Fairway Sunset: A Galle hotel for all budgets

“Go to Galle,” is our advice for somewhere that’s fun and safe to stay in Sri Lanka; moreover, it has a spick and span new hotel (Fairway Sunset) that’s designed to suit all budgets.

Fairway Sunset is aptly named because all rooms facing the west, where the sea rolls into the shore by the road linking Galle with Unawatuna, Mirissa and Matara, have floor to ceiling glass walls with phenomenal views. You can see the sunset too with sun-downer cocktails at the rooftop bar.

Entrance to this exciting new hotel that suits all budgets is from the coastal road, opposite a small beach where fishermen haul up their boats. The sea tempts surfers, and the hotel recognises this with affordable rooms, and white-walled corridors decorated with colourful surfboards.

Light and brightness creates the cheerful atmosphere of Sunset Fairway, and this is matched by the friendly helpfulness of the staff. But not only are the rooms exceptional with their immaculate cleanliness, the food is gourmet class. Fairway Sunset is all you’d expect from an expensive multi-star hotel.

But its rates are not.

A Bed in Fairway Sunset Galle for US$15

Yes, you can stay at Fairway Sunset for US$15 a night per person. Or you can pay anything up to US$ 85 per night per person. Fairway Sunset in Galle is Sri Lanka’s first genuine egalitarian hotel: it really does suit everyone. And everyone has access to the hotel’s impressive facilities.

There are superior and deluxe rooms including family rooms, nine suites and – this is amazing in a hotel of this luxury and comfort – two dormitory rooms.

The conventional rooms have all the usual hotel facilities but in a bright setting since the walls are white and light floods in through the wall-to-ceiling windows. The furniture is contemporary antique, replicating Dutch colonial style, stress-painted in light, pastel blue. The ambience is reassuring and elegant. It’s a room you feel happy to relax in, not anxious to leave.

The so-called dormitory rooms have six bunk beds in each, at US$15 per person. Each dorm is kept embarrassingly clean and has an attached shower room and toilet, and six large lockable lockers.

These rooms are popular with surfers but they don’t suffer from any lack of the benefits of a star-class hotel. The restaurant and bar is open to all, not just with reasonable prices, but also with a menu that caters for vegans as well as fish fans and carnivores.

Scarlett Sky the rooftop restaurant and bar

The restaurant is on the rooftop, catchily named Scarlett Sky, the colour of the magnificent sunsets viewed from the open air veranda. The restaurant has an open-sided kitchen where guests can watch their food being prepared, but also where the chefs cook with a view, inspiring them to do their best. And they do.

Even the club sandwich we had through room service was perfect and the menu had us pondering how to try everything, with tapas to go with a cocktail, starters and a range of intriguing mains, so we solved that problem by having breakfast, lunch and dinner there.

For lunch on the first day, I had lamb satay with lashings of peanut sauce and baby tomatoes as delicious as grapes. In the evening I had seared tuna; for breakfast the next day, beef curry with milk rice, and for lunch, a sensational Cauliflower and Mushroom Wellington.

This vegetarian Beef Wellington had puff pastry that melted in the mouth and was served with pea puree, pickled beetroot and feta cheese. It was evidence of the executive chef’s flair for originality and it was a pleasure to watch him and his brigade cooking with such care. Even if you are not lucky enough to stay at Sunset Fairway, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant is open to non-residents too.

There is a bar with sunset view and that’s where I tried a stimulating – but non-alcoholic – cocktail, called Malacca Sour. It was a combination of lime, pineapple and orange juice with a chilli kick and green chilli as garnish. Not for the squeamish.

Also on the rooftop is a store that’s like an Organic Products Library with such items for sale as Organic Coconut Sugar, Mulled Wine Spices and an irresistible Coconut & Ginger Spread (super on hot toast).

Galle Fort

Fairway Sunset is an ideal base for visiting Galle Fort (just ten minutes away by tuk-tuk) with its ancient ramparts, gift shops selling trendy and traditional must-have merchandise, gem shops and quirky cafés, bars and restaurants. Visiting Galle Fort is like entering a gated community.

On the gallery of the converted Old Dutch Hospital, there are restaurants featuring food of many cuisines and an outrageously-named bar with great seafood called “Tequilla Mockingbird.” Naturally the bar for Margaritas, including one spiced with ground Sri Lankan pepper. Galle Fort is a place to linger and explore before returning to the cool, clean and calm Fairway Sunset.

Royal Enfield motorbikes by Soul Riders

In the hotel’s glass-walled lobby are parked some brand new Royal Enfield motorbikes. These belong to an outfit known as Soul Riders and can be hired for US$35 per day. The company also runs island tours by motorbike. Or you can watch whales from the air by Fairway Air’s light aircraft which fly from the nearby domestic airport at Koggala.

This is an eco-friendly way of whale watching as the whales aren’t disturbed by boat parties, and you see them full-length from the sky. A flight of 45 minutes costs US$150 per person. Land tours also operate from Fairway Sunset Hotel to Yala National Park and other sites. Or you can rent a mobile home, with a driver, from the Fairway company, Go Outdoors and explore.

While staying at Fairway Sunset, guests have use of the swimming pool, gym and spa with hairdressing salon at the Fairway Sunset Galle, Sri Lanka Serviced Apartments with shuttle service available on request.

Fairway Sunset Hotel in Galle, Sri Lanka not only provides a safe way to see and stay in Sri Lanka, but it’s also a fair way, with a welcome for travellers of all budgets in Sri Lanka.

Book your stay at Fairway Sunset, Galle

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