November 2023
For 100 years, it was the New Oriental Hotel, which was a hub for steamship passengers traversing the globe – an on-site museum off the hotel’s library is devoted to its past. Many original features are maintained, including the timber floors and tiled veranda that stretches the width of the building.
50 BestA time capsule of sorts, complete with an on-site museum of its past, many of the hotel's original features are maintained, including the timber floors and tiled veranda that stretches the width of the building.
50 Best, October 2025This is the Aman group at its very best. What was once a rather grand Dutch garrison and then the New Oriental Hotel (a bolthole for globetrotting steamship passengers for more than a century) is now a chic retreat that manages to be both a time capsule and timeless.
The Telegraph, September 2024Think high tea on a shaded verandah, whirring overhead fans and rooms with four-poster beds, antique furniture and 300-year-old teak floors. Located inside the grounds of the city's historic Galle Fort, don't miss out on Ayurvedic massages in the spa, excellent local dishes and poolside cocktails.
The Telegraph, September 2017Amanresorts has turned decay into decadence, restoring the now 28-room hotel and separate two-story house to its long-lost grandeur and adding a celadon pool and a holistic spa... The service is unrushed but Aman excellent with a discernibly local touch.
Condé Nast Traveler (US), December 2016The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025
600 travel journalists, hoteliers and travel experts vote for their 50 favourite hotels worldwide. For the first time the list is extended to also include places 51-100.
97th place.
50 Best
The 101 Best Hotels in The World 2025
Tatler, experts on all things luxury, pick their top hotels, resorts and lodges.
Tatler
Readers’ Choice Awards 2024
Readers of Conde Nast Traveller (UK edition) vote for their top hotels and resorts worldwide.
Conde Nast Traveller (UK)
The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024
600 travel journalists, hoteliers and travel experts vote for their favourite hotels worldwide.
39th place (last place: 38th).
50 Best
Telegraph Hotel Awards 2024
The world’s 50 greatest hotels, ranked and rated by the experts at The Telegraph.
27th place.
The Telegraph
The 101 best hotels in the world 2023
Tatler, experts on all things luxury, pick their top hotels, resorts and lodges.
Tatler
The Gold List 2017
A yearly list of favourites from the editors of Condé Nast Traveller, UK edition.
Condé Nast Traveller (UK)
More info
Hotels Own Introduction
Amangalla: A Timeless Retreat within Galle Fort
Set within the 17th-century ramparts of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Amangalla is a sanctuary of heritage and elegance. Overlooking the fort and harbour on one side, and lush gardens and a serene swimming pool on the other, this historic residence offers lofty-ceilinged suites, refined dining, and a tranquil Aman Spa complete with Hydrotherapy Suites.
Rooms & Suites Reflecting Colonial Elegance
With original wooden floors, high sash windows, and four-poster beds, Amangalla’s Rooms and Suites evoke the romance of days gone by. Housed within a building that has welcomed guests for over 150 years, these accommodations reflect the rich colonial legacy of Galle Fort.
Explore Galle Fort’s Heritage
The ramparts of Galle Fort encircle a bustling world of narrow streets lined with old houses, churches, boutiques, and restaurants, all showcasing Dutch and British colonial influences under terracotta-tiled rooftops. Step off Amangalla’s veranda to explore this historical treasure, or embark on personalised journeys with an Aman guide to discover nearby temples, beaches, and even spot blue whales.
Exquisite Dining Experiences
From candlelit dinners in the elegant Dining Room to indulgent afternoon teas on the sunny veranda and leisurely poolside lunches, Amangalla offers a sublime blend of international and Sri Lankan cuisine in a variety of atmospheric settings.
Aman Spa: Wellness Reimagined
The Aman Spa at Amangalla recaptures the bygone tradition of restoring body and mind through water therapies. Set within the resort, the spa boasts two Hydrotherapy Suites featuring a massage pool, sauna, steam room, and cold-water therapy pool. Personalised treatments, guided by the spa’s Ayurvedic physician, include massages, anointments, reflexology, and scrubs, all designed to promote holistic wellness.