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The Travel Lounge
Where you'll stay | Galle, Sri Lanka
The Sun House
An 1860s merchant's house on the hill above Galle, with just eight rooms.
The Sun House sits high on a hill above Galle on Upper Dickson Road, overlooking the town's harbour yet only about a five-minute walk from the town centre. Built in the 1860s as a merchant's home with verandahs, courtyards and tropical gardens, it was restored in 2023 by the team behind Gal Oya Lodge and Aathma Colombo House.
Why we love it
What makes The Sun House special
- Billed as Sri Lanka's original boutique hotel, in a hillside house first built in 1860
- Just eight individually styled rooms and suites, filled with antiques, art and books
- Hilltop setting overlooking Galle's harbour, a short stroll from town and the fort
- The Gallean restaurant and bar in the old spice stores, blending Asian flavours with local spices
- A literary pedigree: the Galle Literary Festival was first conceived in its garden and courtyards
- Interiors shaped by designer Dick Dumas and lovingly restored in 2023
Your room on this trip
Junior Suite
Your junior suite will be one of the house's two junior suites, Dumas or Taprobane, each around 42 to 44 sq m with a king-size bed and views over the lower gardens. Both have bathrooms with twin sinks and a bathtub, open-air in the Taprobane Suite, which also has a walk-in shower and a bay window above the garden canopy. The Dumas Suite, named after designer Dick Dumas, adds a separate living area.
Around the hotel
Eating, relaxing and exploring at The Sun House
Facilities and experiences
- Outdoor swimming pool, reached through the courtyard
- The Gallean restaurant and bar, set in the house's original spice stores
- Tropical gardens with frangipani trees around the courtyard
- Collection of art, books and furniture throughout the house
- Library
- Air-conditioned rooms with ceiling fans
- Free wifi
Dining
The Gallean, the hotel's restaurant and bar, occupies the house's original spice stores and serves dishes and cocktails that blend Asian flavours with local ingredients and spices. Days begin with a hearty breakfast and end with a sunset cocktail.
Location
- About a five-minute walk to the centre of Galle
- About 1 km, or a 12-minute walk, to Galle Fort
- About 6 km to Unawatuna Beach
- About two hours' drive from Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo
Good to know
- Check-in from 1pm, check-out by 11am
- Children are welcome; the Dumas Suite sleeps two adults and one child, and the Taprobane Suite two adults and two children
- There is no lift
Your questions answered
The Sun House FAQs
How far is The Sun House from Galle Fort?
The Sun House sits on a hill about a five-minute walk from Galle town centre. Galle Fort is roughly 1 km away, around a 12-minute walk, or a quick tuk-tuk ride.
How long is the transfer from Colombo airport to The Sun House?
The drive from Bandaranaike International Airport to Galle takes about two hours. The hotel can arrange airport transfers on request.
Does The Sun House have a swimming pool?
Yes. There is an outdoor swimming pool, reached through the courtyard and surrounded by the hotel's tropical gardens.
Is The Sun House suitable for families?
Children are welcome, and several rooms sleep two adults with one or two children, including the Taprobane and Gallean Suites. With just eight rooms and no lift, it suits families happy with a small, historic house.
What is the history of The Sun House?
The house was built in the 1860s for a Scottish spice merchant and his Sri Lankan wife. It was later shaped by designer Dick Dumas and hotelier Geoffrey Dobbs, under whom the Galle Literary Festival was first conceived in its gardens, and it was restored by new owners in 2023.
Want to stay here? The Sun House is part of our 14-day luxury Sri Lanka tour, and we can also include it in a holiday designed around you.
Where to next?
It starts with a chat. No forms or scripts, just a friendly conversation. Call, email or pop into the Lounge, and one of the team will take it from there.
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