Ishq Colombo

Style

Temple to travel

Setting

Leafy Colombo courtyard

Whatever your nationality, it’s impossible not to feel at home in Ishq Colombo, a villa-slash-boutique hotel with four supersize rooms around a courtyard, immaculate gardens with not a leaf out of place and an array of collectibles gathered over a lifetime from every corner of the globe. The house was designed by a disciple of acclaimed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, and there’s no short box-room straw here. Anyone who tires easily will find a sanctuary at Ishq, since there’s a seat every few steps, from sofas to day-beds in windows to limited-edition Ceylon-ebony antiques, which is just as well because there’s lots to look at admiringly while you put your feet up.

Facilities

Rooms

Four.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 2pm.

More Details

Rates usually include breakfast.

Also

The house is unfortunately not easily accessible for guests with mobility issues.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

Room Service

At the Hotel

Free WiFi throughout, library. In rooms: air-conditioning, Bose sound-system, smart TV, safe, and bathrobes.

Our Favourite Rooms

There’s no bad choice among Ishq Colombo’s four rooms, but if square-footage matters, you may want to select the frankly humongous Master Suite One, which has a living room that puts the average hotel-room ‘sitting area’ to shame and a four-poster bed – it’s also a sound option for anyone who tends to fill several suitcases, since it has its own wardrobe-lined dressing area, too. If proximity to the pool is your game, go for the Pool Suite, the only suite on the ground floor which also has easy access to the pool in the courtyard. And if you favour a roof terrace (or have some serious letter-writing/digital-nomading to do), the second Master Suite upstairs is the room with a view, desk and outdoor space for you.

Poolside

The villa is set around a riad-referencing courtyard, with a pool at its centre. Every room is positioned to overlook it and one has direct access.

Spa

Ishq Colombo has yet another place to sit around in – a small spa, with a Jacuzzi, steam room and, naturally, some enticing seating.

Packing Tips

Leave the reading material behind – there’s bound to be something of interest amid the rare books and first editions in the owners’ library, which opens out onto the courtyard, making it a dream place to while away an afternoon.

Also

Ishq means ‘love’ in Arabic and this villa is certainly a passion project. If you don’t want to disturb the harmony with rows over the music, you’ll be pleased to hear that each room has an individually controlled Bose speaker.

Children

All but one of the bedrooms have space for an extra bed.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The seating options at Ishq are too many to number, but things don’t get much grander than the long dining table, beneath a dazzling (literally) oblong chandelier and with some casual antique Iranian calligraphy behind it.

Dress Code

Boho, batik and your own souvenir kaftans will feel right at home here – and you’ll have full run of the place, so there are no rules.

Hotel Restaurant

Breakfast is included daily and there’s a casual spot to enjoy it (a table for six, plus a patio to lounge around on afterwards), with a far fancier banquet-level room for later meals. The chef can whip up à la carte options for lunch; and dinners are designed to your preference.

Hotel Bar

A mixologist is primed to mix your favourite drink throughout the day.

Last Orders

This relaxed home on loan doesn’t deal in formality, but roughly speaking, catering is available between 7am and 10pm.

Planes

The city’s main international airport is around a 45-minute drive away. The hotel team can arrange transfers from about US$100 one-way for up to six guests. If you’re travelling onwards in Sri Lanka, Ratmalana airport is a similar distance away and the tiny Diyawanna Oya is 20 minutes from the villa.

Trains

Colombo’s Fort Railway Station is a 20-minute drive away from Ishq.

Automobiles

There’s a garage at the property where guests can park for free. You’ll be within walking distance of the centre of Colombo though, so a car won’t be essential.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

You’ll want to devote some time to drifting around Ishq Colombo, discovering its many trinkets and charms, which include but are not limited to a Jacuzzi and steam room in an airy, conservatory-like space, a library filled to the literal rafters with first editions, gardens that the owner has tended to for a decade and a half, and multiple places to sit, read and snooze. You’ll be able to see Colombo from the roof terrace and when you’re eventually ready to venture out, you can go armed with your renewed interiors inspo and head straight to Paradise Road, a concept store appropriately housed in the former offices of Geoffrey Bawa. Or if you prefer your trinkets to be wearable, you can go in search of jewellery at Pettah Market. Other highlights in the capital city include Galle Face Green, the Buddhist temple Gangaramaya and Independence Square.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .