Ivy Beach Villa

Ivy Beach Villa stands right on the sea on the coast west of Galle, around seven kilometres from Galle Fort, with a lawn that runs to the shoreline and steps down to the sand. It is a reconstruction of a three-hundred-year-old Dutch house, laid out around open courtyards beneath red-tiled roofs, and it can be booked with five or all ten bedrooms. That makes it a rare choice for large families and multi-generational groups who want to stay together by the ocean, with a full team looking after them.

Outdoors, a ten-by-four-metre swimming pool sits between the house and the sea, surrounded by sun loungers and big white umbrellas on the lawn, with a covered beachside pavilion at the water’s edge. The garden is wide and well kept, there is a courtyard dining terrace inside the house, and sunsets over the Indian Ocean are the evening ritual.

Inside, high timber ceilings, exposed stone walls and traditional Dutch-colonial furniture set the tone, with a long veranda lounge, sitting rooms and a fully equipped kitchen. All ten bedrooms have king beds, four-poster frames with mosquito nets, air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, several with freestanding bathtubs and some with sea views. The villa is fully staffed with housekeeping, laundry, a gardener and 24-hour security, and a chef cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner from a menu.