Beautiful location, nice outdoor area, amazing food, helpful and sweet staff. Thank you, i highly recomend it!

It was really close to the airport, only a 15 minute tuk tuk. Don't pay any more then 700 rupees. Cars will try charge you a whole lot more so try and just get a tuk tuk. The workers there will organise you a tuk tuk if you need to leave early in the morning (which most probably do as Negombo is very much a stopover place).

The bed was really small and I didn't really fit in it (and I'm only 5ft10). Cuz the bed is pushed up against the wall the mosquito net doesn't really do the job as you can't wrap it around the bed. I got bit quite a bit. If you arrive late at night the front gate will be locked. If it's raining I imagine you'll get drenched as you have to wait for someone to come out.

super helpful staff

They must be surviving on the recommendation in the Lonely Planet guidebook, because this is not a comfortable place to stay. The rooms are quirky and have antique furniture but mine was not clean. This stopped me eating in the restaurant. Noise travels easily: e.g late arrivals, early departures and staff movements. The bathroom was clean but outdoor but the tiled floor dangerously slippery.

This is beautiful please with wonderful garden and really home made food.

Very nice and affordable budget boutique hotel with tons of atmosphere. Wonderful garden and super nice, helpful staff. Good value for money, got a free upgrade for our rooms.

The Icebear is like a fairytale land on the beach. Such a beautiful place, and the food, especially the breakfast, is incredible. I was there twice before, but not as a sleeping guest, but drinking afternoon tea on their porch, which is also recommended.

Many of the old typical Sri Lankan hotels surrounding The Icebear has been demolished for new modern hotels, but build in very low quality and extremely unattractive and others are simply run down, as for instance nearby Paradise Hotel, where I was married 14 years ago. Then it was one of the nicest hotels on Brown's Beach, now at least the front from the outside looks less attractive. Negombo is even among Sri Lankans known as a tourist trap, where you can experience all the worst sides of such. The Icebear is a little sanctuary in the middle of all of that

great breakfast, tasty tea, amazing garden

The staff was extremely kind, helpful, and genuinely happy to accommodate. Communication with Mr. Cristi was smooth and all the people working there were so, so wonderful. The garden setting was beautiful and quaint. The beachfront provided a great vantage for sunsets. The gates were locked at sundown, so it felt safe and secure. I was happy to also enjoy a European moka pot of coffee instead of the usual Nescafe at breakfast.

I stayed in room 9, and while it was adequate for my needs, I wasn't a big fan of my "roommates" -- very large flying cockroaches that were found in my bathroom. There's an extremely high vaulted ceiling, and there were 2-4 of them hanging around waiting for a moment when you're at your most vulnerable (naked in the shower) to swoop down and make your acquaintance. Eeeew. On the plus side, the Guesthouse must be aware of this because I was provided a large aerosol can of toxic insect killer. It killed the roaches, but then I had to deal with the lingering fumes because there was no ventilation. And while I understand this is a tropical location, and it's the beach, I have stayed in other guesthouses for the same price point, and they were much cleaner and without B-52 bomber roaches. Another slight bother was that I had to go outside and downstairs to flip a switch each time I wanted to shower, otherwise the on-demand water heater/pump wouldn't be on.

We treated Negombo only as last stop before flight home, but this hotel definitely made us regret that we came only for one night. You can really tell the hotel is managed with attention to any details that would make the guests feel welcome. Staff's attitude, the way the garden is arranged, the way all the menu's and signs are phrased. Owners and staff sincerely care and it shows. All in all place worth staying - the room, the food in the restaurant, the cleanliness, the atmosphere all are great.

Don't expect much from the beach, it's jist so-so. But the hotel's garden makes you forget about it.

location

smell of sewage just outside the hotel garden, plastic covers on matress

Lovely gardens.. afternoon tea... amazing staff! Quiet room..

Beach is disappointing..

very authentic interior, with lots of greenery, truly oasis inside the heart of touristic Negombo.

wonderful ambiance. beautiful gardens with birds and animals. fabulous friendly staff. right on the beach too. I loved this place!

my bedroom was gorgeous but the bathroom needed a good clean. lots of mosquitos too.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a lovely verandah restaurant.

Overpriced for what it is!

the garden is very cute with many animals, I saw two turtles <3 the manager was really helpful with questions before and during my arrival.

the bathroom could use some work, it was below expectations based on photos I had seen here.

Location was nice

Wifi not working properly, bathroom lock not working, no ac, fans are not good

Very dirty and full of cocoraches

It was our first duration and we were very happy that we chose this one. Such a nice enviroment with an amazing garden. The room was clean. Everything was perfect thank you

The Icebear Guesthouse has lots of old charm and atmosphere, surrounded by a beautiful lush garden, located right at the beach of Negombo. We could not be happier kicking off our Sri Lanka trip relaxing on the little terrace in front of our room amidst flowering trees and singing tropical birds, or sipping tea on the communal veranda listening to the sound of the rolling waves of the Indian Ocean… Together with the good breakfasts and attentive service this was the perfect start for us. As were the airport transfer upon arrival and the car-with-driver to Sigiriya, which we easily arranged via The Icebear GH for very reasonable costs. Thank you Christi & staff, for the soft landing on your beautiful island.

We loved everything in The Icebear Guesthouse! Even the spiderwebs and green mold spots in our semi open air bathroom… But those in search of the modern comforts of a luxury beach resort should try their luck elsewhere. Also good to know for first timers Sri Lanka: the beach in Negombo is not the paradise you find elsewhere on the island; the main road has a lot of traffic, so forget about carelessly strolling for shopping…

I turned up to a tired old room that stank of damp. With an awful shower. An Air conditioner that was so broken that it leaked litres of water over the floor. And nothing but European breakfasts on offer... in Sri Lanka! I’ve literally no idea why the reviews are so great for this place.

Great atmosphere

Great staff, great location. We were very comfortable

Not a lot