Ishq Talpe

Ishq Talpe sits right on the ocean’s edge at Talpe, on Sri Lanka’s south coast a short drive from the old ramparts of Galle Fort, with its lawn running down to a sea wall where the Indian Ocean breaks against the rocks. It is a whitewashed, colonial-style home with Dutch-inspired columns and a tiled roof, rented as a whole for complete privacy. Five suites and a team of nine staff make it a natural choice for multi-generational families and groups of friends who want hotel-level service in a home of their own.

Life centres on a long turquoise pool set in the courtyard between the shaded patio and the lounge pavilions, lined with loungers and framed by white columns. Beyond it, a palm-dotted lawn with sun chairs stretches to the shoreline, and the sea is in view from almost every seat. A covered alfresco dining terrace holds a fourteen-seat table, there is a poolside bar counter, and the chef can set up a barbecue on the lawn.

Inside, the living room is furnished with deep white sofas and armchairs in soft blues, and a separate games and movie room has board games, video games and a home cinema screen, with a gym for those who want to keep up a routine. The five suites are decorated in blue, white, beige and gold, each opening onto a garden terrace and each with an en-suite bathroom with twin basins and an outdoor tropical rain shower. A chef and his team cook throughout the stay, with breakfast included and lunch and dinner from the menu.