Let me tell you something. Some places don’t just welcome you… They emotionally adopt you. That was my weekend at Uppuveli Beach by DSK.

From the minute I walked in, I was hit with a proper, full-hearted “Vanakkam.” Not the rushed, polite kind. The real kind. The kind that makes you straighten your posture, smile back properly, and immediately behave better as a human being.  That one word sets the tone: you’re not just entering a hotel, you’re entering a space with culture, warmth, and a whole lot of soul.

Now let’s talk about the people.
The staff here are dangerously kind. The type of kind where you start questioning yourself am I nice enough? From the front desk to the service staff, everyone treats you with such genuine care that it doesn’t feel like hospitality training, it feels like upbringing. There’s patience, respect, humour, and pride in what they do. You feel seen. You feel looked after. You feel like cancelling your return ticket.

And the culture, oh, it’s everywhere. But not in a staged, performative way. It’s in the greetings, the body language, the quiet confidence. Nothing is loud. Nothing is forced. It’s just… beautifully presented. This place doesn’t scream luxury, it whispers comfort.

Now, THE OCEAN.

Please.
This ocean is not normal.

It looks like it was written by a novelist with too much imagination. Blue in ways that don’t feel real. Calm, dramatic, soothing, all at once. I spent an unreasonable amount of time just sitting there, staring into the distance, pretending I had deep thoughts, when really I was just thinking, wow… this is nice. It’s the kind of sea that resets you. No drama. No chaos. Just vibes.

And because no Buzz with Danu story is complete without food, let’s get into that.

The food was very, very good. Comforting, flavourful, generous, the kind that makes you say “okay just one more bite” about six times. And the fish… my god. Fresh, beautifully cooked, and clearly aware of its own importance. This was a fish that knew it came from a good ocean and was proud of it. Proper seaside eating, no pretending, no overthinking, just good food done right.

What I really loved was how relaxed everything felt. There’s no pressure to be anywhere. No urgency to do anything. You wake up when your body tells you to. You eat because you’re hungry, not because it’s “meal time.” You sit by the ocean because… why wouldn’t you?

And that’s when it really hits you, this isn’t just a hotel.
This is a project built with love.

You can feel it in the details. In the way things are thought through. In how the space respects its surroundings. In how people work, not just in the hotel, but for the experience. There’s an intention here. There’s care. There’s heart.

In a world where so many places are about being seen, this place is about feeling. Feeling calm. Feeling welcomed. Feeling grounded. Feeling full emotionally and yes, also because of the fish.

So if you’re looking for a weekend that feeds your soul, soothes your mind, respects culture, gives you ocean therapy, and serves you a damn good meal Uppuveli Beach is calling.

And trust me…
Once you hear that first Vanakkam, you won’t want to leave.

Photos by NESAD