Fort Bazaar

Fort Bazaar is the place to stay if you want to wake up inside the walls of Galle Fort. The hotel, from the Teardrop Hotels collection, occupies a former merchant’s home on Church Street, in the heart of the sixteenth-century UNESCO fort, and has been restored with a light, contemporary touch: whitewashed walls, high ceilings, polished concrete, local art and leafy courtyards. There are eighteen bedrooms and suites in a range of sizes, a small outdoor pool tucked into the garden, a spa with two treatment rooms and the Church Street Social restaurant and bar, which is popular with non-guests too. Guest scores are exceptional, with reviewers praising the service and the location. Everything in the fort is a short stroll away: the lighthouse and ramparts, the National Maritime Museum and the Historical Mansion are each a couple of minutes on foot, along with cafés, galleries and boutiques. In the evening, when day-trippers leave, the fort’s lanes become quiet and atmospheric.

Location and getting around: the address is 26 Church Street, Galle Fort. You can walk everywhere inside the walls, and the lighthouse is about three minutes away. Galle railway station and bus stand are just outside the main gate. Free parking is available, which is unusual inside the fort, and drivers can collect you for Mirissa whale watching or a day on the south coast beaches.

The rooms: room types range from compact courtyard rooms to larger suites with more space and light; all are styled with crisp white linen and local touches. Ask for an upper-floor room if you want more natural light and less street noise.

Who it suits: couples and design-minded travellers who want a small, stylish base in the fort rather than a resort. It is less suited to families who need large pools or kids’ clubs.

Good to know: breakfast may be charged separately on some rates; the restaurant does a strong breakfast. The pool is small. In November, the fort can be wet, but evenings on the ramparts after rain are magical.