Big 30: Hilton Colombo Deluxe Suite Review

Rooms	Executive Lounge Access	Bathtub	Room Size	No.of Room
Superior	No	No	30.71 Sqm	90
Deluxe Seaview	No	No	30.71 Sqm	107
Executive	Yes	No	30.71 Sqm	83
Deluxe Suite	Yes	No	48.85 Sqm	11
Deluxe Seaview Suite	Yes	Yes	76.13 Sqm	11
Business Suite	Yes	No	60.80 Sqm	7
Corner Suite	Yes	Yes	45.42 Sqm	10

Checking In

I left my villa near Galle at 2pm and pre-booked a transport from Klook. The journey here was smooth, and I got to the hotel at around 4.30pm. Upon arrival, the bellboy came to help me with my bags. The security here is very good and safe. You have to go through a security check and a scanner before reaching the lobby. I was warmly welcomed by the staff, and they processed my check-in quickly. The lobby is grand with plenty of seating. You can also find the bar and restaurant in the lobby area. 

There was an issue with the suite I selected, and they reassigned me another one. I was also extended with lounge access and breakfast for all 3 pax. The property is in the midst of renovation. My late checkout was extended till 6pm. The staff helping me are new but warm. I was also provided with a lounge letter. The staff then escorted us to the room and gave us a little introduction to the suite. Top-notch arrival process. 

Deluxe Suite

I was assigned a suite on the 4th floor, one of the lower floors of the hotel. I had originally selected one on the 10th floor, but there seems to be some last-minute issue with the suite, and the team reassigned another one. They did apologise that it would be on a lower floor. I was assigned suite 401, to be exact. This is their entry-level suite. It is quite a walk from the elevators. Upon entering the suite, you can find a nice entrance way with a counter to the right.

This consists of the minibar. The counter also offers plenty of storage space for your small items. It also comes with a fully stocked mini fridge and some snacks. The prices are pretty fair for Western standards but expensive for Sri Lankan standards. Packaged tea and a generous amount of drinking water are provided. 

On the left, you can find the entrance to the bathroom. It is a lovely space. It only comes with a single sink, but plenty of counter space. All sorts of amenities are provided, and they are generous with them. Surprisingly, they do not use Crabtree and Evelyn products over here, but the amenities are from a local brand in an individual single-use portion. I love that they had both a rainforest shower head and a handheld one. The water pressure and temperature control are excellent. I love that the showering space is in an enclosed space behind a glass door, which prevents water from getting all over the place. 

Moving back to the main space of the living room. I love how cosy and bright the entire place is. The suite is newly renovated and modern. The living space comes with a spacious sofa set that could fit 3 to 4 people comfortably. This will be a great set-up for cosy gatherings. I was celebrating my birthday during this trip, and the hotel had very nicely set up a little decoration in the room, as well as prepared a birthday cake. This is accompanied by a personalised note. I appreciate it. 

Mounted on the wall is a large, high-quality smart screen television. The TV is very high quality and comes with a good number of both local and international TV channels. You can also use certain apps and Prime. This is a pretty nice setup for a movie night. In the corner of the suite, you can find a circular table that works well for both dining and working. Power outlets are located within reach. There’s also a chair here that provides decent back support for a short period of working.

The bedroom is separated from the living room by a sliding door. Right along the wall, you can find a luggage storage area which can fit a mid-size luggage well. Next to it is the huge, spacious wardrobe area. It is well stocked and comes with plenty of things that you might need for your stay. There are plenty of hangers, bathrobes and a safe here.

In the room, you can also find another large smart screen TV, which is similar to the one in the living room. The plush king-size bed is in the middle. I love that it is on the firmer side, which offers great night support. It comes with contour pillows upon request. The sheets were smooth and of high quality. Flanking both sides of the bed are nightstands. There are controls for the lighting and power outlets. 

Given how low we are, there are no views from either the living room or the bedroom. I kept the blinds drawn most of the time. While I get that they want the bathroom to be used by guests as well. It can be slightly inconvenient when it is not in the bedroom. 

Fitness Centre

I am not a fan of the facilities which are found on the other side of the road. It is as if it is not in the same property. To get over there, you will have to cross the bridge, which contains steps. Over here, you can find the spa, pool and the gym. The gym is unmemorable, but it does come with plenty of equipment. It is also well-maintained by the staff. They have quite a range of equipment. 

Pool

The pool and the surrounding bar look very good. They have a smaller kids’ pool and a larger main pool by itself. The place comes with several sunbeds by the side as well as some cabanas. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. I like it that the place gets plenty of sunshine.

Executive Lounge

The executive lounge is located on the 2nd floor. It is open from 6.30am to 10pm daily. They offer 3 services a day with breakfast, afternoon tea and happy hour. Breakfast is offered till 10.30am daily, and afternoon tea from 3pm to 5.30pm. Access is accorded to diamond members and guests in executive rooms and above. I was warmly welcomed by the staff, and they are very attentive. You can find some pictures of the place here. All-day drinks include some soft drinks, coffee and tea. Service is excellent here.

Afternoon tea is brought out by the staff, and it consists of some cookies and cakes. They were decent.

Evening cocktails are a much more extensive affair. I love that the menu rotates around with a different theme every day. Here are the rotations. Monday: Western, Tuesday: Asian, Wednesday: Chinese, Thursday: Italian, Friday: Sri Lankan, Saturday: Chinese and Sunday: Indian. You can find some pictures of the selection here. 

Drinks-wise consists of some liquors, wines, local lion beer and Carlsberg. The staff are super proactive with drinks and offer refills. They also help with preparing drinks with simple mixers. 

Guests can enjoy breakfast at both the lounge and the restaurant. The selection is smaller over here, but they still look pretty good and fresh. You even have some special items such as passion fruit and strawberries. Here are some pictures of them. 

The lounge definitely offers a much more private environment and better service as compared to the restaurant.  

Empress’s Wok Restaurant

This is the hotel’s Chinese restaurant. We decided to dine here on our first night since we were all tired after a day of travelling. You can check out the menu here. The food prices are pretty good except for the duck. Furthermore, Diamond members enjoy 25% off while dining here. We ordered some mains to share and stir-fry. It is so good to have Chinese food after a week of Western food. 

L.A.B Lounge & Bar

We also got drinks here after dinner. The prices are fair and the vibes are pretty good. They also have live music in the evening. You can find the menu here. Prices are pretty good, with cocktails costing around 9 SGD or so. The Gin Over Lychee is very nice. Great spot for a nightcap or so.  

Breakfast at Graze Kitchen

Breakfast is offered here from 6.30am to 10.30am daily. Breakfast is served buffet style. There is a great selection of items. The spread consists of typical Western items, local dishes, and even Chinese options. I love the freshly made cooked items like thosai and hoppers. The egg hoppers are a must-try. I will let the pictures do the rest of the speaking. 

Conclusion

There aren’t many choices over here in Colombo! There are only a handful of properties in the city. I was considering between the Hilton and the Shangri-La. The Hilton is definitely on the dated side, but they are in the midst of undergoing a renovation. The Deluxe Suite that I stayed in was fully renovated and lovely. This is a solid property with a really lovely executive lounge! I am glad to see that more and more rooms here are renovated. It is also in a very central location that works well. The pricing offers great value, too. I enjoyed my stay! The staff service is excellent over here, from the security to the bellboy and housekeeping. Elite recognition is also top-notch here. I do hope that they can make some improvements to the facilities and the accessibility. This is the only negative aspect. I am definitely coming back here for a stay if I am ever in this city.