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Unawatuna Singha Lounge was opened by a Hungarian expat lady and her Sri Lankan husband. This means that they manage to combine genuine insights of what a foreigner might expect from a holiday accommodation with local insider knowledge.
The Location
When walking to Singha Lounge, you will be passing the entire length of the tourist hub next to the main beach and might start to regret that you booked a hostel in such a commercialised location. However, to reach Singha Lounge, you will have to go just a little bit further, into a completely different world -- you will be on a quiet side street with the most chilled vibe you can imagine and some authentic local homes and ventures around. You will be inundated with fruit and vegetable sellers as well as well as a few alternative eateries. But best of all, you will feel nothing of the buzz of the touristy centre here.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The place only offers dorm-type accommodation and there are two types -- a smaller, slightly crammed en suite one or a bigger one that is really spacious but is right next to the common areas and might therefore get noisy. The beds come with mosquito nets but are not too comfortable, and the bathrooms get flooded if somebody showers. There is also not enough space to hang your clothes inside. What is strange about this place is that when the owner-operators are busy, the place is left without reception and you will have to wait a long time to check in. Moreover, on occasions like family birthdays, the hostel simply closes down for a few days and guests already staying are asked to look for another place.
Common Spaces
There are some excellent chilling spots outside -- a huge table with comfortable benches around, a long table where "family dinners: are offered every once in a while (even if these are extremely overpriced), and some swings and benches are there. There is also a huge, fully equipped kitchen, but you are sharing it with the family who lives here, so it can get rather awkward to figure out what you are welcome to use.
Summary
Singha Lounge is an extremely chilled backpackers hostel with an international vibe that is housed in a beautiful building with nice exterior spaces. However, when it comes to the interiors, it looks more like an extremely simple homestay.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
+4
JudyM
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Jun 18, 2019
Location and Contact
Location
• The nearest airport is Koggala, 8 km from Hostel Singha Lounge, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service. • For more details, feel free to call us.