ZEN Koggala by Sugar Coliving & Coworking | Lakefront Boutique Retreat — Hotel in Sri Lanka

My family and I recently had the pleasure of staying at MOI Koggala by DBI, and I must say it was an experience that exceeded all our expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Mr.Milinda, the Resident Manager, whose attention to detail and dedication to ensuring our comfort made our stay truly exceptional.

The rooms at MOI Koggala were nothing short of perfect. We stayed in one of their beautifully appointed lake-view rooms, which was spacious, well-lit, and elegantly decorated. The bed was incredibly comfortable, providing us with restful nights, and the modern amenities—such as the high-speed Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and comfortable linens ensured that we had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. The room also had a private balcony that offered breathtaking views of the serene lake, making it a perfect spot to relax and unwind.

The food at MOI Koggala is simply exceptional, thanks to the talented culinary team led by Chef Geeth and Chef Dumindu. Every meal was a delightful experience, with a variety of local and international dishes that catered to every palate. The chefs take great pride in using fresh ingredients, many of which are sourced directly from the hotel's own vegetable garden, adding a farm-to-table element to the dining experience.

One of the highlights of the hotel is the lush garden, which is not only beautifully landscaped but also home to a variety of vegetables and herbs that are used in the hotel's kitchen. We took a leisurely stroll through the garden and were impressed by the dedication to sustainability and fresh produce. The garden added an element of tranquility to the hotel grounds, and it was wonderful to know that the food we were enjoying was being grown right there. The children loved seeing the vegetables, and it was a great way to teach them about farm-to-table practices.

A special mention must go to Mr.Milinda, the Resident Manager, who truly made our stay unforgettable. His dedication to making sure every guest feels welcome and taken care of is unmatched. From the moment we checked in, Mr.Milinda was always available to assist with any requests or questions, and his warm and friendly demeanor made us feel like we were staying with family. Whether it was arranging activities, giving local recommendations, or ensuring that our room was perfect, Mr.Milinda consistently went above and beyond to make sure we had the best possible experience. It’s rare to find such personalized service, especially Boart Ride, and Mr.Milinda truly made our stay at MOI Koggala one of the best family vacations we've ever had.

MOI Koggala by DBI is more than just a place to stay; it's an experience. With its comfortable rooms, mouthwatering food, picturesque garden, and unparalleled service, it’s a destination we’ll definitely be returning to. Whether you're traveling as a family, a couple, or even solo, this hotel offers something special for everyone. And with Mr.Milinda at the helm, you're guaranteed an exceptional stay. Thank you to the entire team at MOI Koggala for making our family vacation one...

During are stay we experienced *Delayed Room Preparation: Despite adhering to the agreed check-in time, we were informed that the rooms would be delayed by two hours. With no proper waiting area or even a fan in the lobby, our group, including young children, was left sweating and exhausted. resembling anything but the hospitality one would expect from a hotel.

*Delayed and Mismanaged Lunch Service: The lunch was not served until after 3 PM, well past time. This was despite prior confirmation of the menu with both the reservation manager and the hotel chef the day before. Upon inquiring, we were told that the delay was due to the kitchen focusing on serving the guests occupying the other 3 rooms – a clear neglect of the majority group.

*Poor Management and Internal Blame: The so-called group manager, instead of taking responsibility, shifted blame to head office reservations team. This unprofessional behavior only added to our frustration.

*Dinner Incident: Later that evening, after the other guests had left, our group was quietly enjoying ourselves. However, once again disrupted our evening, citing a potential complaint from a guest – even though the closest occupied rooms were ours, even if there has no audible disturbance complaint from anyone. This unnecessary intervention ruined an already strained evening.

Missing Menu Items: Each meal throughout our stay failed to meet the agreed-upon menu. Items missing were milk rice - breakfast , kangkung - dinner, moju, and papadam at lunch were missing without any explanation or compensation.

Lack of Apology or Accountability: Perhaps most frustratingly, at no point was a proper apology extended for the multiple inconveniences faced. We were treated with disregard, despite being the majority group on the premises that day.

In all honesty, this has been one of the worst hospitality experiences we have ever encountered. We expected professionalism, courtesy, and basic competence – none of which were delivered.

We urge your management to take this feedback seriously and ensure that no other group is subjected to such mismanagement...

This is a very nice location..but poorly maintained. Rooms are very spacious but not properly cleaned Bathrooms are spacious but water pressure was way too low and you barely get wet during a shower. Food was horrible not tasty. Portions were too small , the chef couldn’t make a proper chicken curry and scrambled egg. Breakfast buffet ran out of food and some of our friends didn’t have food when they came to have breakfast and hotel staff didn’t refill too. They were giving lay excuses Same menu for dinner for two days no variety at all. There was a fancy menu shared with us but 99% of the food in that was not available. Lobby bar are near the pool need fans since it’s very hot during day and night Place is under staffed , just one person for F&B service and one person to do housekeeping. The fence bordering the lake looks ugly and kills the view Pool was just treated with chlorine and not cleaned properly Tea coffee making inside the room - tea bags and coffee was refilled We were told by the MOi head office at the time of the reservation that food will be on A La carte but when we went we were told it is a buffet and meals were decided without out our consent especially the breakfast, same menu was offered for both days.

Only good thing was the manager, Madushanka who was accommodating and at least tried to come up with something to make us comfortable but he is also helpless most of the time. However we were able to change one breakfast menu after explaining to the manager. That was not up the expectations but something better. I do not recommend this place unless otherwise they do a good maintenance run and change the Cheff, and give adequate and sufficient number of staff members to run the place. Rating scale 1-10 Location - 8 Rooms - 7 Service-3 Food-1 Cleanliness-2 Staff...