Villa 32 Middle Street

Villa 32 Middle Street is a restored Dutch-era house right in the middle of Galle Fort, the UNESCO-listed walled town where boutiques, cafés, the lighthouse and the old ramparts are all an easy stroll away. Behind a modest street front, the house opens up into a light-filled courtyard home of whitewashed walls, teak trusses, local artwork and antiques, blending colonial character with modern comforts. With three bedrooms it suits couples travelling together and small families, including multi-generational groups.

The courtyard is the centrepiece, with a private swimming pool framed by tropical planting, a large outdoor daybed and alfresco dining under the trees, and a pool is a rare find inside the fort walls. Upstairs, a long veranda with rattan chairs and lounge sofas looks down over the water, and an open sundeck sits among the terracotta rooftops, a lovely spot for an afternoon read before a sunset walk on the ramparts.

Indoors, the open-plan living room has white sofas facing a projector screen, beside a dining table for six and a fully equipped kitchen whose French doors open to the courtyard. All three bedrooms are air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms; the master has its own sundeck, and the other two are characterful split-level rooms with beds set on lofts above a sitting area. Breakfast is included, and the chef cooks Sri Lankan and seafood dishes for lunch and dinner on request.