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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
5.0
#1 of 1 small hotel in Makandura
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
5.0
Value
4.9
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
A six-bedroom boutique hotel located a mere 45 minutes drive from Colombo's main international airport, The Notary's House combines elegant design, heritage furnishings, an outdoor pool and large gardens to offer guests tranquil base to rest, relax and recuperate.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
We stayed at Notary's House on our first night of our honeymoon in Sri Lanka. Although it was only one night it was definitely one of our favourite places that we stayed throughout the whole of our two week trip.
The guest house is a beautiful building and really tastefully decorated - including the bedrooms and communal areas. It's in the most wonderful, peaceful setting too and overlooking a big lake.
The service was absolutely flawless from the minute we arrived to the minute we left. All the staff were incredibly friendly and polite and went out of their way to make sure we had an amazing experience.
The food was INCREDIBLE and some of the best we had in Sri Lanka too. Large scrumptious portions of curry, fruit, egg hoppers and more!
Thank you so so much Notary's House. We will always look back on our stay with you with the fondest of memories.
Graham and Hayley
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Notary’s House is a great place to stay at either the start or end of your holiday as it is only about 45 mins from the airport. Myself, husband and parents stayed for 1 night at the start of our holiday and it was a great place to just relax and recover from our long flight, taking in the quietness and wonderful views across the lake.
We only had an afternoon and evening so, after resting in our room and on our balcony after our flight, we had a walk around the grounds and then had drinks out on the veranda. Dinner that evening was very good, giving us our first taste of Sri Lankan curry.
We had a deluxe room which was very large, stylishly decorated with a big comfortable bed and good sized bathroom. We did have a problem in the evening where there was a loss of water pressure in our room which meant our toilet stopped working but the staff dealt with the problem well and worked quickly to get it working again.
I would definitely recommend staying at Notary’s House.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Notary's House was the perfect end to our Sri Lankan adventure. The hotel is situated in a lovely peaceful location; a beautiful, well maintained, colonial style house located in lush gardens overlooking a lake with the welcoming pristine perfect pool being a definite plus.
Our room was tastefully furnished, large, light and airy with a good sized, well-equipped and clean bathroom.
The food was Excellent! - No menus, but suggestions were made for every meal to accommodate our vegetarian requirements, resulting in an array of delicious dishes. The best food we had in Sri Lanka!
The staff was at all times professional, helpful and attentive and we much appreciated the time taken to show us the Estate's fruit and vegetable garden, as well as an around the lake bike ride.
Should we return to Sri Lanka, we'll definitely be heading to the Notary's again!
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent one night here at the start of our holiday in Sri Lanka. On arrival we were warmly welcomed and we immediately felt relaxed. The design of the property is stunning, the bedrooms are very large and comfortable. The main common area is large and open with comfortable tables and chairs where you can sit quietly with a drink overlooking the gardens and lake. The staff were quietly efficient and nothing was too much trouble. The evening meal of curry and rice was excellent as was the Sri Lankan breakfast. We highly recommend staying at this beautiful property with highly efficient staff.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Notary’s House is a beautiful lakeside colonial style boutique hotel on six acres next to a coconut grove. The grounds are beautiful, and the rooms and bathrooms are spacious. Our upper level room had high ceilings, a large veranda and a huge shower with two shower heads. The decor and layout invite serenity and privacy. The top notch meals are served in different areas and made with fresh ingredients from the gardens. One of dinners had two kinds of rice and twelves bowls of curries, salads and sides. It was a feast for the senses. The staff are what makes the hotel special. Service is impeccable, anticipating needs you didn’t you had. Saman and Danushka and staff work cheerfully as team and took excellent care of us. A highlight was going on a walk next to the lake to a small village and Buddhist temple. Danushka went with us and took us inside the incredible picture hall, a must see if you have the time. We spent two nights at the end of our trip, which was the perfect way to relax and wind down. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Notarys House, Sales at The Notary's House
Responded Aug 28, 2023
Thank you so much and appreciate your valuable comments. May we know your booked date and booking name? Thank you
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is located in wonderful gardens and the staff will happily show you round the area where they grow much of the food you eat. With luck, the gardener will also prepare you your very own king coconut. Nothing goes to waste here and the staff are very knowledgeable about the local environment. The food is amazing and the rooms are a real wow factor. The staff were all excellent and had a really great time. If you fancy a walk, turn left out of the main gate and after about 4oo yards you'll come to a small number of shops. The cafe on the opposite side of the road has a small selection of cakes that may not look much but taste amazing. Great time.
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Date of stay: March 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first night in Sri Lanka was here and a lovely , gentle way to start our trip. Such kind and helpful staff. Our room was great, the evening meal was tasty and the following morning we walked round the lake to the Buddhist temple. The manager was our guide and he was very interesting , giving us lots of information. It was very quiet during our stay but overall a great way to ease into the beautiful Sri Lanka!
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lovely place to chill out after our overnight flight to Sri Lanka. Set in lush green garden and with lakeside view it was a great introduction to our tour of the island. The room was large and spacious with its own balcony. The staff were attentive but not intrusive. They provided us with a delicious evening meal made from seasonal and local produce. Full marks to the chef for presenting a range of dishes as an introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine. The whole place was very clean and well maintained. They have set a very high standard, which I am not sure future accommodations on our trip will match. Thank you to all the staff for their lovely hospitality.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Easy to miss the entrance off the road. Sat nab helps. Water is solar heated so hottest in the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The perfect place to stay after a long flight. The hotel is beautiful and the staff are excellent and very attentive. The food is absolutely delicious and plentiful - we counted nine dishes for our evening meal! The chef was also very accommodating of my dislike of chilli and prepared mild but incredibly tasty curries just for me. My husband enjoyed the spicy food very much. We cannot fault this hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staying at the Notary’s House was the perfect start to our tour of Sri Lanka. From the idyllic setting to the truly wonderful staff and incredible food, it embodies Sri Lankan hospitality at its finest.
After being greeted with a cold glass of fresh fruit juice, we were invited to take a guided tuk tuk ride through the local village to see acres of coconut plantations and the beautiful lake. We had a time for a quick dip in the infinity pool before getting ready for dinner where we were presented with a delicious array of Sri Lankan food. The traditional breakfast the following morning was also absolutely fantastic.
The room was clean, spacious and beautifully decorated, making this a really special hotel.
We could not recommend this hotel enough for anyone staying in this area.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Warwick, United Kingdom49 contributions8 helpful votes
We arrived at about 9 pm and they served our family with a traditional Sri Lankan meal - it was delicious and very welcoming. I think as long as they know you are coming they will look after you.
Warwick, United Kingdom49 contributions8 helpful votes
Sorry didn’t explore too much locally as it was our first stop in Sri Lanka.
The staff were very helpful and would I am sure help.
The markets we saw during our trip were mostly food and other produce - rather than crafts.
There are more places to choose from in the Makandura area.
PRICE RANGE
$138 - $176 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Sri LankaNorth Western ProvinceMakandura
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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