Winding your way up a perilously steep hill in the countryside near Weligama brings you (with some relief) to the stylish precincts of Malabar Hill, which seems to rise out the jungle, facing the ocean to the south. Newly established by two entrepreneurs, Dominic Scriven and Lawson Johnston, whose previous project was Mango Bay in Vietnam, the hotel nonetheless feels like it’s been there for decades.

Built in a stylish blend of Sri Lankan, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern traditions, it’s a place where the design conscious traveller will feel immediately at home. Make this a destination for a tranquil holiday; the small scale of the place (there are just 12 one-bedroom villas, though 15 more are on the cards) dictates an informal, relaxed atmosphere.

Spend your days taking in the natural beauty of the area on walks to explore the local floral and fauna, catch a tuk-tuk to the beach or venture further afield to the nearby city of Galle or even the wildlife reserve at Yala. As a base for exploring or a sanctuary for leaving the outside world behind, Malabar Hill works beautifully.