Standard Room: Spacious and amply furnished, we found that these rooms are standard only in name. Slightly smaller than the superior rooms they open onto cute private terraces furnished with planter’s chairs.

Superior Room: These rooms are slightly larger than the standard rooms having also a seating area and marginally bigger private terraces. They are equally beautifully decorated and furnished with wardrobes and writing desks.

Deluxe Room: Situated to the back of the property closest to the garden and pool, are spacious and open onto pretty courtyard gardens furnished with a variety of planter’s chairs and loungers. They have a living area in the bedroom and numerous doors leading to the outside terrace, including one from the bathroom.

The Admiral Suite is our favourite at Tamarind Hill. This expansive living space takes up most of the first floor of the house. It features a large living room furnished with sofas, illuminated by lamps and decorated with maps, paintings and interesting works of art that leads into a lavishly designed bedroom featuring a large king-sized bed and sitting area with an amazing carved screen. Twin vanities and a free-standing tub characterise the large en-suite bathroom. Doors from the bedroom open onto a huge and richly furnished balcony that affords views towards the ocean and which is shared with the suite next-door. A smaller intimate balcony – ideal for private dining - that overlooks the central courtyard can be reached from the living area or bathroom.

Captains Suite: This suite, though much smaller than Admiral’s, is equally beautifully furnished and decorated. It opens onto the large front shared balcony though also has an intimate balcony of its own overlooking the central courtyard that would be ideal for private dining or lounging. The en-suite bathroom also has twin vanities, a bathtub and lots of gorgeously scented toiletries.

Cuisine: A long dining table decorated with purple lotus flowers dominates the centre of the house and can seat guests for special occasions. An elongated screen above it has been colourfully painted with Sri Lankan images but its original usage was as a punkah attached to a rope that servants would have pulled to waft and cool diners in the time before electricity. Overhead fans suffice today! There are alternative semi covered dining places. We found that Tamarind’s executive chef Silvestre is a master at Sri Lankan and Thai cuisine. His creations are delicious and exquisitively presented.