The Muse

The Muse is a nine-bedroom colonial-style villa on the coast at Bentota, run with the polish of a boutique hotel and set in lush gardens of coconut palms that lead towards a broad golden beach. With nine king-bedded rooms, each with its own bathroom, it is a strong choice for several families or a large group of friends who want everyone under one roof with room to spread out.

A generous swimming pool sits in front of a tiled-roof pavilion, lined with white sun loungers and big parasols, and the lawns around it are lit softly in the evening. A covered pergola with a table and chairs looks over the gardens, a lily pond fills one of the courtyards, and there are shaded corners and terraces throughout for reading or a quiet cup of tea. Loungers are set out on the beach for days by the sea.

Inside, traditional Sri Lankan architecture meets bright contemporary art, with timber-beamed ceilings, carved doors and colourful paintings in every room. Four deluxe and five standard bedrooms each have a king bed, air conditioning, a TV, a mini-fridge, a safe and a private balcony or terrace, and several of the deluxe rooms have four-poster beds. The dining room opens onto the pool, a TV lounge and bookshelves give space to unwind, and staff look after housekeeping, laundry and in-villa massages, with breakfast included.