Tintagel Colombo.

After three years of passing by its imposing gates wondering about the goings on inside, I was thrilled at the transformation of Tintagel once it opened its doors in December 2007.  Located at the corner of Rosmead Place and Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7, this new 10-bedroomed boutique hotel is the creation of Shanth Fernando, a Sri Lankan lifestyle designer and entrepreneur who also owns the Gallery Café and the popular lifestyle home store Paradise Road.  Tintagel was the old family residence of the Bandaranaike’s including the former President and her parents, both of whom were at one time, Prime Ministers of this country.   The mansion is huge and handsome, and Shanth’s signature style is in every detail – sofas from Portugal, hand-spun silk and woollen rugs from Nepal, modern art, silver gilded chandeliers and Egyptian cotton bedding. The food here is excellent and since non-resident guests are also welcome at their two restaurants – I’m a great fan.  I know Charlie is too and highly recommends the braised pork belly with ginger and a poached egg.  My favourite is the chocolate mousse.  At the moment Tintagel doesn’t have a liquor license, but you can bring-in your own wine for which they charge a corkage fee of Rs.1000/- per bottle.  The Red Dot sales team is visiting next week and will be interesting to hear their views.