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Sergeant House is a three minute stroll from the glistening waters and palm fringed beach of Unawatauna. It is a unique villa complex composed of individual pavilions and the historic, Sergeant House Bungalow. Sergeant House, with its tranquil gardens, ponds and swimming pool offers an ideal oasis to enjoy the richness of the south west coast of Sri Lanka and surrounding countryside.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Boutique
Location
381 Matara Road Ganahena, Unawatuna 80600 Sri Lanka
Sergeant House
4.9 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Sergeant House is fully deserving of its top rating.
We stayed for six nights in February 2025.
The management and staff are so professional and do their utmost to ensure a happy stay. The rooms with one caveat (see below) are superb, as is the swimming pool and the grounds. It is a peaceful oasis just off the busy road that tracks the coast.
It is a small hotel which is something we like - the pool never gets crowded and the service is personal.
Dinner in the hotel is excellent. It has to be ordered before 11am and the chef will prepare dishes not on the menu (we had delicious grilled fish on our last night). We also ate out at the nearby Kabala Sunset and Sun n Sea plus the Dumpling House in Galle. All were good.
The lady providing massages onsite was brilliant and reasonably priced. I did the hotel's suggested bike tour around the local lagoon and coconut husk/rope making 'factory' which was hugely enjoyable and easy (despite the gear-less bike) thanks to the brilliant guide.
Caveat: Think carefully before booking the Cave Room. It is small and the second single bed is up some steep stairs. We are in our seventies and it was not really suitable for us. Fortunately there were some empty rooms for some of the nights and the hotel manager made everything perfect so a very big thank you to her.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Do have a full body massage
Do take dinner at the hotel
Avoid the Cave Room unless you are fit...
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 Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 2 weeks ago
Thank you very much for your review, and am so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us. We do hope you will come back to Sri Lanka, and you can be assured of a warm welcome from the team here at Sergeant House. With best wishes, Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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Our family group of six adults had the pleasure of staying in The Sergeant’s Bungalow at Sergeant House for three nights including Christmas 2024. It is a relaxing haven with lovely gardens and central swimming pool. You do not hear any noise from the busy road at the front. There is access to their own private section of the beach across the road. The manager, Chathuri, was so helpful from the moment we made our booking. We wanted to travel by train from Colombo to Galle - she suggested which train to book and arranged for a van to meet us at Galle Station. She also organised our onward transport by van to our next destination - Yala. Tuk tuks were arranged for when we took a day trip to Galle. We were also able to enjoy a personal cooking class with the Sergeant House chef. The food is a highlight. We were especially lucky to be treated to amazing Christmas Day breakfast and dinner (and gifts!) The staff are outstanding. A small dedicated team who are professional, helpful and friendly. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay so memorable. We would love to return
Tips: Book directly for the best deal Stay longer than one night
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip 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.
Response from Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you VERY much for the incredibly flattering review of your stay at Sergeant House. It really was our pleasure having you all with us and it is just so rewarding to read such lovely comments - a big thank you from all the team! Best Wishes Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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What a luxury stay at Sergeant House. Chathuri had great communication before our stay and was there to greet us on arrival. Driving through the large gates at the front started our stay off then with our fruit juice and our tour round the whole accommodation was great. We stayed in the 3 bedroom bungalow as there is 5 of us and wow what an amazing place. Everything was spotless pool/beach towel, shower towels, air con, fans, a bath, outdoor shower and a lounge sitting area. The pool is gorgeous, it feels very tranquil with the greenery around and chilled relaxing music. The private beach across the road is also a lovely little extra to our stay.
The staff could not have done anymore for us if they tried, very helpful and friendly too. The breakfast was wonderful, fresh fruit a choice of yoghurt cereal before choice of eggs or pancakes. Such a shame we only had one night to stay, but it will definitely be on our list for a longer visit next time to Sri Lanka.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip 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.
Response from Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you so much for your review! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope you come back and visit us again
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I booked a bungalow at Sergeant House for a 2-day stay in July for me and my family during our visit to Sri Lanka. This experience was very different from staying at regular star hotels. Sergeant House is an old mansion that has been renovated to include modern facilities while preserving its original look and feel.
The rooms were very spacious. The one I booked had three bedrooms, and the master bedroom featured an outdoor bathroom. The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, ensuring that our stay was comfortable and enjoyable.
One of the highlights of our stay was the food—it's amazing, and hats off to the chef! I ordered lunch off the menu because I wanted to try authentic Sri Lankan food, and the chef arranged it for us. The taste was so satisfying that I ordered it again for the next day’s lunch.
If you want to have a massage, you don’t need to go out as it's available on the property in a very relaxing environment. I did enjoy it and highly recommend giving it a try.
Additionally, Sergeant House has a private beach, which, although not beachfront, is easily accessible by crossing the road. We spent a good three hours there, although we didn't swim as the sea was rough. The 24-hour pool was another great feature—we had a night swim, and it was a fantastic experience.
Overall, Sergeant House is beautiful and provides a unique and wonderful stay. I will surely be back when I return to Sri Lanka. Thank you for taking care of us during our stay!
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip 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.
Response from Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Mr. Nuwan, Thank you very much for your review, and am so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us. We do hope you will come back to Sri Lanka, and you can be assured of a warm welcome from the team here at Sergeant House. With best wishes, Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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Ww booked five rooms in this boutique hotel during our visit to Sri Lanka. The hotel issituated in Unawatuna few miles south of Galle on the Colombo Matara scenic route along the coast. Easy access from public transport too as it is on the main road. The hotel is situated on the land side but they have a private beach - you just have to cross the road! Rooms were very spacious and comfortable. Square pin plug sockets available so we didn't need converter plug. Air conditioning, Vapouriser and net available to keep mosquitoes away and as long as you don't keep the doors open in the afternoon when the mosquitoes are coming you'll be fine. There is a well maintained pool that goes around the dining area starting shallow and then going deep. If you have younger kinds or non swimmers keep an eye out when they are in the pool. Great home cooked feel Sri Lankan food. We enjoyed the food very much. There are sports equipment that you can borrow, Jacuzzi and lot of exploring to do. We had a wonderful time there and the staff were so polite and helpful. I have no hesitation to recommend this place. We will definitely go back
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip 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.
Response from Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you very much for your review, and am so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us. We do hope you will come back to Sri Lanka, and you can be assured of a warm welcome from the team here at Sergeant House. With best wishes, Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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I spent the last 6 days of my Sri Lanka trip here, and wished it could have been longer. Everything was just perfect. The location, set away from the busy Una Watuna beach - in an oasis of beautiful gardens - yet just a few minutes walk away. The historic property, comprised of just 4 units, each of individual size and design, and with luxuriously comfortable rooms appointed to the highest level. Mine was the Poolside Pavilion, which I would not hesitate in booking again. Then the manager Chathuri, and her staff, who served up the most delicious breakfasts, and serviced the property in a most discreet, yet dedicated manner. Thank you, and I hope one day to return.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
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 Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you so much for your heartfelt and detailed review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your stay at Sergeant House such a memorable experience. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the food, cleanliness, and the hospitality from our team. We take great pride in our staff's dedication to creating a warm and memorable experience for our guests. We can’t wait to welcome you back again. If there’s anything we can do to make your next stay even more special, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Best Wishes Chathuri Edirisinghe
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Good afternoon. The hotel exceeded our expectations. Very cozy rooms. We had a two-story building, each with its own corner. Everything is made from natural materials. Breakfast is something, not a banal buffet, but restaurant service. We overate ourselves. Regularly fruits and freshly squeezed juice. The pool is a charm. Especially at night. The owner of the hotel is very friendly, he also had breakfast with us. Cleanliness everywhere. Lunches and dinners can be ordered additionally, prices are cheaper than in a restaurant. There is its own beach across the road with sun loungers and umbrellas. Turtle Beach is 5 minutes by tuk tuk and costs 500 rupees.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip 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.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wow what a place! Once you enter the beautiful gardens, you feel relaxed, calm and peaceful. The old buildings are beautifully and sympathetically decorated with so much attention to detail. The swimming pool has some sun and shaded areas and beautifully clean. My husband had a massage, which he enjoyed. Our room was the suite. Now I have to say, I travel around 9 months of the year and this is one of the best and biggest I have stayed in. We compared it as just short of Raffles in Singapore. Every little detail was thought about. Plenty of room for your toiletries, a plug next to a mirror for the hairdryer, socket next to the bed, etc. The evening dinner was very romantic, a beautiful setting in an open dining area by the pool. The food was delicious too. We were lucky enough to have the whole place to ourselves as it was low season. It felt like it was your own beautiful home. Sadly we only had time for one night. When we next visit Sri Lanka we will be checking in for a week.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip 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 Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to write a review - it is always so helpful to hear back from guests about their time with us. I am very happy that you enjoyed your stay, and hopefully we will welcome you back in the future With all best wishes, Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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We were looking for a villa for the family to go for the weekend and came across Sergent’s House site and wasn’t convinced looking at the website, called the manager and after getting the rate and menus we have decided to go there. ( I called them at 7pm the day before we planned to travel, after office hours, the mangers answered, and when I requested for menus, she sent me menus via WhatsApp) The villa was gorgeous, ( the site doesn’t do justice to the place at all) delicious food and staff made us feel at home. We had 7 adults and 3 kids, a 6 year old, 1.5 year old and a 5 months baby, and booked the family unit which has 3 separate rooms and attic. The beds were comfortable and room was spacious, one had an extra bed. It is more like a colonial house, has old world charm and modern amenities. Kids were in the pool most of the time and because there is a patio cum dining area facing the pool, the rest of the family too could sit and read and watch kids play and have a blast. We opted for Sri Lankan for lunch and for breakfast continental breakfast and seafood lasagna and bbq chicken and salad for dinner. Impressive that they even had hot chocolate for breakfast, and fruit platters with 4 or 5 varieties of fruits, juice and enough tea and coffee. The villa has a private beach just across Galle road, it is like you are not in city, and once you cross the road, the beach is gorgeous. The garden is a place to read and just do nothing and sit and look at fish in the ponds. Forest and beach vibes both at one place. Absolutely loved the whole experience and I proved that I am the best when it comes to planning holidays 😁 I would recommend the villa to anyone looking for a holiday. It is affordable and so worth for the price you pay. And if they have availability they let you check in early and check out late, these small details matter me as I’m an inbound travel agent. I forgot my phone charger and the managers was so kind to send it via post to me, and no I didn’t pay for postage. These little things matter to me, it is the people what makes a place amazing sometimes. Thank you team for having us and hoping to come again.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip 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.
Response from Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that your getaway at Sergeant House was a perfect experience. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another serene and unforgettable stay soon! Thank you Best Regards Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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What a surprise we had when we entered the gates of Sergeant House. It was one of the loveliest boutique hotels we have ever stayed in. We had the master suite and it was just huge with a kitchenette, separate bathroom and shower room, huge fourposter bed, verandah overlooking the enormous wrap around pool and lovely furniture in our enormous bedroom. We ate in for two nights and the chef was very talented and offered an interesting and varied menu beautifully served and it tasted as good as it looked. The staff were friendly and very helpful and we would recommend this hotel without hesitation.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Spend more than an overnighter here it is worth it.
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 Chathuri Edirisinghe, General Manager at Sergeant House
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for the very flattering review and delighted that you had such a good time whilst staying here. We look forward to your return! Best wishes, Chathuri Edirisinghe Manager
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Thank you very much for contacting Sergeant House. Very unfortunately we are already fully booked for this period. Please let us know if you have alternative dates.
Thanks
Hi Trupk, this should not have come to me. We are from Scotland and we stayed for 6 nights in July '16. We found it provided excellent service and was a quiet and exclusive hotel. The restaurant was very good but also we ate at the beach restaurants in Unawatuna and the restaurants at Galle Fort. It is a little quieter than Bengaluru! It's a great place to chill out, good luck
There are more places to choose from in the Unawatuna area.
PRICE RANGE
$111 - $267 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Sri LankaSouthern ProvinceGalle DistrictUnawatuna
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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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Are there any historical sites close to Sergeant House?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Galle Dutch Fort (3.1 miles), Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (2.7 miles), and Galle Fort Clock Tower (2.9 miles).
