I recently had a wonderful experience at Uga Riva in Negombo. From the start, the staff made us feel so welcome and really looked after us throughout our visit. Their service was attentive but relaxed, which made for a very enjoyable meal. The food was outstanding – every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented. You could tell that fresh ingredients and a lot of care went into each plate. They have a nice mix of traditional Sri Lankan dishes and some international options, so there’s something for everyone, and it all tasted fantastic. Overall, it was a memorable dining experience with excellent food and top-notch service. Uga Riva is definitely worth a visit if you're in Negombo!

nothing - everything was perfect.

This place is perfection! From the warm welcome to our stunning suite to the food, the service - it does not get any better than this. The Uga Riva is at the same time a journey to the past and an expierience of contemporary luxury at its best. Be it the beautifully decorated rooms, the pool, the garden, the restaurant, everything was just perfect. The service was exceptional. All the staff are obviously highly trained professionals, and are kind and welcoming hosts. A true experience!

On arrival we thought that this place was remote as can be, but then realised that it was actually quite close to Negombo, if you take a different road. So in the end: Nothing.

This beautiful hotel was the perfect calm and relaxing end to our holiday and is very well located close to the airport. There are not many rooms so it feels very tranquil and the manager explained they close the hotel off to outside visitors to keep it that way which is nice. The staff went above and beyond for us to make the stay relaxing and the manager even accommodated a late checkout so we had somewhere to rest before our flight which we really appreciated. They even provided a birthday cake for us as we were celebrating a 30th! We absolutely loved the pool which is set in beautiful grounds and the hotel itself is really classy and peaceful. Food was delicious too with good portions, we recommend the prawn green Thai curry!

Some minor things to improve - the rug in our bedroom was a slip hazard as it moved easily every time you walked on it to get to the bathroom. Should really be secured down somehow. Similarly in the shower temperature is quite hard to adjust so it’s very easy to get burnt. We also felt as though some of the more junior staff could do with a bit more training in terms of service and showing guests around.

Short but very comfortable stay at Uga Riva after arriving in the early hours after our flight. The room was spacious and the hotel grounds are gorgeous and very clean. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly and even assisted organising tuk tuk drivers to collect us from Negombo in the evening to bring us back to the hotel. Special thanks to Nilajan and Silva who made us feel very welcome.

The food was tasty, although very pricey compared to the local restaurants.

An absolute haven in the middle of nowhere - we arrived at midnight, & were blown away by the sweetheart team of 4, including the Manager, who were waiting to greet us with the traditional betel leaves, fresh lime juice, & coconut pancake pastries. I was invited to light a welcome flame & was made to feel so welcome.

We knew it was a little isolated, but had no idea quite how out in the woods it really was. It had rained heavily just before we arrived, & it was dark, so the journey seemed to go on & on, & it was a rough unsealed road, so we were a tiny bit apprehensive about where we were being taken. BUT! When you see the pristine gorgeous white property past the gates, & the charming smiles, you are instantly swept off your feet into your home for the night 🏡

When I first saw Uga Riva Negombo highlighted in the New York Times 52 Places to Go, I was so excited to see a luxury boutique hotel in Kochchikade (a suburb of Negombo)! My Sri Lankan husband grew up in Kochchikade. While we typically stay with family during our annual spring break trips to Sri Lanka, this year, we had to make last-minute changes to our accommodations. The Uga Riva Negombo resort and staff hit the "ball out of the park" (reference for American travelers) translation: we had a delightful and exceptional 3 night stay! The January 2024, New York Times review is spot on: Sustainability is a focus for businesses, especially the just-opened Uga Riva, a luxe hotel in a refurbished manor house that once welcomed Mohandas K. Gandhi and diplomats from around Asia. And for those family travelers with small children who believe that Negombo automatically means busy beach resorts, please also consider the tranquil and family-friendly luxe Uga Riva. My 6 year old daughter LOVED our stay. She also hates sand between her toes, so beach stay was a no-go. From the infinity pool surrounded by lush trees and chirping birds (try getting that on The Beach Strip in Negombo) to the delicious adult and kid-friendly a la carte meals that you have the option of having delivered to your room vs. The Dreaded All You Can Eat Hotel Buffet, which requires non-pajamas as appropriate attire (parents, you know what I mean). The thoughtfully curated menu included delicious health & wellness options along with continental and Sri Lankan favorites. The Deluxe room (lowest tier of the rooms available but exceeded my expectations) was spacious, immaculately clean and very functional with the comfortable sitting area doubling as a dining area. The in-room espresso machine was next level. We loved the A/C, but some nights, we turned on the 3 beautiful overhead fans, and the room stayed cool and comfortable.

Everything exceeded our expectations. I wish we could have stayed longer.

Uga Riva is exquisite. A beautifully presented immaculate Sri Lankan boutique hotel with luxurious rooms, wonderful pool and beautiful gardens. Food is prepared to order by the chef and is delicious. The whole team working at the hotel made our stay the best we’ve had in our two trips to Sri Lanka. If you’re arriving at Colombo international airport and need a local stay please book in here (less than half an hour by taxi) but be warned- you may not want to leave….

We loved it all!

I had an amazing stay at Uga Riva. The property is absolutely stunning, decorated with a lot of taste and all areas are extremely clean. The food is amazing - be ready for the best breakfast of your trip ! The staff is exceptional, they are all making sure everything is always perfect. A huge thank you to the Villa Manager and to Lahiru who really made my stay unforgettable ! I highly recommend this little piece of paradise. I will definitely come back!

I've stayed at many nice hotels in my life, and I have to say that the service at Uga Riva Negombo was perhaps the best I have ever experienced, even for properties of this caliber. They really went above and beyond to personalize my stay -- setting up a gorgeous little poolside table for my dinner, arranging transportation, giving me a tour of the property and its fascinating history, etc. Food was excellent. Property is beautiful. And, as a bonus, it's quite convenient to the airport. Highly recommend!

We had an exceptional stay at Uga Riva. This hotel is top quality; a beautiful setting, extremely comfortable rooms, quality linnen, great bathrooms, fabulous food… We arrived drenched from the rain and the staff immediately made us feel comfortable with hot tea and towels. They were extremely helpful and kind, and really helped bring the quality of our stay to the next level. A special thank you goes to Lahiru, Kumara, Yasith and Upul: they deserve a raise!