Jaffna
The restaurant at this hotel, with tables under a mango tree and around the pool, is a good spot for a meal, and also for an evening beer. Try the Tamil,…
Must-see restaurants in Sri Lanka
Nilaveli
Another fishing family makes good. All generations lend a hand at this bare-bones simple seafood restaurant that serves up whatever has been caught fresh…
Colombo
Bright and stylish, this is rice and curry for a new era. Choose a rice (white or red), pick from nine vegetable dishes and add in a pappadam and fried…
Nuwara Eliya
This inexpensive eatery located along a busy main street serves Sri Lankan and Chinese-style fried rice dishes. A few vegetarian rotti make a good…
Hikkaduwa & Around
For some of the best home-cooked curries in town order dinner in this family-run place a couple of hours in advance. Dinner is upstairs; downstairs the…
Kandy
Run by an industrious local, this tiny, inexpensive cafe offers great burgers, kebabs, subs and fried rice dishes; all are well seasoned and attractively…
Galle
The King family have been whipping up Galle's best ice cream for many years from their window-front outlet. The crunchy cashew and passionfruit flavours…
Colombo
A tiny bakery with exquisite Western-style goods. There are three tables inside with air-con and another pair out front under a tree. Get a good coffee…
Tissamaharama
Flavors' owner/chef has honed his cooking skills overseas and prepares good Italian and Chinese food, as well as excellent local devilled dishes and…
Jaffna
No you won't hear some knucklehead here bragging about his new US$4200 watch; rather, you can set your time to the excellent sweet and savoury treats that…
Unawatuna
A very simple place with a couple of street-side tables. Offers tasty rottis, including dozens of sweet and savoury breads jammed full of cheeses, fruits…
Ella
A casual family-run thatched place close to the turn-off for Little Adam's Peak, with delicious kotthu, noodle dishes, curries and Western food. Prices…
Hikkaduwa & Around
The lush gardens that surround this colonial-style villa go some way to hiding busy Galle Rd, which helps enhance the enjoyment of the ultra-thin-crust…
Nuwara Eliya
This small modern cafe on the driveway to the Grand Hotel is perfect for cakes and espresso coffee. However, their short eats (samosas and pastries) can…
Kataragama
The best eatery in town, this busy little place serves up good local and Chinese dishes at very fair rates. Doubles as a store, so you can stock up on…
The South
Tucked away just back from the shore by a little lagoon, this lovely cafe has a cool vibe and serves up meaty burgers, crisp waffles, fine juices and…
Jaffna
In the heart of the bustling centre, this local eatery is always busy and has friendly management, a good range of food options and ‘nuts ice cream’.
Trincomalee
Excellent rice and curry. The refills seem to never end, portions are enormous and the vibe is friendly.
Jaffna
Modern supermarket for international and local foods. The best choice for stocking up in the region.
Colombo
The trim colonial bungalow that houses Shanth Fernando’s Gallery Cafe used to be the office of Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The open…
Jaffna & the North
The historic fort is part of a navy-run resort. There's a restaurant right on the waterfront with great views of the fort. It's a big place with a big…
Anuradhapura
The location in the southern outskirts of town is not the most convenient, but this bright and hip restaurant is worth the trip if you are in the mood for…
Polonnaruwa
This large and well-run restaurant is set up for the tourist groups, but it's a convenient place to take a break between sightseeing. The lunch buffet is…
Sigiriya
A young backpacker crowd frequent this chilled creek-side hang-out. It's as much a drinking place as a restaurant, but the food is good value, from…
Batticaloa
When the tropical heat becomes too much, the sanctity of air-conditioned Tomato is refreshingly welcome. This refined restaurant has Western food (pasta,…
Ella
Tiny hole-in-the-wall spot near the bus stand that’s good for a cheap breakfast before or after an early-morning stroll to Little Adam’s Peak. It’s a…
Habarana
The Heritage's cafe-restaurant is right on the main crossroads in town, so is perfect for people-watching. There's a classy, turn-back-the-years ambience…
Nuwara Eliya
Very high-quality Asian and Western dinners are dished up by spiffy waiters serenaded by a grand piano in the main dining room of the Grand Hotel. There's…
Colombo
It's the Ministry of Crab for the masses. Tiny crabs are served in this very narrow storefront on a recently rebuilt street in Pettah. You won't just rub…
Colombo
With the lapping of the Indian Ocean across the street providing your tropical atmosphere, settle back for some excellent Sri Lankan fare at this little…
Jaffna
Highly authentic and atmospheric old-school eatery in the market district with marble-topped tables, wooden cabinets, swirling fans and photos of holy men…
Colombo
Look for these simple carts and tent set-ups that appear every night an hour or two before sunset and all day on weekends. The snacks are often fried,…
Colombo
The namesake cafe of the smart little lane of stylish shops and eateries has a suitably hip vibe with an industrial motif and pillows on the concrete…
Jaffna & the North
This large restaurant looks impersonal from the street (thanks to its huge wedding hall), but enter and you'll find a rear dining area that's unexpectedly…
Anuradhapura
This self-service corner-shop joint is perfect for shoestringers staying at one of the many nearby budget guesthouses. The rice and curry, string hoppers,…
Colombo
This colonial-style courtyard building with colonnaded porches continues to celebrate its namesake sport after a recent move. Autographed cricket bats…
Colombo
This cafe has a strong following among Colombo’s hipster set (plus among staff from the Russian embassy across the road). Customers lounge in soft seats…
Kandy
Old-timer Bake House now has a smart (air-conditioned) dining room as well as the ground-floor cafe. On the dependable, but not wildly exciting, menu you…
The Hill Country
This vaguely upmarket roadside eatery has a surprisingly attractive dining area, with high ceilings and a distinctly safari-esque theme going on. The food…
Colombo
Like elsewhere in Sri Lanka, ‘hotel’ here means ‘simple eating place’. Across the very busy road from Fort station and close to Pettah’s market madness,…
