Granbell Hotel Colombo

A perfect way to spend an evening in Colombo: sipping on a delicious cocktail watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean! The staff are very attentive, great cocktail menu, and awesome view!

The hotel is conveniently located close to central Colombo, approximately a 30-minute walk from the shopping malls, making it a good choice for travellers who enjoy exploring the city. If you’re travelling solo, this hotel is particularly well suited to you. The reception is located on the first floor, while the ground floor is mainly a smoking area. This layout creates a discreet atmosphere, allowing guests to take the lift directly to reception and then easily access their rooms and the hotel’s facilities.

The arrival experience can be quite chaotic, as the hotel appears to attract many local guests and receives a high volume of visitors. Although there are four elevators, they often don’t seem sufficient during busy periods.

The amenities are good, and one thing I appreciated was that the staff never appeared to expect tips. Instead, they seemed genuinely happy when guests left positive reviews or shared their experiences on social media.

I do feel the hotel could benefit from stronger brand standards or affiliation with an international hotel brand, as some aspects of the operation felt unstructured. During check-in, I witnessed the Front Office Manager raising his voice at a young receptionist in front of guests while managing the busy arrivals. I understand that hospitality can be stressful, especially during peak check-in times, but I don’t believe that justifies speaking to staff in that manner.

That said, the staff themselves displayed good professionalism and work ethics, especially compared with some other resorts we visited in Sri Lanka. One area that could be improved is the visibility and engagement of management. They were often seen walking around the guest areas, pool, and bars, but appeared more like guests than managers actively interacting with amongst themselves.