A major hotel makeover has brought a new level of luxury to the Bentota coastline. Cinnamon Bentota Beach is creating quite the stir on the hotel scene after a huge renovation. Reopening in late 2019, the new-and-improved beachfront retreat brings a slice of luxury to the south-west coast of Sri Lanka. It occupies a sliver of land between golden sands and mangrove-edged river, nestled among wild coconut groves. Palm-strewn gardens wrap around a curvaceous swimming pool, and tumble down to the beach below, where a toes-in-the-sand bar can be found. A string of three low-slung wings house the new rooms and suites, whose interiors are warm and welcoming – think a creamy palette brought to life by burnt terracotta hues, a smattering of Sri Lankan wall art and lots of gleaming wood. Choose a Premium Room or Luxury Room in either the South Wing (close to the pool and resort gardens) or the West Wing which is located closer to the beach. The Mahawasala Wing is home to the resort’s 16 lavish suites that have separate living rooms and views over the garden towards the sea. While much of the existing hotel (the famed Bentota Beach Hotel) has been completely rebuilt, one thing has stayed the same: the original lobby by famous architect Geoffrey Bawa. It is a space rooted in place: dark wood columns stretch up to a ceiling cloaked in a colourful patchwork of intricate batiks and hand-loomed textiles. Polished concrete floors and warm, earthy colours create a sense of a home-from-home – a nod to the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan life. Around this focal point unfurls the incredible design of the new spaces, from soaring grey columns and leaf-etched ceilings in the plant-filled restaurant, to elaborately patterned frosted glass and claret sofas in a lantern-lit lounge.