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20 Middle Street, Galle | Timbuktu Travel
Galle

20 Middle Street

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Voted No.1 in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 by Travel+Leisure

About 20 Middle Street

Historic, charming & stylish, this hotel has captured the best of Galle's past and present
Down Sri Lanka's southern coast and sitting between some of its finest beaches, Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a far-reaching history. Fitting in with this fascinating past is 20 Middle Street, the erstwhile home of a Dutch merchant that was revitalised to become one of Galle's most prominent hotels. With the expertise of Sri Lankan architect, Channa Daswatte, the house retains its distinguished exterior and art-filled hallways but with a soft, shabby-chic style. Located on a quiet lane, most of Galle is reachable on foot so walking the ramparts and sniffing out the best street food is a given.
From $1.2K per person/per night
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Property details

The property

Protected by lush, walled gardens where you might be found reclining under the wizened mango tree, the house is a beauty. The common areas include lounges decked in soothing grey tones, plump couches and wooden decor, a library and billiards room. The restaurant serves a medley of international and Sri Lankan dishes and leads onto a breezy terrace furnished with cosy rattan chairs. In the garden is a pool and annexe, with a pleasant loggia beneath - the perfect reading nook if ever we saw one.

The rooms

The rooms are light-filled and effortlessly stylish, donning cool textiles, beige rugs on smooth terrazzo floors, and teak four-posters. All have walk-in rain showers and high-end toiletries. The two rooms in the main house boast a walk-in dressing room and views over the red-roofed houses from a private terrace, whilst the two in the garden annexe are slightly more contemporary in style, with one featuring an open-plan bathroom. There is also a fifth room in the pool house.

Activities

Head out to explore the sights of Galle - and there are plenty. Join a third-generation local for a tour round the Fort ramparts, learning absorbing the history along the way. If it's a little sun and sea you're after, enjoy a few hours on the beach, or hop aboard a catamaran cruise to spot whales, dugongs and dolphins. Venture further inland to walk amongst fragrant cinnamon and tea plantations, or enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan meal cooked and served in the middle of a rice paddy.

What you'll love

What you'll love

Built in 1750, 20 Middle Street holds a lot of history, much of which is shared in the amazing collection of art and antiques.
Insiders tip

Insiders Tip

Certain rooms do have open-plan bathrooms, so plan accordingly with depending on who you're travelling with.
Something to think about

Something to think about

Because of the extensive art and antique collection, no children under 12 are allowed to stay.

Sri Lanka

Galle

A cosmopolitan colonial town on the sultry south-west coast stuffed with hipper-than-hip eateries, hotels and cafes.