Old Bridge Riverside Hotel Review: A Peaceful Riverfront Stopover on the Way to Nuwara Eliya

Traveling from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya with a little one is not always as easy as it sounds. Our original plan was to leave Colombo early in the morning and drive straight to Nuwara Eliya. But as many parents would understand, road trips with a child do not always go exactly as planned.

So at the very last minute, we changed things up.

The day before our trip, we decided it would be much easier to leave Colombo a day early, stay somewhere along the way, and continue to Nuwara Eliya the following morning feeling more relaxed. That last-minute decision led us to Old Bridge Riverside Hotel, a small riverfront property in Kitulgala with just three rooms and river-view balconies. The property’s official listing highlights its riverside setting and small-room inventory, which matched the quiet atmosphere we experienced during our stay.

I found the property while browsing booking platforms late at night. The reviews looked promising, and after checking Google reviews as well, I felt confident enough to book it without overthinking. We booked a room with breakfast included, hoping for a simple and comfortable one-night transit stay.

First Impressions on Arrival

Check-in time was around 2 PM, but we got delayed on the road and reached the property only around 4 PM.

The hotel is not directly on the main road, so you need to take a short side road for about 150 meters to reach it. That small detour actually helped the place feel more private and peaceful. When we arrived, all three rooms were occupied, which immediately told us this was a very small and intimate property rather than a busy hotel. That lines up with the property’s own description of having only three river-facing rooms.

Our room was facing the river, and the view was one of the best parts of the stay. Looking out toward the greenery, the river, and the jungle-like surroundings gave the place a calm and refreshing atmosphere.

We were welcomed with welcome drinks on arrival, which was a nice touch after the drive.

The Room

The room itself was spacious and clean enough for a short family stay. It had everything we needed for one night, and most importantly, it felt comfortable and relaxing after being on the road.

What stood out most was the balcony and river-facing view. According to the property details, each room includes a balcony with a river view, and that definitely adds to the appeal of staying here.

This is not a luxury stay, but for the price we paid, it felt worth it.

The River Experience

Soon after settling in, we headed down to the river.

This turned out to be one of the highlights of the property. The river area was beautiful and looked like a lovely place for a bath. Since it was already evening by then and the weather felt a bit too cold for our little one, we decided not to get into the water.

Still, we really wished we had arrived earlier.

If we had checked in on time, we probably would have spent much longer by the river. In fact, this is one of the reasons we felt later that this place is not just a transit stop. It is somewhere you could easily spend a full day simply relaxing by the water.

The hotel also promotes adventure and outdoor activities in the area, which makes sense given its riverside location in Kitulgala.

Dinner Options

The property had an à la carte menu, so ordering dinner from the hotel was an option. However, for our stay, we decided to bring in food from outside instead.

That worked well for us since we were only staying one night and wanted to keep things simple. But it is good to know that food can be arranged at the property if needed.

Breakfast the Next Morning

During the night, the boy looking after the property told us that breakfast would be Sri Lankan style and would include string hoppers. There was no option to choose from, but honestly, considering the price point of the stay, we were perfectly fine with that.

The next morning, breakfast arrived on time, and we were also served bed tea, which was a pleasant surprise.

It was a simple start to the day, but it suited our plan well since we wanted to leave for Nuwara Eliya soon after breakfast. The property states that breakfast is served daily, though online listings mention several possible breakfast styles. In our case, it was a fixed Sri Lankan breakfast, simple but satisfying for a quick transit stop.

Why This Stay Worked So Well for Us

What started as a practical last-minute booking turned into a stay we genuinely enjoyed.

Because we were traveling with our daughter, breaking the Colombo to Nuwara Eliya journey into two parts made the whole trip much easier. Instead of feeling tired from a long direct drive, we were able to slow down, rest, and continue the next day in a much better mood.

This stay worked especially well because it offered:

• A peaceful setting away from the main road
• A spacious river-facing room
• A relaxing natural environment
• A decent breakfast included in the rate
• Good value for money

Most importantly, it felt family-friendly for a short stopover.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Old Bridge Riverside Hotel turned out to be a very worthwhile stay.

We booked it mainly as a one-night transit stop on our way from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya, but by the end of the stay, we felt it had much more to offer than just convenience. The riverside setting, quiet atmosphere, and simple comfort made it feel like a place where you could easily slow down and spend more time.

If you are looking for a peaceful stopover in Kitulgala, especially when traveling toward the hill country with kids, this is definitely a place worth considering.

For us, it was money well spent, and we would happily return again.