Great question — here are highly recommended beach-side hotels across Sri Lanka’s coasts, grouped by area and style (luxury, boutique, family/mid-range, east-coast). Each entry includes why it’s notable and a source you can check for details and booking.

South & southwest coast (best travel months Nov–Apr)

• Cape Weligama (Weligama) — Cliff-top luxury villas with sweeping infinity pool and excellent food; great for sunsets, whale‑watching excursions and a high-end South Coast base. (legacy.resplendentceylon.com)
• Amanwella (near Tangalle) — Minimalist, very private beachfront suites (many with plunge pools); superb for couples and quiet beach time. (cntravellerme.com)
• Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle — Large cliff-top resort with private beach access, spa and family-friendly facilities; good balance of luxury and activities. (anantara.com)
• The Fortress Resort & Spa (Koggala/Galle area) — Contemporary boutique-luxury on the sand with easy access to Galle Fort and southern attractions. (thefortress.in)
• Jetwing Lighthouse (Galle) — Iconic Geoffrey Bawa–inspired hotel on a coastal promontory near Galle Fort; strong architecture, sea views and refined service. (jetwinghotels.com)
• KK Beach (Habaraduwa, near Galle) — Small boutique beachfront hotel with contemporary design and direct beach access; excellent for art/architecture-minded travelers. (kkcollection.com)

Bentota / west coast (family-friendly / watersports)

• Taj Bentota Resort & Spa — Long-established beachfront resort with water-sports, family facilities and easy access to Bentota’s attractions. (tajhotels.com)
• Jetwing Saman Villas (Bentota/Aturuwella) — Romantic boutique option perched on a headland with private dining options and strong service. (jetwinghotels.com)

Unique coast / safari + beach

• Wild Coast Tented Lodge (Yala area) — Luxury tented camp where jungle meets a wild beach — ideal if you want safari (Yala) + coastal time in one stay. (resplendentceylon.com)

East coast (best travel months May–Oct; calmer shallow bays)

• Uga Bay (Pasikuda) — One of the best-established resorts on Pasikuda Bay: wide shallow waters, great for snorkelling and calm swimming. (ugaescapes.com)
• Anantaya Resort & Spa (Passikudah) — Large beachfront resort on the east-coast bay, good for families and snorkelling. (go-lanka.com)
• Uga Jungle Beach (Trincomalee / Kuchchaveli) — Jungle‑meets‑beach resort on the northeast coast; good base for whale/dolphin watching, Pigeon Island diving and Trincomalee sights. (ugaescapes.com)

Quick planning tips

• Pick coast by season: south/west coast is typically best November–April; east coast (Passikudah/Trincomalee/Arugam Bay) is best May–October. (Seasonal weather/monsoon patterns). (thetimes.co.uk)
• Activity matching: choose Mirissa/Bentota/Galle for whale-watching, surfing and lively beach towns; Pasikuda/Trincomalee for calm swimming and snorkeling; Yala/south-east for combining safari + secluded beaches. (See hotel/activity pages for local excursions). (legacy.resplendentceylon.com)
• Book early for peak season (Dec–Feb and local holidays); check whether the property offers direct beach access or is on a cliff (both have pros/cons for swimming vs views).

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow these to a short list by budget (luxury vs mid-range vs budget), or
• Pick the best choices for a specific activity (surfing, whale watching, snorkeling, family-friendly), or
• Check current rates/availability for particular dates.

Which of those would you like next?