Staying at Cinnamon Citadel was a breath of fresh, riverside air. Nestled along the Mahaweli River with lush greenery all around, the setting is both tranquil and majestic. The staff were warm and attentive, making us feel truly pampered. The rooms were spacious, spotless, and beautifully designed—perfect for unwinding after a day exploring the cultural treasures of Kandy. Breakfasts and evening meals were a treat, with an incredible spread overlooking the water. Waking up to birdsong and sipping tea on the balcony made every morning feel like a mini escape. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down and soak it all in. Highly recommend if you’re looking for elegance, comfort, and a touch of nature in the heart of Sri Lanka.

Nothing!

This is a lovely hotel on the outskirts of Kandy. It has an amazing swimming pool with a lovely view overlooking the river. The staff were absolutely lovely and really attentive throughout our entire time there.

The hotel' is getting a bit old now and could probably do with being refurbished. In particular the aircon in the rooms is very very noisy. We had to turn it off in the end which wasn't a problem at that time of year but would have been if it had been warmer. The room, which was the two adults and two children was also a bit small. In the end our youngest daughter slept in the double with us as there wasn't room for two extra single beds.

beautiful rooms overlooking the lake with a small terrace. We asked for connecting rooms and the hotel was able to arrange it. Food and the drinks at the pool side and the a la cart restaurant were tasty and the team was very kind. attentive and friendly. Pool is nice, we spent one full afternoon there. was so relaxing.

breakfast area is smelly, and the food is below average. the second morning we preferred to have some snacks in the room with coffee and not to walk in the buffet restaurant, Breakfast team unfriendly and the lady at the egg station was rude to everyone..

Staff was very friendly. Location superb. Rooms r a bit old but cleaned well. Try taking the garden or river view if you booked that one. Having booked garden view and looking at the garden rooms, i felt we could have got a better room. They put us ons second floor. Ground floor rooms r better. Nature trail guys also helped in arranging last min boat ride which was very appreciative.

A bit old rooms. Extra taxes at restaurant.

Pros: - Being right next to the river, the views from the hotel lobby, breakfast sitting, and our room were amazing. - The staff was superb. All our requests were fulfilled asap. I got my much-needed laundry done for what I would consider a bargain. - Live music was playing at night time. - The breakfast spread was pretty decent.

Cons: - It's a bit further from the city center, so going to the city center can take some time, especially with Kandy's narrow lanes. - The hotel is a bit old - The booking was advertised with a complimentary activity (boating/archery) as part of our stay. However, in reality, they would come up with myriads of excuses to why boating/archery are not possible.

Wonderful dining areas, especially the bar and dining terrace with fantastic river views, and a nicely located pool. Our room was really spacious and comfortable the small balcony was fantastic with fabulous river views. Good food, excellent breakfast and evening buffets. Massive range of choice that included authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.

One minor criticism was that the corridors providing access to the rooms felt rather dowdy and out of sync with the pleasantness of the actual rooms. Could do with being more uplifting with perhaps artwork on the walls, clever and atmospheric lighting, indoor plants etc.

Food was good. Had a good spread for the dinner with live stations. Everyone is very friendly. The two girls in the reception, went out of the way to assist us. In the dining hall Nissanka was great. we arranged a surprise birthday for a friend and the staff organized it very professionally. Balcony facing the mahaveli river is great. Nice pool and Bar area. All the best and keep the good work......

There is no hotel taxi. We found it very uncomfortable to send the guests back after dinner.

The room was lovely and big with a nice balcony. Pool area was spacious and close to nature. The dinner in the restaurant was super - lots of fresh options.

The bar / snack service around the pool was incredibly slow. We saw our food arrive from the kitchen and then it was left out on the side for 10-15 minutes. When it finally came to us, it was cold and soggy. But we were so hungry and had already waited nearly an hour so just accepted it. The property is far away from the town, but that might be a positive for some people.

We had a wonderful time at this beautiful hotel. Upon entering, you're treated to a stunning view of the lake and the trees. The service from Sandun Fernando was excellent, a very friendly man and kind to the children. The beds were beautifully made, with a new surprise from Chandru every day (see photo). The service at the pool was also very pleasant. Our stay was wonderful, and we definitely recommend the hotel, especially with children.

Had a wonderful stay! The hotel’s location next to the river was perfect and peaceful. We especially enjoyed the breakfast, the clean and well-equipped rooms, and the refreshing swimming pool. The complimentary boat ride was a lovely bonus. Every staff member we interacted with was extremely friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend!

Even though the breakfast was great, dinner buffet was not good at all. Didn’t have much choices and were not tasty either.