This new opening from Teardrop Hotels is the luxury bolthole that Sri Lanka’s less-trodden east coast has been missing. It’s a fantastically relaxed five-bedroom beach escape, with serene ocean-facing bedrooms, hyper local food and superb service.
Sri Lanka’s east coast is blissfully undeveloped, partly due to the civil war that raged here for 15 years until 2009. There are few glossy villas or bijou cafes. Instead, this area remains wild, quiet and wonderfully free from any hint of overtourism. Sitting on a working 25-acre coconut plantation, Kalkudah Beach House is like stepping into a little slice of paradise. Set within two whitewashed villas, the stylish, understated interiors are airy and light, with large glass sliding doors letting the outdoors in. Breezy terraces and an utterly idyllic pool invite long lazy days, while a palm-strewn lawn, complete with croquet and Pétanque, leads languorously to a deserted beach.
Built in 1981 as a family holiday home, Kalkudah Beach House has a turbulent history. After being ransacked during the civil war and fought over by the Tamil Tigers and government forces, Jon Stonham, former CEO of Asia’s largest luxury villa, Elite Havens, snapped it up in 2003 initially as a place to retire. Fate had other plans. A year later, the tsunami swept across the Indian Ocean, devastating the coastline. Yet, remarkably, Kalkudah Beach House’s Dutch-inspired windows and doors remained standing. Jon meticulously restored the property, adding the Palm Villa in 2018. He asked Henry Fitch, CEO of Teardrop Hotels (whose beautiful properties include Fort Bazaar and Nine Skies), for interior designer recommendations and ultimately used the same company as Teardrop. Shortly afterwards, Jon approached Henry about Teardrop managing the property. Henry had always wanted a property on the east coast and immediately ‘loved’ the house, with Teardrop taking over management in May 2025.
The two villas epitomise coastal elegance with restful interiors, a gentle palette and eye-popping marine art that will stop you in your tracks. The main house enchants with an old-world charm, featuring a dark-wood spiral staircase, beryl-green framed windows and doors, and an expansive sitting room that flows seamlessly onto the terrace through floor-to-ceiling French doors. The three bedrooms, all featuring elegant wooden furniture with pops of blue, include the sensational Kalkudah Suite, which boasts a plush king-size bed and an ocean-facing balcony (ideal for sundowners). The Palm Villa, with two suites, continues along similar lines, featuring particularly fabulous cerulean-tiled showers and large glass doors that let the outside in. Jigsaws, board games and well-thumbed books make you feel at home – you’ll forget there are other guests.
The food is in great hands: Executive Group Chef Sumudu Kadawata spent six years at One & Only Maldives, and the villa chef Manoj Amarathunga worked at Six Senses Lamu. Sumudu has worked passionately behind the scenes in his mission for the food to be ‘zero miles’, cultivating relationships with local farmers and creating ingredients which were not available – the local butter took six months to develop. Coconuts are plucked from the plantation when needed. The à la carte menu champions local flavours with an international flair. The surf and turf is superb, using just-caught prawns. The curries, highlighting cuisine from across Sri Lanka, are fantastic, with an eye-opening variety, from an out-of-this-world spicy crab to zingy pineapple. Don’t miss breakfast of egg Benedict on avocado on toast and chef’s famous club sandwich for lunch. The standout beach BBQ is a must, but pre-dinner drinks and canapes on the terrace is so gorgeous, you’ll almost want to skip dinner.
Teardrop is known for its first-rate friendly service. Here is no different, particularly as some of the staff hail from the group’s other properties. Service is speedy and discreet, and all very seamless.
Kalkudah Beach House feels in the middle of nowhere. However, in town there’s a happening local market and charming fishing harbour, which are both worth visiting. The thriving city of Batticaloa, which is famous for its singing fish in the lagoon, has a handsome 400-year-old Dutch fort and thriving crafts scene. Passikudah Bay – one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, packed with locals swimming – is a 20-minute drive away. Other thrills include snorkelling, deep sea fishing from Passikudah and a stunning three-hour morning catamaran cruise around the bay.
The hotel is great for families particularly the Palm Villa, with its two suites opposite each other. Or go the whole hog and take over the hotel with your whole crew – there’s plenty of space for everyone. There’s also a kid’s menu, board games and croquet. The large lawn and sandy beach are ideal for little ones charging around and letting off steam.
The food’s ‘zero miles’ policy sets the tone for the villa’s impressive sustainability approach. It’s all solar-powered, and the hotel’s water tower has a purification system, so you can drink the tap water. Teardrop also employs as many locals as possible.
Kalkudah Beach House is one of only two hotels in Sri Lanka with a wheelchair accessible swimming pool. All the bedrooms (bar the Kalkudah Suite) are on the ground floor with minimal steps, and the lawn is fairly flat.
If you’re coming from Colombo, avoid the six-hour drive and take the Cinnamon Air seaplane instead with its glistening aerial sea views. Also, do wake up early one morning and go swimming at sunrise, which is as near perfection as you can get. Just remember, the east coast is seasonally opposite from the west – so visit in between May and September for the best weather.
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