The Park Street Hotel
Taru Villas, Sri Lanka’s only locally-owned establishment of small, stylish boutique hotels, is proud to have opened its newest addition in Sri Lanka’s vibrant, bustling capital, Colombo. The Park Street Hotel, located on a leafy street in central Colombo, fills the city’s need for a quiet, personal, and luxurious getaway from the bustle of the city, and is the perfect option for these seeking a chic alternative to larger, commercial hotels.
Although in operation for only an infant 6 months, the hotel has already been included in Conde Nast Traveler UK’s much-coveted “Global Hot List” for 2007.
The Park St Hotel is a 250 yr old colonial bungalow and adjoining warehouses that occupy an extent of 2 acres of land in the heart of Colombo. It is one of the few remaining bungalows of its kind in Colombo, formerly the home of a colourful and eccentric couple who were members of Colombo’s “elite”, and now a charming, friendly 12-room boutique hotel, newly refurbished by famous Sri Lankan designer Nayantara (Taru) Fonseka. Conveniently located approx 30 km from the airport, the hotel provides her guests a beautiful boutique accommodation in Colombo, as either a base to exploring the island or for a few days shopping or absorbing some distinct urban Sri Lankan culture at the beginning or end of their trip. Ideal for the knowledgeable world-traveler, it is also eminently suited to the top-end business traveler needing an exclusive environment to have meetings or entertain VIP clients.
The 2 suites are the refurbished private suites of the former occupants of the old house that was #20 Park St. They are in grand and typical colonial style, with beautiful antique furniture but with all the modern amenities and luxuries one would expect. The main Begum Suite has its own large terrace and garden for private functions. The 10 deluxe rooms are housed in a converted warehouse and are very spacious with high ceilings and windows that look out to a garden terrace at back. An open plan layout encompasses separate areas for living, sleeping, dining, and dressing. The furniture is dark wood of sleek modern lines and the room is softened by coir, water-hyacinth and leather accessories and rich floor-to-ceiling curtains. Paintings in the deluxe rooms are all one-off originals by one of Sri Lanka’s most famous modern artists. King-size double beds, the finest Indian linens, Music system, Cable TV, DVD, personal safe, coffee machine and mini bar are standard in all the rooms. All bathrooms have Rain Showers and fans for ventilation and 5 of the rooms have Jacuzzi Spa Bathtubs.
A varied and extensive menu of modern continental and Asian cuisine is available in the restaurant. Special requests are undertaken gladly and if possible. Chef Nishantha has many yrs of experience working in several star-class hotels and restaurants around the world and has most recently returned from Paris after a 4 yr stint. Dining is possible in the indoor open-air dining room or al fresco near the pool. Room service is available 24hours. Also an exciting cocktail menu and a small but well selected range of wines is available at the bar and dining room.
Rates at The Park Street Hotel start at US$220++ and include breakfast. Further information is available on www.taruvillas.com. Alternately, contact theparkstreethotel@taruvillas.com or +94 11 4724 363 (during office hours) for further information.
THINGS TO DO/ EXPLORING
• Laze by the pool
• Reading in the Lounge areas, terraces, garden or in the sumptuous privacy of your own suite. Library available with books & board games
• Internet facility and Wifi for those with own laptops.
• Gym.
• In-room DVD & Cable TV.
• Great Shopping & Cafes (Odel, Gandhara, Barefoot, Crescat) and Bars & Restaurants (Number 18, Nihonbashi, Beach Wadiya)
• Museums – Dutch Period Museum, Col 11; National Museum, Col 7
• The Royal Colombo Golf Club – one of the best greens in Asia with Club House. Golf clubs/irons available for hire. Golf can also be played at the Water’s Edge Golf Club in Battaramulla, further away from central Colombo.
• Gangaramya Temple – Col 2. One of the most prominent Buddhist temples in this part of the country, a minutes’ walk from The Park Street Hotel. This temple hosts the Navam Perahera during the “full moon” or Poya holiday in February.
• Vihara Maha Devi Park (around the corner) or Galle Face Green for open-air exercise - long strolls/power walks or jogs.
• In-room Massage at the hotel.
• Pettah – not for the faint-hearted! The noisy dirty hub of wholesale trade (adjacent to the CBD and near to the main Fort railway and Bus Terminal) is a maze of streets and alleys where you can make some serendipitous discoveries – trinkets from China, stainless steel from India, a huge array of spices and herbs used in Ayurveda, cheap clothes – the variety is endless.