Jetwing Lighthouse — Restaurant in Galle

Our family’s stay at Jetwing Lighthouse was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we were met with genuine warmth, attention to detail, and an atmosphere that perfectly blends luxury with the heart of Sri Lankan hospitality.||We were graciously welcomed by Umesha, whose kind and professional demeanor set the tone for the rest of our stay. She also hosted our afternoon tea, a serene experience overlooking the ocean with a lovely selection of teas, pastries, and savory treats. Her thoughtful care made the moment feel truly special.||Dining was consistently excellent across all three restaurants. Under the steady leadership of Awilse, every meal was served with precision, warmth, and attention to detail. The food was incredible—beautifully presented and rich in flavor.||Our children had an amazing time thanks to Imasha and Arushana, who organized creative activities like seashell jewelry making, stick figurines from coconut palm leaves, and a fun ice cream treat. They made our kids feel welcome, valued, and entertained throughout the stay.||The pool experience was another highlight, especially with Buddhika ensuring everything was clean, safe, and comfortable. The fact that the pool is filled with fresh, pure water from on-site wells was impressive—it made swimming feel even more refreshing. At the pool bar, Nimesh and Danidu stood out with their friendly and attentive service. Always serving with a smile, they made sure our family had everything we needed while relaxing poolside.||My wife also enjoyed a phenomenal spa treatment, which she described as peaceful and deeply rejuvenating.||Each night, we returned to a perfectly prepared room thanks to the daily turndown service—a small but impactful luxury that added to the overall comfort of our stay.||One of the standout experiences was the complimentary tuk tuk tour to Jetwing Kurulubedda, their sister property nestled in the jungle. The serene surroundings and breathtaking views of the six villas made for an unforgettable afternoon. We were served a unique and refreshing mangrove apple drink, crafted onsite and unlike anything we’ve tasted before.||Thanks to Imasha’s recommendation, we also enjoyed a guided tour of Galle Fort—organized entirely by the hotel. From the transport to the knowledgeable guide, it was the perfect way to experience the fort’s rich history without any hassle.||Adding a cultural touch to our stay was the traditional Kandyan dance performance hosted one evening at the hotel. It was a vibrant and captivating experience that brought Sri Lankan tradition to life right on the property.||One final note that truly impressed us was how well-maintained the resort is. We regularly observed quiet upkeep and repairs happening throughout the property—especially important for a beachfront hotel. It showed us how much care and pride the team takes in preserving the beauty and quality of Jetwing Lighthouse.||This resort is more than a destination—it’s a complete experience. Every team member, from the front desk to the bar staff, went out of their way to make our family feel at home. We left with full hearts, cherished memories, and an eagerness to return.||If you’re visiting Galle, do not miss the opportunity to stay at Jetwing Lighthouse. It is, without a doubt, a gem...

Jetwing Lighthouse clearly used to be a very nice hotel but over the years it’s become rundown and standards have slipped.

The entrance is grand and there are some bold design choices scattered throughout. Our bedroom was large and spacious with a very big and comfy bed. It’s right on a lovely beach, and has two large outdoor pools. And their attention to detail around sustainability is great - really well considered and implemented. And all of the back of house staff (the cleaners, the pool team, porters, transport team, etc) are all lovely and always keen to help. And the manager is excellent - ready to help with anything and offering a high level of hospitality.

But beyond that there are a bunch of pain points. For a “five star hotel” it’s very rundown and dilapidated, with lots of grimy spots everywhere you look. Both pools are covered in green algae. Only one restaurant was open and both the a la carte and buffet experience were very poor, both in food quality and service. There is never anyone at reception, meaning we often had to wait for 15-20 minutes to be seen by anyone, and unless the manager was the one who arrived we’d have another long wait as our request got handed around by dozens of staff who seemed to have very little training in hospitality. Generally the front of house staff seemed well intentioned but very poorly trained, so even though they generally meant well it added a ton of friction to our experience.

And being frank it wasn’t always well intentioned - the night before departure we tried to book a transfer back to Colombo at 11am and they told us to come back tomorrow when they’d have an answer. We came back after breakfast at 10am and after waiting for 10 mins at an empty reception we finally got hold of the same person from the night before and it was clear no one had done anything about it. We sat for another 10 mins waiting for her before going downstairs to find out what was happening. No update, so we asked to be updated from the room. 10 mins later we were quoted $95, which was expensive, but as we now had only 30 mins left we decided to accept. After hanging up she then called back and told us it was now $150, which is a frankly absurd price compared to our experience elsewhere on the island. We declined and found another taxi who quoted us $65 (without any negotiation), and once we accepted that the same lady now told us she could do $85. The whole thing felt like it was being handled in very bad faith and just trying to squeeze as much out of us as possible, which left a sour taste in our mouth as we left the hotel.

So overall we had quite a mixed experience. Some of the staff were so lovely that they ensured our time was generally positive, but there are far too many pain points for me to consider this a true 5 star experience worthy...

To sum it up: Sabi Hotel, you do not deserve five stars.1. The hotel environment is poor. Why did I smell like an old toilet when I first entered my room? The sour smell makes me feel sick. The facilities are old. There are obvious stains and dust on the pillows on the bed. The white pillows used for sleeping feel a little damp. What's even more disgusting is that there are bugs on the pillows. Don't you know how to deworm them? My friend's room had mosquito repellent plugged in, so why didn't our room? Facilities are inconsistent. In addition, there is a sense of humidity in the entire house and in the corridor. If you can't control the humidity in the corridor, why not dry and clean the room well? 2. The restaurant service is poor. I came for dinner and ate a total of more than 20,000 rupees. The menu said that there would be a 10% service charge and government tax. We thought it was the service charge and government tax plus 10%, so we thought we would pay 32,000 rupees. But you The bill stated that I had to pay a total of 39,000 rupees, which was a full 7,000 rupees more. Later we asked you and you said you had to pay 23% government tax. I was shocked. We are not Chinese who have never seen the world. When we come to your country, we can pay government taxes. But if you don’t mention how much government taxes to pay on your menu, it’s not our problem, right? You didn't write it clearly. We asked the waiter to come over and ask. The waiter said that the government tax is changing and sent us away. I want to ask about the change in the government tax. Before we order, you can tell us how much tax the government charges or write it on the menu. Can you write clearly about 20%? Is your waiter using his mouth as a decoration? The waiter also explained to us that other people who came to dine before said nothing, so what else can we tell you that all the restaurants we have eaten in Lanka do not charge government taxes? Your logic is a bit strange.Dear jetwing, you probably didn’t expect that the two hotels named after you, a gallery hotel and a lighthouse hotel, would have completely different environments and service attitudes, right? They are all five-star. Looking back at the gallery, the large room is particularly well-done. Not only does it have no odor, but it also makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. The waiter is very friendly and gives detailed introductions. When ordering food, he also explains the problem in detail. Anything in the room that is charged or not is marked. Obviously, I ask you, this jetwing lighthouse hotel is also a five-star hotel, why don't you have a decent attitude?You don't deserve five stars, not at all, and the experience is extremely poor. You are the only one who feels bad even after staying in this hotel for just one...