Sielen Diva is nestled in a quite stretch of the south coast of Sri Lanka, Talpe, a mere 10km away from Galle Fort - one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent UNESCO heritage sites. This beachfront hotel has just seven rooms, all with impressive ocean views. Of the seven, two of the rooms are suites. The property, split levelled, with a sprawling lawn gives a picturesque view of the Indian ocean irrespective of the time of the day. The swimming pool also sits on elevated ground which gives guests an open view of the endless ocean. The hotel has a game room and outdoor area for a game of badminton. The large game room is particularly appealing to families as a hangout, with board games, a pool table and a variety of books with a selection of movies to indulge in. The carefully selected paintings and framed pictures creates a feel of home away from home.
We love the rooms; they are spacious and minimalistic and have great views of the ocean. Each room has an inviting bathtub to indulge in after a day on the road. The furniture is quite unique with a modern Scandinavian feel to it due to its fine lines, zero frills and minimalistic design. The beds are positioned in a manner to get the best views of the open space and infinite views of the ocean. You literarily go to bed and rise in the morning not only to the sounds of the crashing waves but to the spectacular view of the ocean.
The hotel is very serious about sustainability and encourage guests to use eco-friendly sunhats and beach bags especially if you are heading down to the beach. There is a ‘no plastic policy’ that prevails across the property. You are also encouraged not to spend time watching TV and be outdoors. However, each room has a smart TV which you can access with your own account.
The beach is easily accessible. Step down a couple of stairs from the front lawn and you are on a white sandy beach. A walk 25-30 metres to the right will take you to swimmable waters. This stretch of beach is great for swimming from late November to early April when tides are low and waters are calm.
Food at this property is amazing. As the hotel is serious about community engagement, it sources a lot of the food locally including fresh seafood from the fishermen fishing in the nearby stilts - another wonderful reason to stay in this property where you have the opportunity to photograph genuine stilt fishermen, who don’t ask for money to be photographed. We had Seafood Basque for dinner with homemade bread rolls, simple and delicious. Breakfast was equally pleasing, poached eggs, avocado on toast. A variety of bread and jams are made at the hotel. There’s also option to go in for a Sri Lankan spread in the morning. Breakfast is served out on the patio overlooking the ocean.
This property is just 10km from Galle Fort making it a short drive and ideal for day trips. Mirissa is a 40-minute drive from the hotel and great for whale watching and surfing. As such there are number of things you can do while you are at Sielen Diva. We would recommend least 2-3 nights at the property.
This hotel is great for couples of all ages other than those who have less ability to walk around. We loved the minimalistic yet warm inviting interiors, great service, outstanding cuisine and the quiet, unspoilt beach. We especially enjoyed sitting by the window and watching the fishermen on stilts.
