Polonnaruwa
This family-run garden restaurant is halfway between Polonnaruwa (6km) and Giritale (7km), so you need transport, but it's worth the detour. The 10 or so…
Must-see restaurants in Sri Lanka
Colombo
Renowned for its seafood, Beach Wadiya has attracted a popular following for decades. The location is a tropical dream; cross the train tracks at the…
Jaffna
For a refined ambience, the small open-air restaurant at the Jaffna Heritage Hotel is perfect. It offers excellent vegetarian Indian and Sri Lankan food,…
Negombo
Potted plants and flowers surround the entrance of this suitably small, family-run restaurant. The menu serves up most of the Sri Lankan classics, but is…
Trincomalee
Central Trinco's most polished restaurant is in a historic building that combines dramatic architectural features – check out those exposed stone arches –…
Galle
Malini Perera and her daughters have been cooking for curry-hunting travellers for decades, and their much-loved and dead-simple rice and curries still…
Unawatuna
This new place offers a mod take on Sri Lankan cooking, with perfect hoppers available all day (including fusion-versions of this dish – try the eggs…
The East
A wonderful setting for a meal, this stylish hotel restaurant is perfect for a lazy dinner near the surf. You'll find a wide selection of dishes, with…
Starbeans Ocean Restaurant & Cafe
Galle
This modern cafe-restaurant enjoys a privileged position on the upper deck of the Dutch Hospital, with comfortable seating facing the big blue offshore…
Arugam Bay
For a memorable meal, this superb beachfront hotel restaurant is just the ticket, with expertly executed European and Asian dishes, wine by the bottle …
Haputale
Above a row of shops, this fancy-looking cafe has modern white seating, big views and a good menu featuring Western grub like bacon and avocado salad as…
Colombo
Amid the often rather shabby Mt Lavinia beachfront cafes, this very popular vision in white stands out. Under seven iconic palm trees, a range of comfy…
Galle
This enjoyable cafe has bagged the best site in the Dutch Hospital, with sweeping bay views from its breezy terrace tables and a small air-con interior…
Batticaloa
A wonderful find, this hyper-busy little olive-coloured eatery, run by a delightful, industrious couple, has an excellent takeaway section (vegie/meat…
Colombo
Eating vegetarian never tasted so good; in a simple house shared with a kids bookshop, this groovy little cafe has an ever-changing menu of fresh fare,…
Colombo
The main restaurant at the Mount Lavinia Hotel has buffets three times a day, with themes that change daily. The special Sunday lunch, however, is the…
Colombo
Located in the courtyard of the splendid Barefoot gallery, this casual but stylish cafe serves sandwiches, salads and daily specials that usually include…
Colombo
The unique spicy cuisine of Jaffna’s Tamils features at this simple yet very well-managed restaurant across from the seashore. The speciality is the truly…
Unawatuna
For inexpensive, authentic rice and curry, this appealingly rustic place is well worth seeking out. Mati gedara refers to the large earthenware pots the…
Colombo
A great cut-above-average restaurant in the heart of the temples on the edge of Pettah. Relax in air-conditioned comfort with some excellent South Indian…
Weligama
A bustling little place serving filling meals including noodle and fried-rice dishes as well as tasty snacks (the shawarmas are superb). There's good ice…
The East
This driftwood-vibe, boho joint is the centre of life in Whiskey Point. It has cushioned seating around its huge wooden deck, good food, beds on the beach…
Galle
Thirteen years of work as a chef in Belgium gave Krishantha Suranjith myriad skills in preparing seafood. His restaurant has great views out to the…
Hikkaduwa & Around
This family-run place has been serving up fresh seafood from a vintage roadside house at the northern end of the strip since 1972. There’s a cool veranda…
The South
This boutique hotel's restaurant is one of southern Sri Lanka's most renowned places to dine out, famed for its pizza cooked in wood-burning ovens. Bar…
Colombo
Bright, casual and busy all day, Upali's serves upscale Sri Lankan fare in stylish surrounds. Look for dishes here you won't find at your average…
The South
Quirky but brilliant shack on the beach run by a father-and-son team; you climb a rickety ladder to an ocean-facing deck for your meal. The seafood is…
Colombo
This is the top choice for an authentic Sri Lankan lunch near Fort. The rambling interior has various stations for rice and curry, fried rice and more…
Kandy
This open-sided cafe is where many of Kandy's bright young things like to hang out, with tables facing busy Dalada Vidiya. It's great for breakfast (with…
Colombo
A fine cafe in a 1920s mansion amid a neighbourhood of similar homes. There are excellent coffee drinks as well as healthy casual fare such as sandwiches…
Colombo
Tapas standards, spicy local nibbles, burgers, salads and much more are served at this casual cafe that's one of the best places to take a break in Fort…
Ella
This cosmopolitan cafe-restaurant has good espresso coffee, well-executed Western dishes including breakfasts (Rs 490), roasted veggie wraps, paninis and…
Negombo
This casual Italian-owned beachside cafe and restaurant is the kind of place where people end up frittering away half a day sitting in the breezy shade…
Dambulla
A smart, modern cafe-restaurant that serves good coffee and cake, as well as Western meals as diverse as breakfast pancakes, bangers and mash, and Chinese…
Colombo
Don't for one second confuse this Sale Island institution with the worldwide chain with the copycat name. The smiling dudes behind the big windows here…
Nuwara Eliya
The sign says 'fusion cuisine' but this smart restaurant with lake views is best for authentic North Indian curries. Prices are quite high, but service is…
Arugam Bay
This cafe is next to the spot where the fish are first hauled out of nets or off boats and loaded onto buffalo-drawn carts. But some stay right here, so…
Le Cafe Francais Bakery & Boutique
Unawatuna
A lovely, civilised little French-owned cafe where you can savour wonderful croissants, cakes and sandwiches, while sipping a latte or cup of tea from a…
The South
A fine new beachfront place run by a young team who know their way around a menu. It's perhaps a tad pricey, but the seafood is excellent: try the crab…
Arugam Bay
Relax amid lush gardens on the broad outdoor deck lounge, with low-slung cushions, throw pillows, and candles and lanterns. Good food, too, including…
