Arriving in Kandy quite late, I headed straight to the Old Empire, mainly for it's perfect location and also because my guidebook assured that it was a cheap option.
A warm welcome was given by a lovely husband and wife team. The staff were exceptionally friendly. I read the bad review about this place and I was shocked? This must be some kind of vendetta of some sort, because the hotel was lovely, and the staff were superb.
There are a variety of rooms at the hotel with varying standards. Go for one with a mosquito net! The shared bathrooms are basic, but OK.
I tried their Sri Lankan Breakfast and fresh coffee and found it good value.
This hotel is good value, especially if you are on a backpacking budget like myself.

We came to stay at the Old Empire for one or two days and ended up staying for one and a half weeks! I shared one of the front rooms with a friend and was delighted with the charming antique furniture, the flower arrangements (real flowers!), wooden floors and clean bathroom. You get used to the cold showers after the initial drenching. I can’t comment on the back rooms which are supposedly “dingy” but I understand they are also much cheaper.

During our stay, the owners of the hotel were there.. Myself and my friend came to really look forward to the conversations we would have with the couple who’s family has been running the hotel for over 100 years.. As a female traveller I felt quite safe staying at the Olde Empire, and would often ask the managers for hints on how to deal with touts, beggars, arranging transport, etc..

I met some fantastic people during my stay, both local and travellers, and had some memorable conversations about life and ‘isms’ sitting in the upstairs balcony of the hotel. The balcony is the place to be as dusk creeps in, to be utterly awe struck by the tremendous NOISE made by hundreds of birds coming to rest in the trees across the road at the scared tooth temple gardens. A favourite memory is looking out from the balcony and laughing with the flower vendors outside the temple during a downpour, as they floated paper boats down the road in rain water streams.. Staying at the Olde Empire, I felt a connection with the local life, which is quite rare and wonderful.

I do not hesitate to recommend the Old Empire Hotel to any traveller who is looking for atmosphere, charm and warmth.

PS. Try the lump-rice for Friday lunch… yummy

I am backpacking round asia and have found myself in Kandy for over a week waiting for a visa for India. I checked into the Olde Empire which is right next to the entrance to the Sacred Tooth Temple. They have three levels of rooms ranging from 500 rupees to 1350 Rupees, the rooms are good sized with mosquito nets but more importantly they have a fantastic balcony overlooking the square. II have been there for eight days now, the Hotel has been run by the same family for over 100 years and Whilst it might be slightly rough round the edges the place has oodles of character and charm. There is a restaurant on the ground floor but if you don't fancy eating there it is within a couple of minutes of many places to eat. If your back packing round Sri Lanka and find yourself in Kandy I would look no further, you will get a friendly welcome and on the balcony there is a good chance you will meet other fellow travelers

What happened to my friend and I while staying in the Olde Empire was something which I never wish to think about or happen again. We arrived late in Kandy and this was the place recommended to us by a friend, a male friend I should add. We were shown to our room, which I immeditely asked to be changed. The next room we got was no better. The guidebooks said the rooms were a little dingy - that doesn't come close. I'm exactly fussy when it comes to accommodation, I can budget with the best of them! And sure this place has charm but maybe visit it as an attraction rather than some place to rest your head for the night, you'll see for yourself when you see the filth of the bare mattress (that's right, no sheets provided - I asked for a sheet but the one I got I wouldn't give to a dog) and the walls and the little messages written onto the walls above the doors saying 'this room has fleas', and the state of the shared bathroom, I mean I could go on, in fact I could write a book about my experience there. But my issue wasn't even with cleanliness. Far from. This is no place for solo female travellers or even a small group of females. The occupancy is almost entirely male sri lankan with few or no other females staying. Now I know why. I can honestly say I've never felt so unsafe and threatened in all my life. Stupidly we stayed there 3 nights, with each night it got worse, the intimidation and harrassment. The 3rd night took the biscuit. The males waiting outside our room for us looking in through the cracked door and whispering various nastiness to use was enough to destroy our entire Sri Lanka experience. Worse happened but this isn't the place to say. We left at the crack of dawn and walked and walked until we were far from sight.

I've been in Sri Lanka for 4 months now, staying in various hotels and guesthouses along the room. I've never posted comments on this before but so bad was the expereince I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Every other place we've stayed has been a dream. It's such a beautiful country and so worth the visit, it's just a shame how the majority of the male population see white women. If you're young and on your own or in 2's or 3's please take extra care and try and stay in places run by a couple or by places, where the manager's and owners are one in the same and are live in or by places managed by women. Unfortunately, this isn't an exaggerated story. Take care females, especially backpackers!