Villa Red Cliffs

Villa Red Cliffs stands on a clifftop above the Indian Ocean between Mirissa and Weligama, looking across Weligama Bay and down to Mirissa Harbour. Rebuilt in the late 1990s to a design by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most influential architect, it is a rare chance to stay in one of his homes, with a quiet temple a few steps away and two small, secluded beaches below the cliff. With three bedrooms for up to six guests, it suits couples travelling together, families and small groups of friends.

Outdoors, the garden runs right to the cliff edge, shaded by coconut palms and frangipani, with a hammock strung between the trees and wide lawns all around. The ten-by-four-metre swimming pool sits on a timber deck overlooking the ocean, with loungers lined up facing the view. A vast, open-sided pavilion forms the heart of the house, holding a long dining table and lounge seating that catch the sea breeze, and the terrace is the place for sunset and long Sri Lankan dinners.

Inside, the main pavilion combines open-air living and dining with a media room for movie nights, and an upstairs lounge sits beside the master suite with views out over the bay. The master has a king bed and the second bedroom a king bed opening onto the garden, while the third has twin beds, and all rooms have air conditioning and mosquito nets. Bathrooms are finished in polished concrete with rain showers. A team of three staff look after the house, with a cook known for local dishes and seafood, and breakfast is included.