Here are the top luxury hotels and small ultra‑luxury properties in Sri Lanka (carefully selected for location, style and consistently high reviews). Short notes on what makes each special, plus where they are and a reliable citation for further reading.

Top luxury picks (by region)

• Galle Face Hotel — Colombo (heritage city‑centre landmark; colonial rooms, oceanfront promenade and classic service; great if you want history + easy access to the capital). (traveltalkasia.com)

• Ceylon Tea Trails (Resplendent Ceylon) — Hatton / Nuwara Eliya region (restored planter’s bungalows perched in tea country; superb for tea‑house experiences, walks and cool hill‑country climate). (srilankatourismalliance.com)

• Cape Weligama (Relais & Châteaux / Resplendent Ceylon) — Weligama / south coast (dramatic clifftop villas with private pools, ocean views, family‑friendly interconnecting villa options after a recent refresh). Excellent base for Galle and whale‑watching. (thenationalnews.com)

• Amanwella — Tangalle / south coast (Aman’s pared‑back “barefoot‑luxury” suites opening toward a long, quiet beach; award‑level design and privacy). (cntraveller.com)

• Cape Weligama sister / Resplendent Ceylon properties (examples: Heritance/Resplendent brand hotels such as Heritance Tea Factory / Heritance Ahungalla) — notable options for luxury with strong local character and dining. (Resplendent Ceylon properties are repeatedly recognised in regional awards.) (traveltalkasia.com)

• Amangalla — Galle Fort (part of Aman brand history; intimate, historic hotel inside Galle Fort offering colonial‑era rooms and immediate access to Galle’s Unesco fort precinct). (theworlds50best.com)

• The Kandy House / Santani Wellness Kandy — Hill country boutique luxury and wellness retreats (excellent for spa/ayurveda, boutique design and quiet garden estates). Santani is widely praised for wellness; Kandy House is a classic heritage boutique. (thetimes.co.uk)

• Wild Coast Tented Lodge / Yala region — for a luxury wildlife + coast combination (high‑end tented suites between Yala National Park and the coast; great for safaris plus ocean access). (Vogue.com)

• Shangri‑La / Shangri‑La Hambantota (and other high‑end international brands) — for five‑star international chain standards in the south/east; useful if you want consistent chain amenities and facilities. (Check current openings and facilities before booking.) (Vogue.com)

• Fort Bazaar / boutique properties in Galle Fort (e.g., Fort Bazaar, The Fort Printers, Amangalla nearby) — small‑scale luxury inside the Unesco fort with design focus, rooftop dining and walking access to museums, shops and restaurants. (economynext.com)

Quick practical tips

• Best time by region: south & southwest coast (including Tangalle, Weligama, Galle) is strongest December–April for calmer seas and surf‑season activities; hill country (Nuwara Eliya, Hatton) is cool year‑round but clearest December–March. (South coast seasonality noted in travel coverage.) (Vogue.com)

• Book early for peak season (Dec–Mar) and for suites/villas at small properties (many have very few suites). Many boutique/heritage hotels fill months in advance.

• If you want wildlife + beach, combine a tented lodge near Yala with a south‑coast resort (Wild Coast Tented Lodge or similar + Cape Weligama/Amanwella).

• Value note: some ultra‑luxury properties (Aman group, Amanwella, Cape Weligama, Ceylon Tea Trails) command premium rates but consistently receive awards and reader‑choice recognition. (cntraveller.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Build sample 7–10 day itineraries that pair two or three of these properties (beach + hill country + safari), timed to your travel dates; or
• Compare two specific hotels (rooms, facilities, typical rates, pros/cons) if you have particular properties in mind.

Which would be most useful?