The Last House
Breezy Bawa beachpad
Serene Seenimodera
It takes just seconds to be seduced by Tangalle boutique hotel The Last House. Designed by legendary Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, this luxury seaside escape was his ultimate commission, and is a true representation of his work, where airy, antique-filled interiors spill into alfresco spaces as if no boundaries exist at all.
Facilities
Rooms
Six.
Checkout
11am, but flexible subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 2pm, but again, it’s all pretty informal.
More Details
Rates include a full English or Sri Lankan breakfast. Full board costs US$45 a person each day; half board is US$30.
Also
The hotel doesn’t have a spa but a visiting masseur can be rustled up for a rub down.
Laundry
At the Hotel
Gardens, free WiFi in public areas, iPod dock. In rooms: local toiletries, air conditioning.
Our Favourite Rooms
Ground-floor Moonamal comes with its own alfresco tub with overhead shower, and stable doors that open right onto the front and back lawns. Na drinks in views of the jungle-edged lagoon and has a superb peep-hole that gazes through the house, over the garden and out to sea.
Poolside
Set within a frangipani-fringed courtyard, the pool is surrounded by sunbed-topped lawns with views to the jungle beyond.
Packing Tips
A stash of magazines and books for poolside flipping and some oh-so-floaty threads.
Children
Very welcome; over-10s only. When all six rooms are booked together, baby cots can be added to any of the double rooms for free. Extra beds for over-10s cost US$65 a child, including breakfast.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Ask the staff to arrange a barbecue and pitch your table beachside for romantic alfresco dining.
Dress Code
Sarongs and shorts – super laid-back beach attire.
Hotel Restaurant
Secluded at the side of the house, the dining room has timber tables that spill out onto a pillared veranda and overlook the sea. Chef Ananda is well known in these parts for his superb dishes – standouts from the diverse Asian-fusion menu include crab curry and mullet with dhal sauce.
Hotel Bar
Sip wine or local beer by the pool, and enjoy a cocktail or mocktail in the garden or on the beach before dinner.
Last Orders
Midday for dinner orders so Ananda can sniff out Tangalle’s freshest market produce and have time to prepare. As long as the kitchen has supplies, simple snacks can be requested up until you head to bed.
Room Service
This isn’t a traditional hotel so you won't find a phone in your room, but there’s always a member of staff on duty to serve you snacks and brews until bedtime. As soon as you drift off, so do they.
Planes
Fly into Colombo’s Bandaranaike Airport and hop onto a Sri Lankan Air Taxi to Dickwella, a 20-minute drive from the hotel. These 15-seater otter planes take just 35 minutes and cost around US$280 a person. Call our Smith24 Team on 03300 376 891 to arrange flights and transfers.
Trains
The nearest train station is Matara at the end of the south-coast rail line, a 45-minute drive from the hotel. Hop on a train at Colombo’s Fort Station and wind your way merrily down for the price of a few dollars.
Automobiles
There’s no need to self-drive in Sri Lanka as driver-guides can easily be arranged by the hotel.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Jog, stroll or photograph fishing boats along the two-kilometre stretch of beach beyond the hotel’s lawn, or venture into the gently rolling sea to surf or body board. Take a peep at the erratic eruptions of the Hoomaniya Blowhole to the east or, if you tire of the beach, wander inland to discover the wooded hamlet of Seenimodera to experience village life before seeking out kingfishers around the jungle-clad lagoon. Further afield, Mulkirigala rock temple is lined with murals, giant Buddha statues and splendid views. By night, visit Rekawa to observe marine turtles laying and hatching eggs on the sands under cover of darkness with the Turtle Conservation Project (+94 (0)77 781 0508; www.tcpsrilanka.com).
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. .
