The Thinnai Hotel Jaffna

Thinnai was lovely, staff went the extra mile and very helpful. Food was lovely and service was brillant. Receptionist was so nice

We stayed at this hotel at the end of November 2025, just as cyclone Ditwah hit the country. We were supposed to be staying for two nights, but this turned into 4 as the cyclone prevented our onward travel. The staff in this delightful boutique hotel could not have been more helpful, friendly and kind. There was a culture of everyone working together to make sure your experience was the best it could be. The welcome at reception was next level. The food was delicious thanks to Gideon and his fantastic team, thanks for the amazing chilli crab cookery masterclass, and we particularly enjoyed the service in the bar with some great cocktails! Following the devastion suffered by the island, the hotel arranged for a Buddist Monk to visit and deliver a blessing to keep staff and guests safe during troubled times. It felt very special to be part of this, with many different cultures and religions joining together. When we left to continue our journey, I received a text from the hotel enquiring whether our journey had been safe! That really exemplified their next level care and commitment to their guests

I arrived unwell and was immediately met with kindness. We had booked a twin room suite and I had kept my partner awake the night before with my coughing. The duty manager organised a free upgrade to an apartment. The chef personally asked me what kind of light soup I wanted. Our Intrepid tour guide took me to a private hospital and the medicine started working overnight. The general manager met me and my partner at different times to check how I was feeling. The last evening a tray of fruit, chocolates and a local sweet was delivered to the room with a card signed by 16 staff members and a long note from the general manager, Rushan. When we left the front of house manager and Rushan both personally wished me a speedy recovery to continue the trip.

Thanaraj was wonderful! We had a lovely meal and the traditional desserts were a highlight. Highly recommend. The variety on the menu was great for the whole family.

Good hospitality from all staff especially Ms Dilakshi, Chef Gidion and Mr Dinesh Kumar. Room was good and food was amazing

What a beautiful hotel with amazing staff. Everything was as expected but the staff were beyond helpful and kind. Princey was super lovely, helpful and hospitable and definitely made the stay extremely comfortable!

Got it 😄 Here’s a more natural, real guest-style Google review with crab cooking show corrected: “We had a really lovely stay at this hotel. The service was excellent, the ambience was beautiful, and the staff were all so friendly and welcoming. The food was very good, and the crab cooking show was a wonderful experience. The welcome cocktail was also delicious and a very nice touch. Highly recommended!”

Sri-lankan flavours in the meals are delicious. For myself, the Wattalappam was exceptional ,betrayed by my sweet tooth. 😂

The Thinnai is a good 4 star standard when compared to the other 6 hotels we have stayed at in Sri Lanka. Rooms are very spacious, clean, well furnished and air conditioned in both the living area and bedroom. The staff have been outstanding across all areas. Attentive, accommodating, helpful and very friendly. Special mention for Princey at reception. Nothing was too much trouble. Her assistance in addressing a couple of small things in our room and organising a van and driver for a small group private tour was outstanding.