A famous landmark in the hill station town of Nuwara Eliya, The Hill Club was built by the British in the late 1880s as an exclusive planters club. It still retains the feeling of an old English country club and remains a private establishment, and is the most famous, if not the most salubrious, place to stay in Nuwara Eliya.
The club is charming, if a little dated. Little has changed since the 1940s, from the antique billiard table to the men only bar and ladies lounge. The panelled bars, hunting trophies, leather armchairs and glowing fires all add to its antiquated charm and are perfectly suited to the often cool climate. Guests will find the rooms perfectly comfortable, with fireplaces and armchairs to cosy up in the evenings.
The service is perfect and dining here is an integral part of the experience, although the food may leave little to be desired; the menus are rather out of date. Men are required to wear a jacket and tie (available on loan from the club if needed) and ladies must wear a longer dress, skirt or smart trousers for dinner, which is served by uniformed and white-gloved waiters. Guests can choose to dine in the formal dining room or the more cosy public bar.
Being a hill station, the temperatures in Nuwara Eliya can be quite low, especially in the evenings. However, guests can request a hot water bottle which they will find tucked up in their bed.
