Penthouse on the rock is one unique place at the center on Unawatuna. The view and the huge balcony/terrace is to die for. The rooms are spacious and designed with heart, all materials come from ocean or from jungle, so if you love good taste and natural materials with good quality, you will love Tony's place. There are so many lovely details and hidden nuances at that place which can not be seen on the pictures - it is perfect for families up to 6 people.
I stayed there with my husband and 2 small children. Though it is not the place which is designed for children (you have to watch their safety as it is not childproofed) we still loved it. Yes, you have to park couple hundred metres away if you go with car as we did and you might have difficulties finding parking space, so it's more convenient and cheaper just to walk around and use tuk-tuk but if you still decide to go with car to travel around yourself they will assist you to find the parking lot and the shop and restaurant owners are kind enough to allow short stopping in front of their businesses until you take all your luggage. Yes, you have to climb almost 100 steps each time you go to apartment and it might be tough with 30+ C degrees and me carrying the baby but it was all worth it. And the staff will carry all heavier suitcases or other luggage that you might have.
It is just 100 metres from famous Unawatuna beach with great swimming and sunbathing, lots of choices of restaurants and nightlife. Still you will feel private and away from the crowds as you are so high. I felt no privacy problems which can be read in some of the reviews - the windows are darkened and there are some shades as well, so if you go with your own family it is definately fine.
There might be some noise during Friday and Saturday nights as you are so close to beach were people are having fun, but you're on vacation, so go ahead and have some too or be kind and use earplugs that they supply if you need some sleep. In the main bedroom it was not so loud at all, it was louder in the other room where children slept but they did not care.
The rooms are suitable for one family, wouldn't recommend it to 2 friend families / 2 couples actually. The master bedroom has 1 dbl bed which is not the biggest as they aren't in most Sri Lankan places but big enough for us. They provided baby cot with mosquito net as well. The room next to it is living room actually but on request they will place another dbl bed there and there is still enough room for sitting at the table. There is also a tower with the best view at the house and one small bedroom with bunk bed next to it - we didn't use it, but for bigger children or teenagers I quess it would be a fun place to stay. Also there is kitchen, a spacious bathroom with huge bath, wardrobe and another washroom.
Another great thing that came with the accommodation is family of Pathma who we met through the owner. Pathma runs a small beach restaurant That's it and cooks breakfast there or up in the penthouse which is a little bit more expensive but a very convenient solution. The omlets were mediocre but her Sri Lankan breakfast (or more like an early morning desert) cracked rice with fresh coconut curd and fruits was the best. She reserves sunbeds with roof for you if you want and it's free of charge if you just have some drinks or food from restaurant while you stay there. She, her husband and daughter who all work at the restaurant were lovely.
There are two smaller apartments at the same building, which I did not see inside but the view is definately the best and the apartment the most luxurious at penthouse.
There is wifi which worked fine during the whole stay and at all the places of apartment which is not typical at Sri Lanka. Also you will not find so many places that have own kitchen with all utensils - at penthouse there is everything (only technical equipment like blender or dishwasher excluded, but still fine enough).
I would recommend the place to everyone going to Sri Lanka - you will have a wow experience at the penthouse and some monkeys and other wild animals and birds to watch right from there in addition.
The only big con is the lack of air conditioner - there are plenty of fans, but still would have slept better with AC as it is really hot outside. Also I would have liked to have washer inside the house but there are many paid laundry services close.
