By Jessica Mathiasz

During the week when we're buried in work, most of us think, Oh, I need a vacation, but never actually plan one. Then Friday rolls around. You're tired and you just want to escape, but it's too late because you didn’t book anything. Getting out of Colombo without a plan seems way too stressful. And staying at a luxury hotel in the city? That seems like a hefty price tag and a massive hit to the bank account, right? WRONG.

That’s what I thought too, until I discovered the Cinnamon Life Resident Offer. I’d always seen Cinnamon Life’s City of Dreams from afar. You know the one, that stunning piece of architecture that's completely reshaping the Colombo skyline. I had it figured as strictly for tourists or big-shot business people. But when I finally
tried their resident offer for locals, I was genuinely surprised. This wasn't just affordable. It felt like an actual steal for a 5-star luxury experience.

Sri Lankan residents can enjoy exclusive rates starting at just Rs. 15,050 per person, based on double occupancy, until the 31st of October 2025.

The Hospitality

Checking in felt surreal. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with kind, genuine smiles from staff who seemed truly willing to help with anything. I wasn't left to figure things out on my own. Instead, I was personally escorted to the check-in on the 24th floor, a level they call The Sky. And what a view it was up there. The
lobby is vast and buzzes with a quiet, sophisticated energy. The whole experience, from that first hello to the seamless check-in, made me feel like a welcomed guest, not just another customer. Any pre-trip stress just melted away before I even got to my room.

The Room

My room was something else. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed the entire city like a live painting. I didn’t want to leave the room the moment I sank into the bed; it was that comfortable. Lying there, with the city lights twinkling below, a few stars peeking through the night sky, and the Lotus Tower putting on its own colour-changing show right outside my window, I felt it, the weight of the entire week just lifted away.

High tea and cocktails at Gatz

I found the perfect spot for sunset: Gatz. Their high tea is a curated luxury. For two, it's an affordable platter of sliders, scones, and sweets. They're wonderfully flexible, offering vegetarian, vegan, and low-sugar options to suit everyone ( you need to inform them in advance). You also get a choice of a hot or iced beverage.

The golden hour buy-one-cocktail-get-one-free deal is a steal, and the live band sets an incredible mood. They have 52 unique cocktails, all crafted in-house with amazing stories. The best part is their prices are seriously on par with any other nice bar in Colombo. You get five-star glamour without the five-star price tag. The Dining Experience at Quizine. At Quizine, you embark on a global culinary flavour tour built on sustainability. Each live station, from Indian and Western to Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese, cooks dishes on demand. They refill only what runs out to minimize waste. The food is incredibly fresh, making for a world-class buffet that's as conscious as it is
delicious. Their dinner, breakfast, and lunch are equally amazing and all incredibly exquisite.

The Restaurants

There are many beautiful international cuisine restaurants at Cinnamon Life. I had the opportunity of walking into some of them, and the interior and what they each offer is so unique and beautifully curated. Each space has its own distinct personality, telling a different story through its design and menu.

At Bistro des Marées, their Mediterranean restaurant, the brunch feels like a trip to a Parisian café. The spread is fantastic, with decadent cheese boards and cocktails, all set against a view where the Lotus Tower plays the part of our own Eiffel Tower. The Sapphire Dragon, their Chinese Restaurant, is stunning, with probably the best ocean view in Colombo. The interior is one of the most beautiful I've seen. While I didn't get to eat there, everyone raves about the food. Apparently, while everyone loves the spicy Sichuan, their true specialty is Cantonese dim sum.
Your choices are endless here. You can grab a steak at Staten, incredible Indian food at Indiya, or Japanese at Yoroko. For drinks, you can choose between the rooftop bar at Flux, the wine at Cloud Wine, or the poolside vibes at Dreams.

The infinity pool, shoppe, and paintings 

If you thought that’s it… It’s not. The property has so much more to offer. There's the stunning infinity pool overlooking the ocean and Colombo skyline. You can chill here for days. The Shoppes at Cinnamon Life are just getting started. The first of its four floors is now open, with a curated mix of fashion, perfumes, and unique brands you won't find anywhere else.

But what truly sets Cinnamon Life apart is its soul. Scattered throughout the hotel are over a thousand pieces of art, all commissioned from local Sri Lankan artists. It means that wherever you walk, you're surrounded by our own culture and creativity.

It’s a world-class experience, but it feels uniquely and beautifully our own. Your escape into luxury doesn’t require lots of planning, long hours of traveling or big budgets after all. It’s all waiting for you, right here in the heart of Colombo. Try the Cinnamon Life City of Dreams Resident Offer and live the dream before it is too late.