Buckingham Place in Tangalle

We had an absolutely amazing dinner here last night. My husband had the fish of the day and he raved about it. Said it was one of the best he has ever had! I had the seared tuna with prawn wontons and it was delicious.

Had a fantastic stay at Mr. Nick’s hotel. A truly wonderful relaxation spot after touring round Sri Lanka the first part of the holiday. Fine dining every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have never had as good hotel food anywhere in the world. The hotel itself is absolutely perfect and the staff are so friendly and helpful that we couldn’t want for anything. Thank you to the whole team - we will be back for that Ice cream!

To describe Buckingham Place as a hotel is a mistake its an unbelievable experience.

We chose Buckingham Place to relax by the beach and celebrate my 60th birthday following a tour around the beautiful island of Sri Lanka and we honestly couldn't have chosen a better place. We felt like we had come to paradise, from the gorgeous manicured gardens, unspoilt beach, our fabulous villa and view of the lagoon, to the wonderfully relaxing and colourful pool, bar and restaurant area, the delicious and varied food menu and wonderful birthday celebrations. The whole team, led by Kalpa, simply couldn't do enough for us, we were truly spoiled and looked after so well. We had planned to spend three nights in Dubai on our way back to the UK but due to the issues in the Middle East we changed our plans and returned to our favourite place of the trip, Buckingham Place. We were welcomed back like long lost friends and again had the most fabulous time. We were also lucky to be there for the evening of live jazz piano music exceptionally played by the fantastically accomplished Sanjaya. Our stay was enhanced by chatting with and getting to know the owner of Buckingham Place, Nick Buckingham, who lives onsite overseeing everything and ensuring all the guests have the best time. Thank you Nick, Kalpa and everyone for making our trip so wonderful and memorable. We will definitely be back!

Sweet dreams are made of this, who am i to disagree? Beachfront at Rekawa with private access. The restaurant overlooks the shore, but the waves are violent—use extreme caution. My lagoon-view room (and balcony) was very calm and relaxing —a vibe that extends to the whole (Buckingham) place. Hospitality, service, and cleanliness are top-tier. The rooms and bathrooms are impressively spacious and designed to maximize natural light; if you are a late riser, bring an eye mask. The 'eazy breezy' restaurant- The menu is big and yet, changes daily and offers great flexibility. The chef even prepared an off-menu requests perfectly for us. The continental / western dishes are great but, please try out the ‘Sri Lankan’ dishes. We will be longing forever for – Lemon rice, Kotthu, Bread fruit, lagoon prawns. Don’t forget to taste the EGB drinks (complimentary) in the mini fridge. Breakfast is served ‘anytime’ during the day as you wish. It’s a real lazy getaway in the true sense. There are surprising friends on the compound. Bella- a Sri Lankan hound, Gracie- a Dachshund, a peacock, a bunny, some small monkeys and a lot of birds. The Wi-Fi is considerably slow and can be improved, but the cellular network is ok. There is a mobile provided in the room, but it’s no good really. A big thank you to the team for hosting us. Too bad I remember only Kalpa’s name (he is the manager) Emm… We long to return, again to meet you Mr. Buckingham. Oh, its Nick! That’s right, his (old) Englishman charm, warmth and the unfinished stories. Come evening, find amphitheatre, see Nick sitting, get chair, grab drink, that’s the holy ritual. I got him in the nick of time, so should you!

The service is outstanding and all, including the owner Nick, are very friendly and welcoming. The rooms are huge but slightly impersonal and have steps up to the bathroom which could be hard to navigate at night. All the meals were excellent. The pool was unbelievably warm and a good size for swimming.

Out of the 8 hotels we stayed in Sri Lanka, all of which (with one exception) were superb, this was my absolute favourite! A stunning property in extensive grounds located next to a picture perfect, almost deserted beach this is basically my idea of paradise! If I don’t get to stay at BP again I’ll be VERY upset! Food excellent with a varied mix of local and western choices, room superb, nice bar, two great pools, brilliant friendly staff and a genuine character in Nick, the owner! We also got to walk one of Nick’s dogs along the deserted beach. We basically relaxed here after lots of touring and sightseeing and it was ideal! We’ve promised ourselves that when our sons are spending Xmas with their girlfriends we’re coming here for Xmas and New Year!

Buckingham Place has a magic about it that makes you want to smile, whether your a guest or you work there I never thought after our first visit it could get any better but like a good wine it simply does and the warmth and magic this place has, embraces you the minute you drive through the gates and like we have never experienced anyway before This is our fourth visit which considering we never go back to the same place twice speaks in volumes to how special Buckingham Place is. What draws so many repeat guests here, is everything that this truly stunning place offers It’s not like any hotel we know, it feels more like your staying at your best friends luxury villa amongst like minded people in a beautiful location with every single person whether staying one night or 30 treated equally As mentioned many times on previous reviews, the rooms are large airy and beautiful situated facing the lagoon and set in lush gardens. The pool is a delight and nothing beats the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach which is totally unspoilt and wild and beautiful to take yourself off for a walk along it There is another smaller pool in the nature garden equally as beautiful and tranquil The food is a culinary delight. Served in the oceanfront restaurant which overlooks the pool, palm trees and the Indian Ocean. The breakfast is probably the best we have ever experienced in a hotel. No buffet here and every plate served is beautifully presented and amazingly delicious, oh and no set breakfast times here either as breakfast is served right up to midday The culinary delights continue at lunchtime if you can manage it after the splendour of the breakfast and at dinner where a pre dinner cocktail and a chat among other guests if you choose can be had at the quaint bar area. The meals in the evening which are a mix of western and Sri Lankan are a feast for foodies like us and the kitchen staff are a real credit to the hotel. The presentation of each plate along with the flavours served are a treat and a real delight A splendid addition from our last visit is Sanja a charming and talented pianist who entertains guests around once a week, sometimes during the day while your chilling around the pool and the other times in the evening while everybody is enjoying there evening meal and it enriches the already wonderful ambience and experience of your evening I have left the very best to last as what makes Buckingham Place stand head and shoulders above anywhere else we have ever stayed is the charismatic and endearing owner Nick such an interesting and very special man and the truly amazing team headed by the wonderful Kalpa Every member of this amazing team, many are long standing employees which says it all and each and everyone adds there own little bit of magic to enrich your stay. The smiles and warmth from them are infectious and captures your heart We can’t name every member of the team but we want to thank all in housekeeping, the kitchen staff, ga

Loved this quirky eco hotel. Nick the owner is a real character and great to chat with. Food was amazing. Staff incredible.

Everything has already been said — all previous comments truly hit the nail on the head. Buckingham Place is a jewel in the crown of Sri Lanka and a must-stay if you’re looking to relax and be pampered. The accommodation is excellent, Nick and his wonderful team deliver outstanding service across the establishment, and the food is excellent. A special place that gets everything right. Thank you for making our stay so memorable. What a wonderful way to finish our magical time in Sri Lanka. Thank you — we will be back. Bill & Janet