Trebartha East The Round House is a design-led boutique hotel with four bedrooms atop a 12-acre cinnamon plantation, with 360-degree views over rice paddies and the jungle. Peaceful and secluded, it is a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride from the vibrant coastal hotspot of Ahangama on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

Trebartha East was opened by British owners Patrick and Benny Latham in February 2023 after painstakingly bringing the abandoned cinnamon plantation back to life. The name is a homage to their house on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, United Kingdom.

“When we bought the plantation in 2017, it was sitting untended but majestically in the paddy surrounded by hills of cinnamon, rubber and tea plantations as well as unmanaged jungle. We knew this site deserved something unique and felt that in Sri Lanka, with its rich heritage of architecture and craftsmanship, anything was possible,” says Patrick.

Inside, all the furniture has been designed in Colombo, alongside rattan pieces and rugs handmade by local artisans and an art collection curated from the studios of established Sri Lankan artists — including Rubert Soysa and Namal Pushpa Kumara.

Alongside four spacious bedrooms with four poster beds and floor-to-ceiling views over the plantation, there is a beautifully designed living room where guests can gather for afternoon tea or evening drinks.

Tranquil Barefoot Luxury

Still a well-kept secret, Trebartha East prides itself on its breezy hilltop tranquillity. An 18m curved infinity pool completes its circular design and invites all day relaxing after a hot morning at the beach.

The all-day kitchen serves fresh food and drink, such as tuna tartare, king prawns with passionfruit & coriander and jackfruit arancini balls — all made on-site with produce bought from local suppliers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served family-style around a communal table — indoor or alfresco —or guests can choose to eat separately for more privacy.

A Monsoon Architecture Awards 2023 Winner
(Architect: Dr Ar. Narein Perrera / Category: Leisure, Hospitality)
The Monsoon Architecture Awards are awarded by the Indian Institute of Architects, Cochin Centre, to bring recognition to the best projects in the Monsoon Climatic Regions of the world.

“With a bold move of lifting the building and making it float above [the hill], it allows life on the hills to continue. The project’s circular form beautifully captures the 360-degree view around. […] The fragility of the project is very interesting – as if the users are like butterflies staying over the existing landscape, softly sitting on the ground.”

Trebartha East The Round House – Where and how?

Address: Trebartha East The Roundhouse, No.164/A, Meegahagoda, Ahangama

Trebartha East The Round House has four bedrooms that can be booked individually or hired together as a private villa. It is an adults-only property (18+) unless rented exclusively as a villa.

The price for the Duplex Suite starts at £200 (GBP) per night. It is 70 sqm in size and extends over two floors. The bedroom boasts a king-size bed and private seating area upstairs, a study with a desk and a daybed downstairs.

The two King Rooms start at £150 per night and are 40 sqm in size with king-size beds. The Twin Room starts at £125 per night, is 34 sqm, and features two full-size single beds.

Room Facilities:

  • Four poster beds with mosquito nets
  • Ensuite bathrooms with rainfall showers and jungle views
  • Private seating areas
  • Air-Conditioning & fan
  • Beach Bag
  • Locally sourced toiletries
  • In-room safes

Photography used in this feature is courtesy of Partick Latham (aerial/drone), Fiona Walker-Arnott @fwalkerarnottphotography (interior) and Willem Keuppens.

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