As you might have guessed (!) this charming little hotel is inspired by the 1871 Edward Lear poem, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’. The concept was thought up by Indian-born Reita Gadkhari and Sri-Lankan co-owner Shane Thantirimudalige, who wanted to incorporate all the magic of the story into their fun and quirky hotel. In 2017, just a year after opening, Owl and the Pussycat Hotel was awarded ‘Most Instagrammable Hotel’ at the Small Luxury Hotel Awards, thanks to the playful attention to detail in the rooms and common spaces.
Hidden down an unlikely path off the main road in Thalpe, this boutique hotel is right on the beach and nearby to the popular destinations of Unawatuna and Galle. There are three buildings (blue, yellow and pink) housing 17 unique rooms. The spaces are all designed with colourful mismatched furniture, unusual artwork and fun owl and cat details. The owners have been influenced by world design with Moroccan-style colourful walls, Greek Islands fabrics and Indian furniture.
There are a few different room categories; we were very at home in our Suite Dreams room – number 8 on the second floor – named The Piggy-Wig. With a vibrant pink bedroom (with luxurious four-poster bed) and a beach-inspired living room with kitchenette, our room also had a small balcony that overlooked the sea and featured an impressive hanging chair, perfect for afternoon reading and relaxing. The bathroom was small and functional with a walk-in shower and basic toiletries.
The sheltered outdoor pool, bar and Runcible Spoon restaurant are all sociable areas to spend time. Shaded by giant palm trees and decorated with elegant tiling, they are simple but pretty places to sit. If you are in need of some pampering there is an outdoor treatment platform for a massage by the beach, accompanied by the sound of the surrounding waves.
We enjoyed a delicious regional dinner at the Runcible Spoon, and if you are intrigued about the finer details of this cuisine, the hotel can organise a cooking demonstration with the kitchen team so you can learn to make the dishes at home. We had a short class with the Sous Chef and learnt to cook rice with a fragrant and delicious assortment of vegetarian curries. Breakfast was also a highlight of our stay, a beautiful array of tropical fruits and Sri Lankan specialities, all enjoyed in the comfort of our room.
If you are looking for an eclectic and fun place to stay Owl and the Pussycat Hotel, on the edge of the Ocean, will provide a colourful home for your Sri Lanka holiday.
More information and book a stay at the Owl and the Pussycat hotel here.