partnering with the Trust for

Trending

Hilton Sri Lanka is set to commemorate Mother’s Day in grand fashion

Continuing our long-standing tradition of celebrating extraordinary mothers, Hilton properties across Sri Lanka have gone

Trending

Yamu Guide.

7 Yoga Studios in and around Colombo

By Udaraa Gamage Are you looking for ways to escape from all that hustling and

Highlights Yamu Guide

Beyond the Hook: Exploring Totally Hooked’s non-Seafood dishes

By Hashini Pathirana Totally Hooked CMB, as we are all aware, is widely renowned for

Kamu Yamu Guide

7 Decent BnB spots for under LKR 7500 – Sri Lanka

We all like spending mini vacations at affordable spots to relax or stay on the

Highlights Yamu Guide

7 Places to Dine Under LKR1500 LKR per person

By Udaraa Gamage Are you a foodie looking for budget places to satisfy your taste

Highlights Yamu Guide

The Aesthetics of Club Palm Bay

Club Palm Bay is a hotel located in the heart of a charming fishing village

Yamu Guide

High Tea Affairs at L.A.B by Hilton Colombo

By Hashini Pathirana A little chit chat with your besties, while sipping onto an Iced

Yamu Guide