Clear blue skies, the soft sea breeze tugging at your hair and a perfect vacation ahead of you. Located on the Southern coastline of Sri Lanka, The Fortress Resort and Spa is ready to welcome you.

With unmatched accommodation and facilities, diverse dining options and a wide range of spa treatments, this boutique resort, one of Sri Lanka’s finest has also been awarded a Small Luxury Hotel of the World certification.

The Fortress prides itself on the diverse dining options available to guests. Tuesday nights are quite special. Guests are welcome to the Seafood Night with Grill where one can indulge in the finest selection of seafood, fresh from the sea.  The seafood is cooked to your choice at the outdoor cooking station by the pool. Thursday is Sri Lankan Night, where guests discover the spicy, authentic local cuisine and a cultural show afterwards.

Weekends at The Fortress are a specialty where the cuisine reigns supreme yet again. Saturdays and Sunday afternoon lunch dates are best enjoyed outdoors by the poolside. Delve your taste buds into the selected range of salads at the Heat restaurant before your main meal, or a bowl of soup with freshly baked bread or buns by the side.

Dig into a pizza, freshly baked in the wooden fire oven while reveling in the tranquil atmosphere by the sea. On Saturday afternoons, lunch goes completely Indian with specialties such as chicken and fish tikka, dum biryani, pilau rice, crispy buttery naan, grilled kebabs and tandoori chicken. Sunday lunch is all about the barbeque. Relax by the pool on a wicker chair and instruct the chef on how you want your meat or seafood to be prepared.

The feast is fit for a king and a guaranteed treat to your taste buds. For dessert, ask for The Fortress Sweet Temptation menu and indulge in chocolate mousse, cheesecake or a sorbet.

Fine dining is also a priority at this resort. Dine at Surf and Turf where you can feast on the Destinations Dining Experience. The five course meal features barbequed prawn cigars served with bell pepper relish in Thai red curry with salad, duck cacciatore with lemon cous cous, seafood chowder soup followed by a sorbet.

Then comes the New Zealand rack of lamb couple served with honey minted prawns and ribbon vegetables in red wine jus. Dessert tops off dinner with a blueberry panna cotta and black and white mousse and coconut sorbet.

The Destinations Dining experience is perfect for couples and it must be noted that you can enjoy this meal anywhere at the resort - even in the pool if you will (it’s been done before).  It is best to make a reservation a few hours in advance.

Accommodation at this resort is definitely something worth boasting about. Featuring a grand total of 11 Fortress Rooms, 22 Ocean Rooms, 16 Beach Rooms, 2 Ocean Lofts and 2 Fortress Residencies, each room is specially designed for the discerning traveler.

The Fortress Room features a king sized bed dressed in Egyptian cotton and an open plan bathroom. Rooms open onto a courtyard or private garden balcony and they come equipped with a state of the art entertainment system. An Ocean Room overlooks the vast Indian Ocean and these rooms come with a high-vaulted ceiling and open plan bathroom.

The Beach Rooms are located on the ground floor and views include the sea, garden and beach. Guests can also enjoy their very own Jacuzzi whilst taking in the magnificent view. The Ocean Loft is a double storey split-level room and comes with an oversized living room, interior plunge pool and daybed, while the upper floor houses the bedroom, and expansive bathroom.

The Fortress Residencies is the ultimate in luxury living space. Located on the upper floor of The Fortress, these feature two bedrooms and an outdoor dining deck. They also come equipped with a private pool and an amazing view of the coastline. Guests staying at the Fortress Residencies are also pampered with a 24-hour personal butler.  

The Spa and Ayurvedic Centre is ready to pamper guests with their wide range of spa treatments and massages by Balinese masseuses. Work out at the fully equipped gymnasium or opt to go for a swim at the free flowing swimming pool, a highlight at The Fortress Resort and Spa.

For more information, do check out www.thefortress.lk, email them on [email protected] or call them up on +94914389400.

Text and photos by Sarah Kellapatha