live like a wave
A small, design-led 11-room hotel on Sri Lanka’s south coast, where everyday island-life meets a mix of Scandinavian clarity and Japanese calm. Wabi-sabi edges, ocean air, and spaces built for people who live lightly but love details. It’s a place for travellers and surfers, and really anyone who appreciates good food, locally inspired cocktails, and those absurdly beautiful sunsets over the Indian Ocean. Energetic by day, quietly serene by night — everything Sri Lanka does best, in one spot.
A Place Made to Be Lived In
UNU began as a very simple idea: build a place where you can actually feel the south coast. Bare feet on cool terrazzo, solid teak under your fingertips, sunlight shifting across textures that come straight from the island. A place that’s comfortable without being precious, design-led without being showy, and open enough that people from anywhere can settle in and feel part of something bigger than a hotel.
We wanted a home for couples, travellers, and surfers — not in separate boxes, but together. A base for exploration. A soft landing after long flights. A place to chase waves, read on balconies, wander markets, catch sunsets, meet strangers, disappear into the sea breeze. Somewhere that lets local culture breathe through it rather than dressing it up.
The reason it feels this way is because of the people behind it. The local team who carry the rhythm of the south coast.
Lars and Nikki watching from afar. Anishka and Samath keeping the heartbeat steady on the ground. The mix of cultures, instincts, and hands is the soul of UNU — and you feel it the moment you take a sip on the Rooftop or lay your head on the pillow.
Born from a little wildness and a lot of naïveté. Years of plans, rebuilds, stubborn decisions and generous surprises — the kind of lessons you only learn by building something from scratch. Every detail is the sum of those choices: imperfect, human, and honest in the best way.
UNU is for people who want to be feel the South Coast — its rhythm, its warmth, its everyday life — without losing the small quiet moments: good food, honest cocktails, salty skin, the ocean at night. The journey was messy and unforgettable. The result is simple: a place made with real heart, meant to be lived in.
Stay With Us
Pick from our 11 rooms. Each with its own rhythm. Sea-green terrazzo, teak shutters, and private terraces facing either the ocean or the garden pool. Around 35 square metres of space to breathe — with a seating area, air-conditioning, and open-air bathrooms that look straight into the canopy or sky.
Poolside rooms feel like a small colonial courtyard wrapped in green. Ocean-view rooms open to waves, breeze, and the slow hum of the south coast. Garden rooms bring shade and frangipani air; sea-facing ones frame the surf from bed.
Breakfast happens on the rooftop — baristas, fresh fruit, good coffee, and the first light over the ocean. Evenings belong to UNU Rooftop, the easiest spot in Ahangama to watch the sun drop.
Clean lines, crisp materials, open yet private. Different rooms, same feeling: thoughtful, honest, connected to the coast.
Note: UNU is a kid-free space. We’re not set up for young children, but we’re happy to host older teens who can enjoy their own room or bed.
UNU Rooftop
From 7 AM to 10 PM, the rooftop is where the day finds its pace. Slow breakfasts, bright lunches, and evenings that stretch out under the stars.
The kitchen leans into local flavours — fresh, simple, and a little mischievous. Healthy plates with proper vegan options, crisp salads, bowls, and the kind of comfort food you actually want after a surf. And the bar? Easily some of the best cocktails on the south coast: local ingredients, smart twists, zero fuss, endlessly drinkable.
Come for coffee and calm, a midday something-fresh, or that sunset drink that suddenly makes everything make sense. Unhurried, open to the breeze, and always close to the sky — this is the heart of UNU.
The Waves
Right across the road from our terrace, a gentle reef break sets the rhythm. Wake early, step barefoot onto the sand — and you’re already watching waves roll in.
At Marshmallow Point, mellow lefts and rights unfold over the reef, framed by palms and ocean light. It’s a soft, forgiving wave on most days — warm water, playful shoulders, clean swell from November to April, and wind-light mornings that make it a favourite for anyone who surfs with ease and doesn’t mind taking their time.
And then just a short wander down the coast — two, maybe three minutes — the energy shifts.
Sticks starts to show its teeth on a good swell: a faster wall, a little more push, a wave that rewards timing and gives you that classic Ahangama feeling of speed tucked into something still beautifully manageable.
Animals, just beyond, is the wild sibling. A touch more power, a shade more consequence, and that perfect mix of reef, bowl and section that keeps intermediates and confident surfers grinning all morning.
From UNU, these are literally your neighbour breaks — no taxis, no logistics, just a walk with your board under your arm.
And of course, the wider coastline opens up the moment you hop on a moped or a tuk tuk.
Kabalana’s long reeling walls, Kathaluwa’s cruisy peelers, Midigama’s little cluster of classics — Rams, Lazy Left, Lazy Right — plus all the secret corners locals will quietly point you toward if you ask with a smile.
This stretch of the south coast is one of those rare places where the waves feel close, intuitive, part of the daily rhythm. Stay at UNU and you’re not “getting to the surf”; you’re living inside it
10/10
‘This place is special, as Anthony Bourdain would say! Perched on the edge of the jungle sits the 10-room Boutique Hotel UNY with sunset views from roof, of Ahangama best (open secret) surfspot, Marshmallow. The place is brand new, designed by a Scandinavian-Srilankan couple, and it shows.’
- Martin 🇩🇰 Denmark
★★★★★
‘Highly recommended for anyone who is looking for a very nice hotel with a view of the sea and very friendly staff. The service was more than perfect. We will definitely come back!’
- Miriam 🇧🇪 Belgium
10/10
‘Absolutely beautiful setting and everything brand new. Perfect location. Really good aircon and comfy beds. Lovely hot water. Nice touch of breakfast on our balcony in the morning. Would definitely recommend a visit here’
- Beth 🇮🇪 Ireland
Planning a stay, a gathering, or just curious about the coast?
Ask us anything — surf forecasts, which break suits your level, when Marshmallows gets glassy, or which tuk-tuk guy will get you to Rams before the wind turns.
Curious about food? We can tell you where to find the best hoppers at sunrise, who does the island’s dreamiest vegan curries, where to try real Sri Lankan “short eats,” or which cafés are worth wandering to after your session.
Looking for culture beyond the waves? Ask about Galle Fort’s hidden corners, traditional mask-makers in Ambalangoda, sunset drumming on the beach, or the quiet temples tucked into the jungle.
Whether you're planning a retreat, a long surf escape, a family stay, or you just need guidance on tides, yoga spots, mopeds, or special diets — we’re here for all of it.
Send us a message anytime. We’ll be right here — on the terrace, by the pool, or somewhere between the palms and the sea — ready to help you shape your perfect Sri Lankan stay.