Entertainment in Sri Lanka
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Clancy's Irish Pub
Colombo’s stab at Irishness offers pub grub and a variety of beers and ales, including Guinness. It’s a popular spot, with regular quiz nights, live music on weekends and a few couches to sink into. All drinks are discounted 50% during the daily 6pm to 8pm happy hour. Long pants are required attire.
reviewed
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Liberty Cinema
Shows Hollywood blockbusters, although often quite a while after they’ve been released elsewhere in the world. Tickets cost Rs 150 for adults and Rs 100 for children under 12.
reviewed
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Rhythm & Blues
This place has live rock, R&B and blues nightly. Despite the Daisy Villa Ave address, it’s on RA de Mel Mawatha.
reviewed
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Grand Hotel
Not the cheapest place to drink in town, but with a lovely period vibe enlivened by an open fire and vintage movie posters. The older waiters will most likely challenge you to a game of snooker in the adjoining billiard room. You’ll be expected to pay for the privilege (Rs 500 per hour), but it is a quintessential Nuwara Eliya experience.
reviewed
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Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Institute
If Billy Joel was from Sri Lanka, he would have started his career as the ‘piano man’ in this old bar for battle-hardened war heroes and salty-dog sailors. It serves Lion Lager at about the lowest prices you’ll find outside a grocery store, but you’re not paying for atmosphere. Solo women travellers are advised against drinking here.
reviewed
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Blue Elephant
Most of Colombo's dance-oriented nightlife centres on the top hotels. All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs500 to Rs600 (which usually includes one drink). The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 23:00 and continue through to 06:00.
reviewed
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My Kind of Place
Most of Colombo's dance-oriented nightlife centres on the top hotels. All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs500 to Rs600 (which usually includes one drink). The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 23:00 and continue through to 06:00.
reviewed
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Galle Face Hotel
Favourite gathering spots for a drink at this venerable institution include Veranda, a no-nonsense bar on the inside veranda, and the Checkerboard, a cluster of tables on the courtyard lawn facing the sea. Or go the whole hog and quaff imported wine while smoking Cuban cigars and nibbling French cheeses in the hotel’s wine lounge.
reviewed
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Library
Most of Colombo's dance-oriented nightlife centres on the top hotels. All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs500to Rs600(which usually includes one drink). The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 23:00 and continue through to 06:00.
reviewed
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Boom
Most of Colombo's dance-oriented nightlife centres on the top hotels. All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs500to Rs600(which usually includes one drink). The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 23:00 and continue through to 06:00.
reviewed
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Cascades
Most of Colombo's dance-oriented nightlife centres on the top hotels. All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs500to Rs600(which usually includes one drink). The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 23:00 and continue through to 06:00.
reviewed
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The Pub
Does what it says on the tin, with Carlsberg and Lion Lager on tap, a few cocktails and the occasional Saturday night jazz gig. The Western food (think chips, pasta, club sandwiches) is uninspired and overpriced, but the twilight view from the balcony on to Kandy’s noisy rush hour is an enlivening end to any day.
reviewed
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Kandy Garden Club
At the far end of the lake, this venerable gentlemen's club is open to visitors, and for a temporary membership fee you can relax in the bar or on the veranda with a Lion Lager and fried devilled cashews. For a fee, rack up on the old tables in the billiards room, still something of a male bastion.
reviewed
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Tramps
All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs 500 to 600 (which usually includes one drink). Women usually get in free. The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 11pm and continue through to 6am.
reviewed
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Blue Leapord
All clubs have a cover charge of about Rs 500 to 600 (which usually includes one drink). Women usually get in free. The dress code is fashion-conscious but casual; entry is usually restricted to mixed couples and single women. Things get going at about 11pm and continue through to 6am.
reviewed
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Pub Royale
Beside Queens Hotel, this gloomy, dusty approximation of an English pub is a quiet escape from the diesel-infused intersection outside. The service is occasionally glacially slow, but the Three Coins beer is definitely Kandy’s coldest; it froze in our glass when we last visited.
reviewed
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Boathouse Restaurant
Open only during the July-August, December-January and April peak seasons, this is a popular local lakeside bar and restaurant with a nautical theme. There are carrom (a cross between snooker, marbles and air hockey - you flick disks into corner pockets) boards to pass the time.
reviewed
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Pub
This pub, with a balcony overlooking the street below, is a good place to unwind and meet other travellers over a beer or two. Stick to beer and cocktails; on our last couple of visits we found the food to be of below-average quality, yet overpriced - and rather slow to arrive.
reviewed
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O
Asgiriya Stadium
The modest Asgiriya Stadium, north of the town centre, hosts crowds of up to 10,000 cheering fans at international one-day and test matches. The compact stadium is reckoned to be one of the most attractive used for international cricket.
reviewed
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Bellagio Casino
Gaming is legal in Colombo, but only for foreign passport-holders. Bets at most tables start at Rs 500. Most casinos are open 24 hours. Despite bearing an identical name, this casino has no relationship with the casinos in Las Vegas.
reviewed
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Bally's Casino
Gaming is legal in Colombo, but only for foreign passport-holders. Bets at most tables start at Rs 500. Most casinos are open 24 hours. Despite bearing an identical name, this casino has no relationship with the casino in Las Vegas.
reviewed
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Alliance Française
To the southwest of town, the Alliance hosts film nights (though in French, the films often have English subtitles), and has books and periodicals. Good coffee is available. Nonmembers are welcome to browse in the library.
reviewed
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S
Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre
There are shows here at 5.30pm. The auditorium makes it easier to take photographs than at Kandy Lake Club. It’s on the northern lake shore. Arrive early for a good look around the attached craft showroom and workshops.
reviewed
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Image Room
The incense-smoked image room next door to the Japanese Peace Pagoda, with its gaudy collection of Buddha statues, is interesting, and the friendly resident nun is liable to hand out sweets if you’re well behaved!
reviewed
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Blackout
Located in the Swiss Residence Hotel, this is the only dance club within city limits. Nights of opening were changing at the time of research, so call first. A three-wheeler should be around Rs 250 one way.
reviewed