We visited the Radh Hotel, in Kandy for the official launch of its restaurant, Café Nihonbashi. The Radh Hotel is the latest venture by Icon Hotels (Pvt) Ltd, the hospitality arm of the Conmix Group of Companies. Sipping a glass of chilled king coconut and lime, I took in all the surroundings around me which filled me in wonder. Stepping from the bustling streets of the Kandy city into The Radh Hotel was like walking into the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter and clearly, I had needed the break. The beautiful Arabian inspired ceiling and the hues of dull pink, burnt orange, mahogany and the bright green from all the plants around cheered me right up, after a long drive to Kandy. Icon Hotels (Pvt) Ltd. Executive Director Azim Marikar said; “It is a very small property in the heart of Kandy, but we wanted to put in as much thought and detailing as possible to ensure the best of comfort for our guests.” Nihonbashi CEO Dharshan Munidasa noted; “Kandy was always in our radar, but the timing was never right. We always wanted a location that had soul. With the opening of The Radh, Kandy has the chance to experience something new.” Icon Hotels (Pvt) Ltd. Chairman Afzal Marikar highlighted that with the opening of Café Nihonbashi, Kandy would have its first taste of Japanese cuisine. He further added; “The hotel was designed by Nandika Denipitiya with the intention of paying homage to the beautiful architecture of Kandy, while still embedding some modern elements to its architecture.” “The management wanted to maximise and bring out the best of their 65 year old property, through amazing attention to detail, high standards and beautiful interior designing, all under the watchful eye of Azim Marikar,” said The Radh General Manager Shafraz Rahimdeen. With an aim to preserve the cultural identity of the surroundings while providing a unique ambience and atmosphere, the hotel is truly a tribute to the heritage and cultural majesty of the ancient kingdom of Kandy. [gallery link="file" columns="1" size="full" ids="7130,7131,7132,7133,7134,7135,7136,7137,7138,7139,7140"]   Location Targeted at business clientele and tourists looking to spend some time in the beautiful, ethereal town of Kandy, the 30 room property is located just 50 metres or a four minute walk from the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) and a three minute walk from the Kandy City Centre Shopping Mall. The centrally located hotel is ideal accommodation for tourists who visit Kandy to witness the annual Esala Perahera and experience the vibrant city itself. Ambience The Radh reflects the meaning royal, and the hotel’s befitting architecture and interiors bring out a sense of luxury. The amount of detailing that has gone into the carpets, to the intricately designed wallpaper, the thought process behind the placing of furniture to each of the beautiful hand-carved lotus flowers over the doors of the rooms is absolutely phenomenal. From the lighting to the earthy colour palette, the classy interior design is really sensual and soothing to the eye. I loved the addition of the whimsical glass elevator that added to the whole ‘Room of Requirement from Harry Potter’ vibe. The hotel is eco-friendly and well-thought out. Everything from the straws used to the bristles on the toothbrushes are biodegradable. There are plants placed everywhere, beautiful creepers hanging on the walls, lining the staircase, hanging on the walls of the balcony by the Jacuzzi and an individual little potted plant in each bathroom, each of which added spunk and character to the room, which is part of their ‘Live, and Let Live’ Go-Green concept. The rooms Creating a four star, four storey hotel from just 5,500 sq. ft (20 perches) of land is not easy. The property has 30 rooms of eight categories to choose from, equipped with modern amenities like Wi-Fi enabled JBL radio and Bluetooth speaker, mini-fridge, closet, mood lighting, flat screen TVs with satellite channels (sizes increase based on the room category), room service and free Wi-Fi. Starting at $ 120 for their 25 sq ft., Executive King, all rooms come with a private balcony. What sets The Radh apart from most other hotels is the amount of detailing they have undertaken to ensure a luxurious experience for their guests. Each bed has two hard and two soft pillows for personal preference and the couch is the same as well, with a comfortable soft duvet placed over a hard chair. Even the luggage racks aren’t fixed so guests can push it away if needed or request for more. The bathrooms are stocked with toiletries from Spa Ceylon, and even the toothbrushes are marked A & B so that guests know to differentiate between them. Rooms are stocked with illy coffee, PMD tea, eco-friendly American glass water bottles, and get this, complimentary PRINGLES!!! The Suites are equipped with illy Coffee Machines and a well-placed Jacuzzi on the private balcony. The Family Rooms have a special connecting door to a smaller room for a maid or children, so that the couple can have their much needed privacy and alone time if needed, while still being arms reach away to their kids. The Food The hotel also houses Café Nihonbashi, a casual version of the fine dining, award winning restaurant that hit the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2013. Chef and CEO Dharshan Munidasa has carefully curated the menu at the restaurant to ensure it is customised to suit the palette of the people of Kandy while still remaining true to its Japanese roots. The restaurant’s signature dish, the Perahera Bento Box, which we were lucky to savour on our visit is a great testament to that. Featuring fully cooked dishes, that packed a flavour explosion of sweet, savoury, salty, tangy, and umami, the Perahera Bento Box is a must try. The restaurant does not serve pork to retain the Halal standrad. What did we think? Would I drop in at the Radh if I needed accommodation in Kandy? Hell yeah! The hotel is certainly well thought out, to ensure luxury for their guests and is a comfortable stay if you want to experience the city of Kandy in style. If I had to think of any negatives, the only two I could think of is the lack of a pool and the fact that they do not serve any pork or alcohol. Address: 30, Colombo Street, Kandy, Sri Lanka Facebook: www.facebook.com/theradh/ IG:@the.radh Website: www.theradh.lk Review by Rovina Vandersay Photos Indika Handuwala