We really enjoyed our stay at Lion's rest. The room was so spacious, the hotel was clean and beautiful but at the end what makes the experience memorable is the kindness and the helpfulness of the people who work there. We received tips and hidden gems where to go, didn't order dinner upfront (low season) but were still able to get dinner spontaniously, no problem at all. The people working there really doing the extra effort.

Since we were here in July, which is low season, you are not able to access the sea in front of the hotel. You are able to access the beach, but the sea is rough. This is not something to dislike, but you might want to know if you are going to book this amazing place. (There are pool clubs nearby where you can go for a swim / surf in the sea, just a little drive away.)

Lions rest was the most amazing stay for me and my family. The staff were all so so helpful, kind and accommodating and I request big or small was too much trouble for them. The room was clean, spacious, and the location is just amazing right next to the main surf breaks. Everyone made us feel truly welcome and a special note that my wife has got a gluten-free allergy so travelling can be difficult but again the management and catering team went above and beyond every day to make sure she had lovely food to eat throughout each day. Could not recommend this place highly enough …great work guys and thanks again! Jon Duncan ✌️

Its in perfect location - best location to live in the area for calm holidays - intermediate surf spot (on the beach ask for surf instructor Freddy) ahead, yoga place nearby, nice cafes and restaurants around, best sunset area. Its also nice to have a cooled pool. The staff is also amazing - the manager can help with any issue as well as his crew. They also have tuktuk drivers (2 nice guys) in front of the hotel who are ready to go anytime. Very convenient place to stay. Lots of people with children.

Price is a bit too high. However, if you want to stay in this majestic area and have a pool there are not many options. It should be also noted that superior double room (the one with huge balcony and ocean-view) is not as private as it might look - common stairs separates the room and the balcony thus you might want to cover your windows (no view if so).

I spent 6 days at Lion's Rest at the end of our Sri Lanka trip with my two teenage sons. The place is cool. The room was quite small but big enough for the three of us. The bed was comfortable. The breakfasts were delicious and there was a choice of both continental and local dishes. We had a great barbecue buffet at the place twice for a reasonable price. The boys also had a few tasty lunches. I recommend the food and the drinks. The place has a great surf instructor who helped me catch my first big waves. Every morning he took us in a tuk tuk with boards, which had a lot of charm. The area around Lion's Rest is homely. Right out of the gate you meet cows and you're just a few steps from a beautiful beach. You don't have to look for a trip to see turtles, because there are plenty of them on the ocean next to hotel. The center of Weligama is very close, and there is always a Tuk Tuk in front of the place to take you there. The staff was wonderful. They took great care to make sure that the stay at Lion's Rest was a success. In the evenings you can also watch surfing films on the projector what was real fun for us.

I paid for additional expenses - food, massage, drinks -with a payment card and I was charged a 3% transaction fee, you have to remember this to withdraw the money earlier, I was not warned that. The water in the pool has a lot of chemicals, thanks to this you won't catch a disease, but watch out for swimming shorts, my son had blue ones before entering and pale blue ones after leaving. There was no enclosed shower in our room, only a small shower tray almost at floor level, which is why after a bath in the bathroom there was water on the floor for a long time.

Lion's Rest is an absolute gem. It made my trip to Gurubebila exeptional. The staff was friendly and attentive, they went above and beyond to make sure I had everything I needed. The grounds were very well taken care of. The room I stayed in was very comfortable and clean. The locations was perfect, right by the sea, surf, and close to restaurants. The breakfast was delicious, I love that the coffee, tea, fruit, and toast, was set out to self serve (then you get to order off the menu as well). Everything about Lion's Rest was very well thought out, I will return!

Beautiful, quiet and clean little hotel in a lovely small village. Perfect location, just in front of two great surf spots, tucked away from traffic noise, in a green and calm village. I could do my morning surf-checks from my balcony, and then stroll over a small green field with cows to jump into the waves - and wrap up my surf session with a cold coconut in one of the beach shacks - such a magical place! Lion's has a great breakfast selection with several options for both european and sri lankan breakfast, as well as a supertasty coconut oat bowl with fruits - perfect after your morning surf. They provide free refill of fresh water at the hotel. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner, and hosts weekly social dinners (seafood bbq, sri lankan food evenings). In general, the hotel had a very friendly and social surfwibe. The pool was beautiful and clean, with poolside sunbeds (with optional umbrellas for shade). There are also two other chill out zones with comfortable and social set up: hammocks, beanie bags and yoga supplies (mats, bolsters etc) and fans for comfortable temperatures. The hotel is less than 1 minute walk away from several daily yoga classes in a beautiful and peaceful shala with a mix of yoga styles, including evening yin / restorative classes. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and made me feel very welcome. My room was beautiful and clean, and as a womas travelling alone, I felt very safe in the hotel. Good wifi. Several beautiful "hidden" smaller beaches close by (walking along the shore). There are tuktuks with friendly and helpful drivers ready outside the hotel to transport you to other surf spots or to check out the busier wibes of Weligama and Ahangama. What more can I say about this amazing place? If you want a peaceful, beautiful, relaxing stay in a welcoming and friendly environment - book your stay at Lions Rest - you won't regret it!

Loved everything about my stay!

I WAS TRAVELING WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS ON A SURFING TRIP, THE LOCATION WAS CONVENIENTLY SITUATED CLOSE TO MANY GREAT POPULAR SURF SPOTS AND A FEW HIDDEN GEMS WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO SEARCH FOR. THE HOTEL IS SITUATED IN A SMALL VILLAGE, WHICH IS VERY FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING, AND IN NO TIME AT ALL FRIENDSHIPS WERE MADE WITH BOTH LOCALS AND OTHER TOURISTS. THE HOTEL HAS A STRONG SURF CULTURE AND POST SURF A GREAT PLACE TO HANG OUT AND CHAT WITH OTHER GUESTS. THE BREAKFAST WAS VERY GOOD, AND ON CERTAIN NIGHTS A THEMED MEAL IS A OPTION, WE CHOOSE THE TRADITIONAL SRI LANKEN MEAL, WHICH WAS AMAZING. THE ROOMS WERE VERY SPACIOUS AND CLEAN, AND THE STAFF WERE SO FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. ALREADY PLANNING ON RETURNING AT EASTER WITH MY WIFE AND SON. SUITED FOR BOTH SURFERS AND NON SURFERS WANTING TO ESCAPE THE CORPORATE HOLIDAY AND IMMERSE IN TO THE VILLAGE LIFESTYLE

We had a wonderful stay at Lions rest - the property was clean, well maintained and to a high standard. The staff were super welcoming and nothing was too much trouble. It’s really well located on the beach, near good restaurants bars and within a 10 min tuktuk of nearby towns. Lions Rest can arrange great surf lessons with Lucky and has a great restaurant on site, offering a weekly seafood bbq we would recommend Wouldn’t stay anywhere else on the South coast, recommend you book here for your next trip!

Nothing

The location was amazing with a mix of 'surf culture' and local every day life. It was truly relaxed and welcoming but not showy. The staff including Ayesh Prasad, Kalhara, Nuwan, Ramesh and Kalana the in house tuk tuk driver were very friendly, full of useful advice and ready to help. The Sri Lankan breakfast and the curry buffet were tremendous! We were only sad not to have been there for the fish bbq the day after we left.

Nothing it really hit the spot

Lions Rest is absolutely wonderful if you want somewhere close to the surf, with friendly staff, a relaxing atmosphere and fantastic food. From the moment we arrived we instantly felt the beautiful energy of this special place. Ayesh, the local manger at the accommodation, helped us out with so many things - from lost scooter key issues, to restaurant recommendations, from upgrading our room, to arranging the most beautiful private engagement celebration dinner on our balcony, we will treasure these memories here for the rest of our lives. The accommodation is clean, the menu is eclectic, and make sure you don’t miss the weekly Sri Lankan buffet with fresh fish baked in banana leaf with local spices, devilled jackfruit, and the most delicious coconut rotis and dahl. The location is incredible as well. It’s off the main drags of weligama and ahangama, on a little secluded beach with a field in front where cute cows roam around and little beach shack bars are set up to watch the most glorious sunsets - it has an understated tropical surf culture island vibe away from the western instagram tourist spots in the nearby towns. A true place to relax. We started with 3 nights and ended up staying for 9 as Lions Rest was so good for the soul. Thanks guys we’ll be back!! 🏄‍♂️ ❤️ ☀️ 🌊 😃

Literally can’t think of anything!