Great central location by the lake in Kandy, convenient for the station to get train to Ella. The Queens is a glorious step back in time to Victorian slightly faded splendour. Vintage dark furniture, high ceilings, big rooms, ample space for everything and good value. Buffet food perfectly good without being top notch but that doesn't take away from the wonderful old world atmosphere of the place. If shiny and new pristine (read sterile) modern hotels are your preference, avoid the Queens, but if you have better taste, stay here.

Harsh critics might say it's a bit tired, but they would be missing the point. Easy to imagine the great occasions of yesteryear at the Queens, including in the Royal Ballroom.

The rooms were very spacious. The triple room we ordered for our three sons was large and it had balconies that overlooked the lake and was very beautiful. Originally we had got the two rooms on two different floors, but after talking to the staff, they were very accommodating and moved us so we were on the same floor with just one other room in-between.

I have brought this matter up with the front office. I understand that the room was changed to accommodate our request to be close together, which I appreciate. However, a little more detail could have been paid to the second room.

If you care more about beautiful hardwood floors and different antique furniture in each room than whether or not the shampoo bottles are squeezable enough, read on. I always feel pretty defensive about characterful hotels like this one that receive lukewarm write-ups because they've faded a little. Or, worse still, because travellers expect obsequious treatment. Personally, I found all the staff obliging and friendly. Yes, there's a shabbiness to certain areas like the pool changing rooms, but you're not paying anything close to a five star international hotel price to stay in this fantastic heritage establishment right on the side of the lake. A Shangri-La or Hilton could only dream of looking this good in a hundred years' time.

I can't think of anything negative.

We chose to stay at Queens hotel because of the iconic landmark building in the very heart of Kandy and its glorious past, fully aware of it’s shortcomings, and did not regret it. We managed to get a good deal for a junior suite, which was spacious and nicely furnished, and enjoyed our view of the lake from the room and its small balconies. Despite parts of the hotel being in desperate need of renovation the room and the common areas were in good general condition. The young staff was eager to compensate the shortcomings of the aged building. Breakfast buffet was very good, but we did not try dinner because of all the bad reviews.

Yes, if you just look at value for money and don’t care about soul and historic charm - then you will find better places in Kandy. Places that don’t have a kettle with indian plug in a room with UK power outlets. Places where the bathtub would have a plug so it would not be for decoration only. Maybe even places where it does not rain through the roof of the bar. . But when Queens hotel will be top renovated into a luxury place, as it was under way before Covid, it will not only loose its very special charm but also won’t be affordable to most people any more.

The general ambience of this old colonial hotel. All the staff with one exception were very helpful and cheerful. The rooms we had were clean and comfortable but on the 3rd floor only one small window.

My arrival was met with a less than welcoming greeting at reception and it took ages to check in. The rooms are in need of some modernisation especially the bathrooms and electrical sockets. The pool is nice but sitting around it is spoilt by the smells from the kitchen. Also many thanks to the brainless idiots who fail to close the lift door properly on the ground floor. When you are stuck on the 3rd floor with a child in a wheelchair this is really annoying to say the least.

We came for the history & atmosphere which it is full of. The maintenance needs attention but overall an enjoyable stay. When we had an air conditioner problem we were quickly upgraded to a much nicer room.The staff were very courteous & helpful especially the gentleman at reception who is a great fan of Gardening Australia which I have watched for years also the restaurant staff were very attentive. If you like everything pristine & perfect you should stay elsewhere but for character & atmosphere Queens Hotel provides an interesting stay.

The buffet breakfast & the cafe have room for improvement.

The Queen's Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka, is a delightful blend of old-world charm and modern comfort. The rooms are particularly noteworthy for their inviting ambience. The vintage brown furniture and wooden flooring create a harmonious and soothing atmosphere, ideal for relaxation. The availability of hot water and well-appointed bathrooms add to the overall comfort. The bed and linen in the rooms are exceptionally cozy, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Dining at the hotel is a true culinary delight. The excellent dinner options offer a variety of flavours to satisfy the palate, while the breakfast choices provide an authentic taste of Sri Lankan cuisine, making it a unique and enjoyable experience. The friendly and attentive staff further enhance the stay, ensuring that guests feel well taken care of. Situated in the heart of the city, the Queen's Hotel offers easy access to the vibrant energy of Kandy. The central location allows for enjoyable walks both in the morning and at night, providing a perfect opportunity to explore the city's culture and surroundings. With its winning combination of comfort, hospitality, and location, the Queen's Hotel is a welcoming haven for travellers in Kandy. Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at the Queen's Hotel in early October sounds like a wonderful choice. It's heartwarming to hear that our special day was made even more memorable with the delicious chocolate cake they provided. A tasty treat that's also good value for your money is always a delightful surprise. It is compatible price with the market. The thoughtful suggestion of offering Kiribath (milk rice) to the Dalada Maligawa in the morning is a beautiful and culturally significant way to start the day. It's an opportunity to partake in a local tradition and offer our respects at this sacred site. They provided Kiribath for offering to our request. We did it.

While dining at the restaurant in the Queen's Hotel, it's noted that the red napkins may not complement the overall surroundings or decor, which can be important for creating a cohesive atmosphere. Additionally, the presence of mosquitoes in the dining hall can be a bit of an inconvenience. To enhance the dining experience, it might be beneficial for the establishment to consider using mosquito control measures such as sprays or repellents to ensure a more comfortable and pest-free environment for guests. These adjustments could further improve the dining experience at the Queen's Hotel.

We booked at Queen's for 2 nights and finally extended for one more :) Thanks a lot to a wonderful friendly staff of the hotel, they helped us a lot, special thanks for your surprise for my mum's birthday, she was so happy to get this tasty beautiful cake from you on her day ☺ Hotel is very antique and the vintage atmosphere is fantastic. Location is the best, very comfortable to reach Kandy spots from this hotel. Our room was cosy and clean, we had kettle, tea, coffee, water in our room, cleaning was offered daily.

As for me, I would prefer more lighting in the room and a little upgrade, to change some items of furniture to new ones, to make room look fresher but preserving vintage look and definetely to add more bright lamps, lights. I would say that breakfast could be included in this price, as the price pretty high comparing to other Kandy hotels. But we loved our days there and would come back ☺

Theee reasons to stay here: location, swimmingpool with shady very quiet garden and nearby the bar, and the history of this hotel built 1844. Comfortable room with view on swimmingpool. Yes there is laxk in maintaining, bathroom not modern standard, but shower ok with hot water and beds very good. For your breakfast go just around the corner, for perfect masala soda or western breakfast, The location allows you to visit temple of tooth at 5.30 am for the first ceremony. I was the only tourist and not more then around 20 srilankan people for doing their offerings. I know the difference, was there also at 6.30 pm.

Nothing,

Loved the old colonial style and that they didn’t try to modernise the hotel. They are busy with renovations to the outside facade which will make it look like it did back in the day. Very friendly staff and always helpful. We didn’t eat the buffet lunch or dinner but the menu looked nice with a lot of options. The Sri Lankan breakfast was also nice with roti and different curries. Our room was very big with a working aircon. VERY central which was amazing.

Some areas inside are in need of touching up. A new paint layer can go a long way. This hotel has so much potential and hopefully it will be restored back to its grand self once all the renovations are complete.