Cocobay Unawatuna

Sri Lanka , Galle
Unawatuna, No:10/4,Roomassala Road, Unawatuna, Galle
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50 reviews shown

6/10

Pleasant

03 Feb 2026

Hannah

The food at the restaurant was delicious and the staff were helpful and nice.
The rooms were quite run down for the price. Our tv, kettle and multiple lights didn’t work and the bathroom was musty. Our laundry also came back with new stains on it.
We stayed in a room with a plunge pool and it lacked privacy. There were no sheer curtains so we had to keep the curtains closed (which meant a dark room) for most of the stay because staff were always walking past our room or standing near it. I would recommend booking an upstairs room.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Feb 2026

Richard

Everything was perfect from the staff, food & a paradise location

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

31 Jan 2026

debbie

This hotel didn’t live up to the reviews I had read. The place is very dated and I was initially disappointed. Our aircon unit was dripping badly but was fixed in a couple of hours. All this said the sea view and food in the restaurant didn’t disappoint and the staff were lovely

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2026

Geoffrey

We loved our stay at Cocobay! The staff were super friendly and accommodating. The room had been recently renovated and was nice and clean. The pool was nice and refreshing whilst the beach was calm and safe.
I highly recommend Cocobay!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2026

Adam

The staff went above and beyond. It was my girlfriends 30th birthday and while I was in the UK they helped to get things organised and things didn’t change once we got here. The best treatment, I could see the staff did this across the board for everyone at the hotel. They really couldn’t have helped more if they tried, from the manager, to the reception staff, bar staff and everybody else.

Very pretty, warm welcoming and a overall amazing stay in a beautiful setting. A perfect hub for if you are basing yourself in Unawatuna.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2025

Milagros

Everyone here goes above and beyond! Excellent customer service, i stayed in one of the suites with private pool and jacuzzi and it was worth it! There are only 3 of those suites so book early, im sure all rooms are nice but the suitrs are top notch. The hotel is very well kept, staff always keeping an eye in perfection, the restaurant is highly recommended, delicious food, breakfast is great too and the staff in the restaurant are superb. If you are coming to Sri Lanka, you need to book here to enjoy Unawatuna and Galle.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Aug 2025

Kirsten

Absolutely a superb experience! Such friendly staff, helpful at all times. Lovely to have a “private” beach and combine relaxation with experiences arranged by a knowledgeable staff.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2025

Verified traveler

First class service

Terrific staff and beautiful property

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

27 May 2025

Senoli

The photos of this property LOOK okay but in real life, this place is sort of falling apart. You can’t swim in the beach as the water is too dangerous and choppy. The room we stayed in did not have a balcony door that sealed properly, so we had to switch rooms. The eating/ lounge area was very bare bones. For me, the stay would have been all right, had they not used photos likely from when this hotel first opened, when it was in tip top condition. We had a hot tub that we didn’t even feel like using, being the sealant looked cracked and gross and it just didn’t appear as clean as it did in the photos the hotel has shared with Expedia. We would never ever stay here again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2025

Giancarlo

Staff is amazing and Upul ( restaurant) and Tamara ( lifeguard) were exceptional

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2025

Duncan

One of few hotels with its almost private beach. Boutique but a little rough around the edges - so what if nothing is perfect - this isn’t Maldives. Great food, really friendly staff. No loud music and respectful guests. They are offering a great product, that’s why guests return. Easy tuktuk to busier area and boats to take you elsewhere. We were genuinely sad to leave.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2024

JEFFREY

Cocobay is a beautiful hotel with friendly and attentive staff members. After a week tour of Sri Lanka, it was the perfect place to relax for the last night of our trip.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Jun 2024

Helena

Rooms have a nice ocean view and balcony. Room and the bathroom are large. Good wifi. The water in front of the hotel was too choppy to swim. I’m not sure if this is a seasonal problem.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2024

Marshall

It’s a convenient distance from unawatuna beach and Galle fort. If you’re only down south for a weekend, or for your first time I highly recommend. Excellent service, great breakfast, calm and pleasant private beach. Beautiful sunsets.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Dec 2023

Quentin

Amazing stay!

Really comfortable room with ocean view balcony, huge bathroom with nice bathtub. The hotel is beautiful with perfect facilities. The food is amazing and special note for the staff, so nice and caring. We had an amazing stay thanks to them. And now we know how to cook curry with their cooking class 😍

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2022

john

Had a brilliant time at Cocobay over Christmas and New Year. Enjoyed it so much, we stayed some extra days. Private beach is a small piece of heaven and i swam to jungle beach (about a mile) and that was super fun too. (can get a short rickshaw ride or walk also).

Food was great, Sri Lankan or international cuisine available. Stayed in two different rooms and both great, clean and with sea and palm tree views. Going to Unawatuna which is great but always happy to come back. Special thanks to Pradeep, Dilan and Dinesha and the whole team for making our stay so good.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Dec 2021

Sue

Lovely stay

Lovely room with a fantastic view. Staff were lovely.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

07 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

Private beach is lovely and calm after touring Galle and Unawatuna.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jan 2020

Kurt

Great Hotel for Holiday and Family

Great service and great food. Great location for seeing other

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Lovely setting, spotlessly clean with a fantastic beach and restaurant.

The most friendly and caring staff you could wish to meet.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

The uniqueness is the beautiful location and the spacious comfortable rooms with very clean toilet. The private pool to indulge. The food is very good and yummy. The staff is very obliging & friendly. It’s my second visit. So close to the highway entrance and so many other places to visit.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2019

Timothy

Great little find

This is a lvoely hotel, nocer than oics may suggest. Its pretty small, so staff get to know you and are very friendly. Not a lot in immediate vicinity, but Galle fort and Unawatuna town are a very short tuk tuk ride away. Beach and rooms all have amazing views across the bay to Galle Fort - sundown cocktails are a highlight here

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

We loved everything about this
The receptionwe receiced and the staff were brilliant

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Oct 2018

Eric

All the staff and customer service at Cocobay Unawatuna were superb. They looked after me and my family and were accomodating on our arrival. The staff at the La Mer restaurant were also really friendly and accomodating to our needs.

The location of the hotel is right next to Jungle Beach and very close to the beautiful Galle Fort by tuk tuk.

Highly recommended for anyone looking to stay near Galle/Unawatuna!

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2018

Ramesh

Clean big rooms. Its not a swimming beach where the hotel is located.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2018

Greg

What a fantastic hotel and staff! We stayed in the Aqua Romance room which has a huge jacuzzi and personal plunge pool. The bed was huge and very comfortable. The hotel itself is right on the beach which made the stay so relaxing. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great so we didn’t end up swimming in the ocean. The hotel itself is located between Galle and Unawatuna and only costs about 400 rupees for a tuk tuk to each location. The food was amazing! Hoppers and curry for breakfast and seafood platters for dinner!! And finally, the staff were just incredible. So friendly and accommodating and always working with a smile on their faces. Can’t recommend this hotel enough.

4/10

Poor

07 Jul 2018

Reviews are deceiving

I do not consider this a 4 star hotel. I have stayed at 4 and 5 star hotels all over the world, and at best, this is a 3 star hotel. The rooms are aesthetically pleasing. However, our bathroom had a strong stench, that we informed management about. The stench literally made my fiancé ill, and we were met with the response \"We can give you another room for $40 additional a night\". The principle that we were asked to pay to simply have a room without a stench, really did not sit well with us at all. I had room service, and the food was okay. The beach and pool are small, and not aesthetically pleasing. If you are accustomed to true 4 and 5 star hotels, this is not your hotel.

4/10

Poor

12 Jun 2018

george

Very average hotel. Nice staff but nothing else.

We pre booked 4 nights and left after 2. Only plus was friendly staff, everything else was very average. We don’t blame the hotel, we booked it on the reviews.

S

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

Loved the private beach. Hotel was great. A few things could be updated.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2018

Liz

Absolutely wonderful

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay .
The people were lovely, the food excellent, and the hotel photos are a true reflection of the hotel.

We will definitely be going back.

8/10

Excellent

18 Feb 2018

Verified traveler

Sweet Spot on the Beach

Cocobay is a delightful retreat in an intimate beach cove nearby Jungle Beach. Coco Bay's very professional and caring staff will meet your every need, and their food is out of this world! Make sure to enjoy a massage- it's a unique and delightful experience. Ask for room 1, 2 or 3 if you would like your own private splash pool, the rooms are wonderful! Hike up to Jungle Beach and around the beach cove area, there is a beautiful temple at the top of the road, not to be missed! Galle Fort is just 4 km tok-tok (taxi) ride away with lovely shops and views. We loved our time at CocoBay and highly recommend it.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2017

Cindy

Perfect Boutique Hotel

Amazing service!!! Everyone was so kind.l

Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Aug 2017

Quaint resort with an abundance of charm

Had a fantastic time. Rooms spacious and comfortable. Service impeccable. Great flexibility of staff to meet our needs. Small clean beach on its doorstep. Pool was on the chilly side but with huge warm Indian ocean on its doorstep who cares.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2017

Verified traveler

Kids friendly, excellent service

We had a wonderful stay at Cocobay. They are excellent with children and attentive to special request. Would love to be back.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2017

Mark

Fantastic hotel on the beach

We stayed here for 4 nights after travelling round the south of Sri Lanka. The hotel is beautiful, well-maintained and positioned right on a very nice, small clean beach. I don't think it's a private beach, but it may as well have been. The staff are very pleasant, helpful and extremely chilled. Breakfast is superb. It wasn't included in our deal and cost an extra $10, but it was well worth it. We missed lunch every day as the breakfast was so good. Dinner on the beach every night is wonderful. The sea food platter was so good we had it three out of four nights. Food is expensive by Sri Lankan standards, but amazing value by Western standards. We considered eating out in Galle a couple of times, but always came back to the hotel. Another positive is that there are turtle nests on the beach and we had the wonderful privilege of watching turtles hatch whilst we were there.

8/10

Excellent

12 Mar 2017

tabraiz

Boutique hotel with beautiful beach

We stayed here for 3 nights
Beautiful beach. Excellent staff service breakfast and dinner were good
Staff very attentive to our kids
Large rooms with massive bathroom. Next time I would get room with own private pool, kids would love that
Only let down very poor wifi
Kept disconnecting throughout the hotel worse in room 301
However would definitely recommend this place

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Feb 2017

Howard

Very nice hotel, excellent service

Coco bay is a beautiful facility with and excellent staff, good food and a terrific location far enough away from the crowds in Galle and close enough to Jungle Beach and a great selection of local resteraunts.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Dec 2016

bert

Private beach next to fishing village.

Wonderful sunsets from beach, restaurant and balcony. Enjoyed walking one beach over to help local fishing community bring in nets of fish. Excellent Sri Lankan breakfast with hoppas as well as traditional American and breakfasts available.
Asked for whole crispy fish, not on menu, and chef offered to have it for me the next day.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Nov 2016

Mike H

A Haven of peace

whole family stayed 4 nights and could not fault the hotel in anyway. Hotel in fantastic position with what is in effect their own private beach 10 min from Unawatna and Galle . The rooms were excellent , the staff could not have been more helpful and the restaurant excellent . Would certainly recommend and we would not hesitate and stay at hotel again

8/10

Excellent

16 Nov 2016

VANESSA

hotel

Excellent hotel, dining on the beach most evening was very nice

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2016

Kandarp

Great location/view, amenities could be better

The décor was great. Staff was very good. We loved the location of the hotel with its private beach and the private pool that came with our room. Our idea was just to relax and the room and other hotel amenities were more or less geared to provide all the relaxation we wanted.

A couple of issues came up during the stay -- the Jacuzzi in the bathroom had a leaking pipe, so it was unusable during our stay. I would have expected for the hotel to compensate for that bad experience. I didn't explicitly asked for it and the hotel chose not to do anything about it by way of compensation. Another issue was with the AC in the room. It barely was able to cool the room. The staff did try to help us by offering an adjacent room for the night but we declined due to the hassle in moving. I'd give full marks to the staff for trying to be helpful but would take some away from the property amenities. After all, the hotel seems geared to cater to the needs of travelers, who wish to relax and not deal with day to day issues of life. Such issues should not be cropping up therefore. Finally, the hotel had no accommodation for our driver. That was a big bummer.

All in all, we had a pleasant stay primarily due to the private pool, ocean view, and easy access to the beach. I would go again for these reasons but would make sure that everything was working fine in the room.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2016

David/Rebecca

Great hotel.

Great position on the beach, friendly and attentive staff, superb food and very good value for money.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2016

Verified traveler

Great first night in Sri Lanka

Besides great staff, food, quiet and beautiful facilities- they even let you choose your scent of soap slice- how unique

8/10

Excellent

24 Sep 2016

Michael

Great hotel by the beach.

Great hotel with its own private beach. Lovely food and it was great to have breakfast and dinner by the beach!

The hotel staff are very attentive and the manager was there on our arrival to welcome us into the hotel.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Sep 2016

margaret2323

Fabulous hotel on the beach!

We had a 3 night stay at Cocobay and it was wonderful. The staff was attentive and polite, the view was gorgeous, the hotel was really clean and our room was perfect. We had a room with a jacuzzi on the 3rd floor and the room is huge and the view is spectacular. Our friends had a room with a pool on the first floor and the view is also spectacular. The pool rooms are smaller, but very nice and clean. The food at the hotel was superb. Breakfast is more food than you could dream of eating and well worth the price. Our evening meals were amazing. They have a really good chef and waite staff. We ate everything from sea food to steak to pizza and it was all great. We were celebrating our anniversary while there and the staff went out of their way to make it special.

8/10

Excellent

13 Sep 2016

Mark

Wonderful hotel with fantastic service

The staff at Coco Bay are really passionate and care about your stay. We had a great time. One minor complaint - the floors always seemed greasy - I think it's the salt air. Surely this could be fixed?!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

30 Aug 2016

Niti

Solo stay @CocoBay

Coco bay is a good choice for a relaxed and quiet holiday by the sea. However, single women travelers would do well to ensure they have access to a vehicle. Do note that the tuk tuk called by the hotel reception will charge easily 5-6 times the price (generally it is SLR 50 for 1 km and SLR 30 for each km after that) so do bargain well. The hotel is located right on the beach and is perfect for solitude. However, the food is only average and breakfast at USD 10 per person is pretty steep considering the taste and options. But overall, the place is neat and though priced on the higher side, quite hospitable.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jul 2016

Verified traveler

YOU JUST HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS...

We were not able to make it but our friends that did absolutely raved about every aspect of their experience...

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jul 2016

Verified traveler

Peaceful, tranquil hotel

Really enjoyed our stay at this small and beautifully formed hotel. This hotel is located in a very peaceful spot but also a short drive to Galle Fort.

The staff are very helpful and welcoming giving the hotel a friendly atmosphere.

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2016

GoGo

Own private beach

This is one of the nicest hotels we have stayed at. The staff are super friendly and are happy to accommodate requests and local tourist information. We arrived at the hotel in the tail end of a cyclone, so beach was out of bounds until the last day of our stay, but the swimming pool is fine.

You can't walk from the small hotel beach to the large main beach without walking across an estuary, so you need to walk out to the street then back onto the main beach.

Rooms are upmarket, modern and clean.

Food is average, however there's better choices available in Galle Fort and Unawatuna.

Overall a pleasant stay in a very nice property.