MG

This new property feels like it's been here for years such is the care and attention to detail. Impeccable taste is at play, from the materials used to the crisp linen and artwork on display. A home from home is a cliche used once to often but at Meda Gedara it actually felt like we were staying at a friends house such was the easy going vibe. This is due in no small part to Roshan the Chef and Manager and his fantastic team. Roshan crafted dish after dish of 5-star food and I don't think I ever heard him use the word 'no' as any request or suggestion was met with his beaming smile and just magically happened. We spent 3 days with friends and their children who literally spent all day on the superb water slide and pool. Kids TV room is also a plus with adults being able to retire to the home theatre room, but you'll probably find yourself enjoying long alfresco dinners. Any downsides? Not that I can think of, could maybe do with a couple more wine coolers :) And on the wine front, do order your wine to be delivered before you arrive as there is nothing of note locally. We've stayed in quite a few villas on the South Coast and this tops the lot. We shall gladly return.

For a big family holiday, Meda Gedara was a perfect choice. From the welcome with cold towels and chilled coconut water to the water slide and pool to the generous and varied meals catering for all tastes (and ages) they really have every base covered. Direct beach access, beautifully tended gardens and a yoga shala added even more to the charm. The staff was attentive and available to ensure our stay was enjoyable and easy, Roshan organized all transport required for day trips and outings and was a pleasure to deal with. Plus he is an amazing chef creating delicious Sri Lankan curries one night and homemade pasta the next! Meda Gedara is highly recommended by everyone in our group.

One of the most beautiful villas on earth - amazing property and star. Highly recommended.

Left on Aug 20, 2017 for a stay in Aug 2017
We are always a little nervous when booking something unknown in a country that we have never been to before especially with 4 young children. Upon arriving at the villa, everything from the property to the staff blew us away. Each member of staff, headed up by head chef Roshan, was excellent in the way they cared for our family. The villa is brand new, and each of the rooms is designed for families in mind as the British owners also have young children and that was comforting for my husband and me to know. There are 7-bedrooms with 6-bedrooms upstairs enough to sleep 2 - 3 families or 4 couples plus two children's rooms comfortably plus an outhouse for the 5th couple by the pool who might want to escape. The villa sits on the beach, and the black and red sand just on the beach is unique giving it a raw and wild feeling - perfect for family walks. The beaches are not yet developed so you feel like you can really explore. The staff were attentive, kind and amazing also with the children who were very patient and Roshan's cooking was out of this world. My husband being Italian highly rates Roshan's Italian food (highly recommend his pesto pasta and spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce) and we also loved his Sri Lankan cuisine. Roshan and his team were amazingly accommodating to any needs, and very knowledgable to organise anything along with the Eden Villas management team. We really feel that we could relax and be taken care of. The interiors of the property are beautiful with a blend of east meets west. There are two pools; a main pool with a gradual gradient for younger children, and a pool with the best slide - our children were on it for hours. We can't wait to book this villa again!

Absolutely recommended, top notch, unadulterated bliss

Left on Aug 31, 2017 for a stay in Aug 2017
I am unsure how or which superlatives to shower on this Shangri La, nestled away from the road, there is little on the approach to belie what a delightful paradise awaits behind the gates of Villa Meda Gedara. The situation is breath-taking; staff bearing huge smiles, cold towels and drinks, welcomed us into this palatial villa. The beautiful terrace leading down to one of two or three pools, depending on how one looks at it. A spacious Yoga Shala sits with a commanding view of the Indian Ocean amongst the leafy foliage. It pretty much has it all, a stunning beach to walk on, especially when others are torturing themselves with Yoga sessions. Supremely attentive staff led by the head chef/manager Roshan, he can do anything, a bit like a wizard really. The cuisine was divine, the local curries and dishes were superb, again Roshan and his team bowled us over with his rich and delightful repertoire. There really was something for everyone and I fear my waist proves it. The surrounding area is charming, tuk-tuk rides to beaches and towns, for trips further afield we enjoyed the “Golden Lounge”, a mini bus with palatial trim and blast freezer air conditioning just when it was needed. All very well but I think all I really wanted was to get back to the delights of Meda Gedara and those wonderful staff. The bedrooms are luxurious with beds to loose your partner in, and sleep comes fast with the sound of the ocean in the background. Water slides at night into pools twinkling with lights is a must, I’ve never laughed so much in my life. Absolutely recommended, top notch, unadulterated bliss. Meda Gedara Dickwalla Sri Lanka – If there’s any justice in this world I’ll be back…

Incredibly beautiful Villa, tons of space for everyone, a team of chefs lead by Roshan- the nicest man in the world who presents mouth watering dishes daily, nothing is ever too much trouble. Friendly and efficient team to help with….anything. Sound of the waves to fall asleep to (gorgeous beach is literally at the back of the large garden, behind the pool - oh, and of course the amazing slide, fun for adults and kids alike!) Safari's and day-trips organised, wildlife, relaxed and stunning, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The perfect group destination.

We have just returned from 10 amazing nights at the beautiful Meda Gedara. We were an extended family of 7 adults and 8 children (ages from 5 to 14) and the villa was absolutely perfect for us. We were given so much helpful information from Fiona and her team before arrival it made the booking process easy and allowed us to think about some achievable day trips from the villa with lots of children in tow. The beautiful bedrooms had the perfect amount of beds for all the children and adults to sleep comfortably. The pool and the waterslide were in use everyday, the waterslide was possibly more popular with the adults than the children! The food from Roshan and his team was just perfect, from Sri Lankan breakfasts to Italian feasts; they were able to accommodate our Coeliac traveler with no fuss, including a delicious Gluten Free birthday cake. The Villa is impeccably designed and decorated with beautiful objects but is still very livable and cosy. The veranda was the perfect spot for tea and coffee or afternoon cocktails overlooking the pool and the mesmerising ocean. When we wanted to go out on an excursion (beware, it is difficult to leave the amazing surrounds) Roshan organised everything for us which was fantastic. Roshan even organised our own fireworks for a special birthday celebration. I would highly recommend Meda Gedara, everyone in our group wanted to stay longer.

Step into paradise with this dream of a family villa (I say family - it can easily sleep three!). Stunningly designed with space for everyone, and utterly gorgeous throughout from the whopping big bedrooms to the enormous downstairs space. The kids LOVED the cinema room - a truly inspired touch. Our stay was made magical by host Roshan and his team of chefs and staff. We wanted for nothing, and it made our stay extra special. The twin pools are amazing, and the water slide a massive hit, of course! It's the perfect space to base yourself in for day trips to Galle, surfing beaches, national parks to see elephants, tea plantations, turtle hatcheries, whale watching - basically everything you'd like to see in Sri Lanka. Definitely the best villa we've ever stayed in. Definitely the best villa in the world!

Heaven

Left on Nov 16, 2019 for a stay in Nov 2019
Celebrated my 50th here this week with my partner and friends from around the globe. Was everything and more than I expected. The property, location, facilities all surpassed expectations. And OMG the staff are amazing. Thank you so much for looking after us and making our week with you so wonderful. Will be back

As soon as you walk into Meda Gedara Villa you feel the magic - it's exquisitely thought out decor, yet cool and comfortable vibe makes it so special. The attention to detail is second to none. The beach at the bottom of the garden is stunning and the pool area with the water slide makes it such a unique, fun experience for all! The yoga shala is filled with healing vibes - with the ocean as the soundtrack. The staff are so helpful and friendly and the food is absolutely sensational. I could not recommend this villa more!

Pretty much perfection. This beautifully appointed villa is modern (about 3 years old I believe) and yet traditionally designed with Sri Lankan carvings, floor to ceiling shuttered doors and a dramatic curved staircase at its entrance. Every room has individual touches while at the same time providing incredibly spacious accommodation and luxurious modern amenities. We were dumbstruck by how fabulous it is. The service is even more exquisite. Nothing is too much trouble and the chef Roshan is truly talented. With experience in amazing restaurants in London he is willing to show his flare in various different food cultures but we loved his local cooking so much we asked for it again and again. Request ‘the works’ for breakfast and you get basketfuls of egg and plain hoppers, a deliciously spicy onion sambal, deftly seasoned daal and a lightly sweet coconut rub alongside hearty samosas and one morning a delicate egg curry. Breakfast was a feast and the rest of the meals just continued this trend. Roshan also organized a wonderful evening of local entertainment. Fire dance, peacock dance, cobra dance and harvest dance were all beautifully performed in an atmospheric thunderstorm in the yoga pavilion where at other times massages and yoga sessions were available. With a quick whatsapp, Roshan was able to arrange tuktuks to the local surfing beach or a bus to the elephant sanctuary. Watching a family of elephants take a very muddy bath was the highlight of our trip and watching our own children’s delight as they took endless turns on the waterslide in the villa’s garden was a joy. We really couldn’t recommend this villa more highly. If you’re desperate for sunshine be warned that October is rainy season. While every day was pretty rainy nothing could have dampened this holiday for us. Thank you, Roshan and your amazing staff. I hope we are lucky enough to return soon.

Celebrated my 50th here this week with my partner and friends from around the globe. Was everything and more than I expected. The property, location, facilities all surpassed expectations. And OMG the staff are amazing. Thank you so much for looking after us and making our week with you so wonderful. Will be back

From a different Perspective… Meda Gedara, as amply testified by the heavenly eulogies and exotic songs of praise below, provides everything to make your heart and soul sing from its majestic setting overlooking the garnet sands and the hush hush waves of the Indian Ocean. I could write at length about any one of its abundant gifts that lavishes upon each guest… the enchantingly splendid colonial, yet warm and invitingly serene, interior; the superlative service with its sparkling smiles and timely spoilings of coconut water and chilled cinnamon cloths; the colourfully irresistible, mouth-watering, tummy-tingling feasts, the breathtakingly verdant Babylonian garden-surrounds replete with monkeys and mellifluous birdsong which are filled at night time with exotic peacock, fire and cobra dancers… … but this cornucopia of delights is just a part of Meda Gedara’s sumptuous enchantments. Behind, underneath and at Meda Gedara’s core is the crystal vision, honesty and pure love of a great woman, an awesome creative architect and the noble mother to a beautiful family of her own. Like so many of us who are feeling stretched and strained by Life’s vicissitudes, she knows that we need a safe and nurturing space where we can reconnect, recalibrate and remember who we are. When Life is deafeningly noisy and we can no longer hear our own heartbeat or what matters most, Meda Gedara brings us back to ourselves. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

We have just returned from a wonderful two week stay at beautiful Meda Gedara. The occasion was our 50th Wedding Anniversary and our group consisted of my wife and I, our three children and five grandchildren, ranging from 19 to 8 years of age. We all voted it the best holiday ever. There was something for all ages, the pool with its fantastic slide, beach walks with the two friendly pet dogs, surf-boarding at a nearby beach, cricket on the huge lawn with some of the crew, visits to Yala National Park, a tea plantation, turtle hatchery, snake farm, beautiful Buddhist temple, all arranged seamlessly by Roshan and his wonderful team. For the night of our celebration, Roshan organised a feast in the yoga shala, complete with cake, fireworks, dancers, and a fire eater who persuaded one of the older boys to try (he did!) The house is absolutely beautiful with antique furniture sourced in the UK, artefacts and art works, magnificent beds made locally, a well-stocked library and a large theatre room which was very popular in the evening with room for everyone on comfy couches. However spectacular the house, it still felt that it was your home. Last but not at all least, the food is superb. Roshan is passionate about his cuisine and has trained in London. We ate Sri Lankan meals almost exclusively, and were usually presented with an array of at least twelve dishes each night. Roshan was helped by some of his crew who did prepare some of the meals and breakfasts and he would be proud of them and their talent. Nothing was too much trouble; a tea or coffee at an odd time or a mango smoothie for a thirsty child. Meda Gedara has been created with love and attention to the smallest details. We would give ten stars, were that possible!

A newish villa built on old colonial lines, beautifully decorated but has achieved a really homely feel. We were there for a week's yoga retreat and it was perfect. We opted for vegetarian food and had an incredible brunch after morning yoga, helped ourselves to fruit or snacks from the fridge throughout the day and then had a wonderful evening meal. The sea is just beyond the garden gate with deserted beaches stretching into the distance in both directions. The manager/chef, Ramesh, and his team are just lovely… good fun, lots of laughs and looked after us so well. He gave us a cooking lesson one afternoon and if we particularly liked anything he'd cooked, he was very happy to take us into the kitchen to demonstrate how he did it. All the rooms are lovely… the ones in the house quite grand, the garden cottage more basic but a real treat because of the seclusion. We booked a local masseur for a day and he was the best masseur I've ever had!

Wow, what a fabulous house. Old school posh colonial truly individual interesting house. Fully staffed, but not in a in your face over the top service. Absolutely amazing authentic food. Took account of my family’s tricky gluten intolerant, low carb requests. Remembered how I like my coffee as it’s different at different times of the day. Fabulous massage every day in the special yoga area where you’re looked on by monkeys If you’re not watching the £££££ at all I’d suggest a plane taxi or helicopter as it’s about a 2 hour transfer from the airport. The nearest town to the house is properly authentic my son and I visited on our own one day and were stared at as there’s so few visitors which we loved. Shopping bargains for the indigenous stones. I bought aquamarines and quartz. Animals everywhere. Monkeys, monitor lizards etc bats the size of mini dachshunds. Truly authentic top class holiday, feels safe Would recommend for big family get together es my kids loved the slide and the teenagers loved the surfing beach Which felt like undiscovered Thailand 30 years ago when I traveled. Or would also make a fabulous adult party house.