Fairway Colombo – Cosy Comfort

Fairway Colombo – What a pleasure it was to stay here in June 2019. It’s a super-smart but budget city hotel in the heart of the nightlife, in the area called Colombo Fort, just behind the old Dutch Hospital restaurant and souvenir shopping complex, by Colombo’s own World Trade Centre twin towers.

Fairway Colombo – Intimate Comfort in Sri Lanka

I was welcomed at the entrance to Fairway Colombo hotel by attentive staff and security detail for a luggage check. The lobby, with gleaming Italian marble flooring, is small and registration was done swiftly. I was issued with a key card that not only gave access to my bedroom but also operated the lift, which made certain only registered guests could use it. The key card also gave access from the lobby to the food court.

The style of the hotel is immediately apparent from the décor of the corridors. Paintings by a leading local artist hang on the walls, and the carpets are plush and soberly patterned. My bedroom was similarly furnished for cosy comfort. The wardrobe had doors of mirrors and on the wall, a flat-screen television hung in a distinctive, chunky wooden frame, painted red.

While ground floor rooms have balconies overlooking Hospital Street, mine had sealed windows with the exterior window ledge patterned with spikes to prevent pigeons and crows coming to roost. A thoughtful touch. Even more thoughtful for guests’ grooming is the automatic Shoe-polishing machine in the corridors at the entrance to every lift.

That made me realise that the Fairway Colombo Hotel is in a class of its own, regardless of star grading. During my overnight stay, I was flattered with the panache of five-star attention and was amazed by the high quality of the décor, the room amenities and the extra touches, such as an elevator for vehicles to the underground car park.

Geared for business visitors as well as for the wise traveller who doesn’t want to spend on unnecessary frills, Fairway Colombo hotel has a meeting room available by advance booking. There is also a gym. I used the hotel’s smart taxi service to take me home at the end of my stay, and the hotel also has taxis available to the popular Bally’s Casino for all night gambling.

Although the hotel has 181 guest rooms, it exudes the intimate comfort of a small property. Rooms feature complimentary WiFi coverage, motion controlled sensor-driven room temperature controls and the convenience of checking bills from the comfort of the room television system. The beds are designed for a good night’s sleep. There are complimentary tea and coffee making facilities in all the rooms. The bathroom amenities include liquid soap, shower gel and shampoo.

Curious cocktails

It’s not only the bedrooms and service that make Fairway Colombo Hotel such a special place to stay. The range of restaurants means guests don’t have to venture out to eat. Indeed, many patrons of the restaurants and bars are city dwellers enjoying a night out.

On the ground floor, with access from the street or by key card from the lobby, is an up-market food court. There is a Dutch pub with stools and tables set up on the veranda overlooking Hospital Street. The food outlets include a coffee shop, the Java Lounge, an Asian counter, a grill corner and a juice & gelato bar. The Food court is open for non-residents form lunch onwards and has a 24-hour restaurant. Fairway Colombo hotel guests take breakfast (a buffet with a selection of western and eastern delicacies) there.

Bold paintings by the famous Sri Lankan artist, Segar, adorn the walls. I was amazed and honoured to find that I was sitting right under one that featured the Beatles in 1960 and a poem I had written then, with my name as part of the art.

But that’s not why I liked the place: it was the vibration stirred by its popularity that impressed me.

Popular is also the personality of the rooftop restaurant whose name – Botanik – suggests wholesome food and drinks. As well as a restaurant, Botanik is a rooftop bar open to the sky. The barmen are experts in conjuring up some curious cocktails and mixing classics that are not on the menu, such as a perfect Negroni.

Botanik is re-introducing cocktails to Colombo’s bar-hopping, night-clubbing crowd. Not just margaritas but also exciting blends of botanicals. To encourage the cocktail set, master classes in cocktail making are held for guests by reservation. There is also an opportunity on the drink menu for guests to define their own gin combinations.

The Top Five Cocktails at Botanik Colombo

1. Tamarind – a shaken blend of coconut cream, passion juice and two arracks: Ceylon Arrack and Old Arrack.
2. Strawberry – strawberries, Rosso Vermouth, peach juice and basil.
3. Jasmine – Colombo brand gin and lemongrass
4. Soursop with vodka
5. Green Chilli –  Fernet Branca and Limoncello.

The restaurant is next to the bar and, if a DJ is playing in the bar, the music accompanies dinner. Dishes are thoughtfully prepared, as I discovered when I ordered lamb shoulder. Cooked for 12 hours (slow cooking is a feature of this restaurant) it was so tender, the meat fell off the bone, and so succulent, I look forward to trying it again. Since the restaurant is open to non-residents as well as hotel guests, I certainly will.

The Botanik rooftop bar has special events on Wednesdays, Fridays and at weekends. Across the road, at the Dutch hospital bar and restaurant complex, there are also special events and open microphone sessions which add to the action of the area. You really feel you’re at the centre of fun.

The concept of Fairway Colombo Hotel is “lean luxury.” It sounds like a nifty marketing term, but “lean” is not a euphemism for “cheap and cheerful.” There’s nothing tatty about this hotel and it is the perfect antidote to soulless, self-important hotels where guests can’t really feel comfortable.

It was such a pleasure to find that Fairway Colombo Hotel offers guests not just convenience and comfort at a good price, but is geared for fun as well as for business.

How to reserve your stay at Fairway Colombo

Email at rsv[@]fairwaycolombo.com or click here for online reservations. Alternatively, if you need help in your reservation you could call Fairway Colombo  on 0112 1531 00 (If you’re calling outside Sri Lanka dial +941 1215 3100)