Page 45 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)
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a curated Teppanyaki dinner. I watched on with
fascination as Chef Subramanyam played with open The Vistas Bar on the
rooftop combines
flames and a hot iron griddle. Soon enough, my boozy tipples with the
table was filled with Teppanyaki grills of salmon best views; (right) the
steak, giant prawns, garlic rice, and stir-fried signature Achcharu
Cocktail.
vegetables. After the hearty meal, I retreated to my
room and settled in a hot bubble bath, with a glass
of wine and the view of the city’s glistening skyline. The sprawling lobby
of the hotel.
I woke up the next day to find the azure ocean
turn into liquid gold under the warm sun. Post a The Robata Grill
healthy breakfast of watermelon and feta salad, and Lounge is
famous for its
blueberry chia pudding, and some freshly squeezed Teppanyaki dinners.
juice at AYU, the all-day diner, I decided to take a
tour of the hotel. With the famous shopping arcade
Liberty Plaza, the National Museum, and the holy Though the sun didn’t shine for too
site of Gangaramaya Temple, all a short walk away, long, I managed to squeeze in a tuk-tuk
the lavish business hotel dons modern interiors trip to the handicraft store of Urban
instead of the common traditional Lankan designs, Island for some souvenir shopping,
and features 214 luxe rooms and suites, a dedicated and the nearby Fashion Market LK that
executive floor, spacious meeting halls, a fitness sells locally-inspired designs of native
centre, the famous Spa Ceylon, a nail and beauty artists. A quick walk around the store
salon, and an infinity pool on the rooftop. was followed by a fun, Sri Lankan-style
sarong draping session with the head
stylist, after which I headed to the
beach and sampled street-side staples of
isso vadei (spicy prawn cakes) and tangy
mango achcharu.
I just couldn’t get enough of the
bursting flavours of the zesty achcharu
mix. So, soon after my therapeutic
session at the Spa Ceylon at the hotel,
I went to the rooftop Vistas Bar, and
ordered a glass of their signature
Achcharu Cocktail. Sipping on my new
favourite tipple, I sat next to the infinity
pool and watched the setting sun.
Though painted in different colours than
I had hoped for, Colombo had won my
heart. movenpick.com
TR AV E L A NDLE I S U R E IND I A .IN 41
