Here are widely recommended “best” hotels in Colombo (mix of heritage, big international luxury, new flagship properties and well-regarded city hotels). Short note on why each is popular and where it’s located:

• Galle Face Hotel — Iconic colonial seafront hotel (since 1864); great for heritage character and direct access to the Galle Face Green waterfront. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Shangri‑La Colombo — Modern 5★ waterfront skyscraper with extensive facilities, spa and direct mall access; good for luxury ocean‑view rooms. (shangri-la.com)
• ITC Ratnadipa (Colombo) — Large new luxury tower (ITC brand) on Galle Face Green; a recent top-tier entry in Colombo’s skyline. (cntraveller.in)
• Cinnamon Life / Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams — Part of the City of Dreams integrated resort (big new vertical resort complex with dining, shopping and entertainment). Good if you want a resort‑style stay in the city. (cntraveller.in)
• Taj Samudra — Longstanding 5★ hotel facing Galle Face Green; favoured for its location and reliable service. (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Kingsbury — Large luxury hotel in the Fort/business district with rooftop bar, ocean views and strong dining options. (thekingsburyhotel.com)
• Cinnamon Grand Colombo — Classic Colombo 5★ with many dining outlets and convention facilities (popular for families and events). (en.wikipedia.org)
• Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo — Large lakeside 5★ hotel (near Beira Lake) popular for business and events. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Jetwing Colombo Seven — Upscale, design‑forward city hotel in Cinnamon Gardens (good for quieter, upscale neighbourhood stays). (thetimes.co.uk)
• Maniumpathy (boutique stay) — Highly rated small heritage/boutique option in Cinnamon Gardens for a very intimate, characterful stay. (thetimes.co.uk)

Quick tips:

• Best neighbourhoods: Galle Face / Kollupitiya / Fort for seafront and business access; Cinnamon Gardens for quieter, leafy boutique hotels and museums. (thetimes.co.uk)
• Pick heritage (Galle Face/Maniumpathy) for atmosphere, big international chains (Shangri‑La, Taj, ITC) for full luxury facilities, and newer integrated resorts (Cinnamon Life / City of Dreams) if you want on‑site shopping/entertainment. (cntraveller.in)

If you want, I can sort these by price range, distance to the airport, or show current rates/availability for specific dates.