When I was first driving to the location, I was a bit worried that it was so far from Kandy but that doubt changed as soon as I entered the hotel! The grounds were breathtaking and the staff were absolutely wonderful and even gave me an upgrade to the HUGE presidential suite! The owner, Udaya arranged a tuk tuk driver for me within 10 mins and packed me lunch and off I was exploring the hot spots with Dileepa. After a fun day exploring, I had dinner back at the hotel and the service from the staff was incredible - thank you to Roshan for the amazing service and food recommendation - I had the fish curry and garlic bread and it was the best food I’ve had in SL so far. I loved waking up early to see the stunning sunrise over the pool and views and even had the staff (roshan) helped me take some stunning pictures. This hotel for me exceeded expectations and I cannot thank the staff and owner enough, I can’t wait to return!

My only regret is that I wish I booked another night

What a fantastic hotel - from the moment we arrived to the moment we left we were treated like lords and ladies - it was as if someone had visited a number of the top hotels in the world and identified what they liked most about them - and adapted those plus point to a smallish boutique hotel about 40 minutes from Kandy The beds were sublime - and one of the three rooms we booked got a upgrade to a presidential suite - wow! It is difficult to single out particular members of staff as all were excellent from the team on the gate, to the reception team, to the security team and to the guys (Roshani and Herath) who looked after us in the restaurant. However I would also like to thank the behind the scenes team such as the chefs and kitchen team, the housekeeping team and the top hotel management - a hotel this good does dot happen by magic!

Not one thing

We had a wonderful 2-night stay at Elegant Hotel Kandy and were pleasantly surprised at check-in when we were upgraded to the Presidential Suite—an unexpected but truly delightful gesture that made our visit extra special. The suite was spacious, well-appointed, and offered stunning panoramic views from two balconies—facing both east and west—allowing us to enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets. While the hotel is located a bit far from Kandy city, the peaceful setting and breathtaking scenery more than made up for the distance. It was the perfect place to unwind and relax after busy days of travel. The complimentary breakfast was simple but enjoyable, and we had dinner at the hotel on one night, which was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. The staff were exceptionally polite and friendly, always ready to assist with a smile—something we greatly appreciated throughout our stay. Overall, Elegant Hotel Kandy is a quiet hillside gem with outstanding views and warm hospitality. Highly recommended for those seeking a tranquil stay away from the city’s hustle and bustle.

A couple of small suggestions for improvement: including a tissue box and slippers in the room would add to the comfort.

Everything. We really did think this place was wonderful. The location, the staff( especially Lucky) the facilities all are of a high standard. They went above and beyond our expectations- for example they phoned us to tell us where to get off the train and sent a tuc tuc to collect us. They also offered a room upgrade to the Presidential Suite for our last night. The location is off the beaten track,but is a perfect location to travel to Kandy, Pinawalla and lots of other tourist sights. They can get you transport to the sights by either car or tuc tuc. Any you want- just ask Lucky. We had a great 7 night stay,we cannot recommend it enough.

Nothing- only leaving!

The hotel is situated in an amazing and quiet location a bit outside of busy Kandy. It has a lovely well groomed garden and a big swimming pool. The room was very comfortable (mini fridge), clean and large (was upgraded ) offering amazing views from both terraces for sunrise and sunset - absolutely stunning and very relaxing to do yoga or other . The breakfast and dinner was very good offering a variety of Sri Lankan and Western dishes. Many thanks to the very kind and attentive staff for making my stay so wonderful !!! Highly recommended and will definitely come again.

Nothing all was perfect!

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel. The room was very spacious and beautifully decorated with a comfortable bed and hot shower. The restaurant was nice and the staff attentive. One morning there was a buffet for breakfast, and the next day we were given a selection of food. I assumed it was due to the amount of guests. We ate dinner here too and the menu is pretty extensive and the food was good. The pool area is clean and the view is stunning.

This hotel has amazing views because it is up a mountain. It’s about a 30 minute drive by tuk tuk to the centre of Kandy and it’s unwalkable. Bear this in mind when booking.

If you're looking for a place to stay in Kandy and you're reading this — you're lucky! We had an unforgettable experience here — easily a 7-star stay! A massive thank you to the incredible staff. From the moment we arrived, Ama gave us the warmest welcome of our entire 24-day road trip in Sri Lanka. She gave us a full introduction to the property, unlike many places we stayed (even 5-star ones!). That’s when I knew we were in for something special. We were upgraded to the Presidential Isle Suite — absolutely beautiful, spotless, and the bathroom was immaculate. The pool area was lovely too, and the whole place offers a peaceful and quiet atmosphere — exactly what we needed after lots of travelling. Cocktails were great, and a special shoutout to Hersth — a true gentleman who made our dining experience feel like fine dining. The breakfast was also delicious, and the restaurant itself is stunning. We even treated ourselves to an Ayurvedic massage — the therapist was professional and the whole experience left us deeply relaxed. Hands down, this was one of the best stays we've had in Sri Lanka. Highly recommended!

While the service during dinner was excellent — friendly and attentive — the food didn’t quite meet our expectations for the price. We ordered the "devilled chicken with fried rice," but the portion was small and didn’t resemble the typical devilled chicken. The butter chicken also didn’t taste like a traditional butter chicken dish. That said, the ingredients seemed fresh, and it's clear the team is trying their best. With some improvements to the taste and portion sizes, the dining experience could truly match the high standard set by the rest of the property.

So many plus points about this hotel that they ultimately outweigh the negatives. The staff here are lovely, always smiling and happy to help. We ate here both nights that we stayed and the evening meal was excellent and gave a good selection of both local and western food which was perfect for us as one of my children doesn’t eat curry. The breakfast offered plenty of choice. My children loved the pool, the grounds are kept beautifully and the view offered is amazing. The hotel should be 40 minute drive into Kandy according to google but due to heavy traffic everywhere this isn’t the case and we lost an afternoon of sightseeing. Whilst this isn’t the hotels fault, it is something to consider for those that want to use it as a base to explore Kandy on limited time. The flip side of the location is that you are outside the hustle of Kandy and the location is both peaceful and beautiful. The hotel arranged a driver for us on one of the days and he was great, he was local and so was very informative on the area as we drove. The hotel is tired in places and this is noticeable, however the rooms were spotless and the beds comfortable.

Hands down the best hotel stay we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed so warmly and treated like royalty. All the staff are fantastic, especially Lucky who helped us arrange all our day trips. No request was too much and everyone was always very happy to help. The location of the hotel is unbelievable. Panoramic views from every room. The most amazing sunrise and sunset. The rooms are comfortable and very big. And the food is fantastic, we ate breakfast and dinner in the hotel every day and never got bored of the menu! We couldn’t rate this place highly enough, it’s more than a just a hotel stay, we felt welcomed like family for this very personal luxury experience.

Absolutely nothing- we would (and probably will!) stay again in a heartbeat!

We stayed at Elegant Hotel so we could have a rest day during our trip around Sri Lanka, followed by a day looking around Kandy. It proved perfect for both. The pool area is beautiful and ideal for lounging and the surroundings are very quiet. For our sight-seeing day it was about a 30-minute drive to reach the centre of Kandy but that was fine for us as we spent the day there before returning to the hotel. The staff are also very polite and helpful and we appreciated our welcome drinks when we arrived on the first evening.