Must-see restaurants in The South

  • Bedspace Kitchen

    Unawatuna

    One of the most progressive, enjoyable restaurants in the country, Bedspace Kitchen has it all right. Around 95% of their ingredients are sourced in Sri…

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    Spoon's Cafe

    Galle

    For authentic Galle-style rice and curry, this minuscule place (there are only four tables) can't be beat. Chef Shamil Roshan Careem hails from one of the…

  • Church Street Social

    Galle

    A classy retreat from Galle's steamy streets, this refined air-conditioned hotel restaurant is the perfect setting for a great meal, with the formality of…

  • Old Railway Cafe

    Galle

    Right across the small canal from the namesake station, this fashionable upstairs cafe has artfully mismatched furnishings and a boho vibe. You'll find an…

  • Royal Dutch Cafe

    Galle

    The sign says 'Relax Zone' and this is a fine place to sit back and enjoy the company of cafe owner Fazal Badurdeen, who has a million stories to tell. He…

  • Fort Printers

    Galle

    The ideal venue for a memorable meal, this hotel restaurant offers a concise menu featuring fresh seafood and organic local produce. It's especially good…

  • Jinas Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant

    Unawatuna

    This mighty fine place offers a wide array of Indian food (thalis and masala dosas) as well as great falafel, wholesome soups and Mexican-style dishes…

  • No1 Dewmini Roti Shop

    Mirissa

    The original and still the best local rotti shop. It also makes kotthu (rotti chopped up and mixed with vegies) and delicious, more substantial rice-and…

  • Mango Shade

    Tangalla & Around

    Down a lane, 300m inland from the beach, this is the place for home cooking, Sri Lankan style, with richly spiced sauces, fresh seafood and very moderate…

  • Dutchman's Street

    Matara

    A cool new cafe-restaurant serving well-priced international dishes (saucy fried chicken wings, battered fried prawns) in the colonial enclave of Matara…

  • Mamas Galle Fort Cafe

    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…

  • Bedspace Beach

    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…

  • 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…

  • A Minute by Tuk Tuk

    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…

  • Mati Gedara

    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…

  • AVM Cream House

    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…

  • Elita Restaurant

    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…

  • Wijaya

    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…

  • Think Club

    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…

  • 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…

  • Mumbo Jumbo

    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…

  • Dairy King

    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…

  • Roti Shop

    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…

  • Dot's Surf Cafe

    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…

  • Dream House

    Unawatuna

    Eat alfresco while being serenaded by classical music at this Italian restaurant. The secret to enjoying the pasta and fish dishes here is remembering…

  • Heritage Cafe

    Galle

    The menu here covers all bases with filling sandwiches, pasta, steaks and, yes, even local curries. Choose between eating on the sunny terrace, under the…

  • Sunrise Seafood Restaurant

    Unawatuna

    This simple beachfront place gets our vote as the best location in Unawatuna, tucked away near the temple on the west side of the resort, away from the…

  • Kingfisher Restaurant

    Unawatuna

    A popular seafront restaurant with a good reputation and a wide-ranging menu that – no surprise – focuses on seafood. The lobster is a treat, as are the…

  • Fortaleza

    Galle

    A large colonial courtyard restaurant surrounded by deep colonnaded porches. It's a quiet and classy scene and the menu matches the mood, with well…

  • Pedlar’s Inn Cafe

    Galle

    A very popular cafe in the British-era post office, with a choice of street-terrace, rear-patio or interior seating. Shakes, coffee and sandwiches are…

  • Hot Rock

    Unawatuna

    At this family-run beachside restaurant you can enjoy good local fare plus seafood and cheap beer with your feet in the sand and your eyes on the ocean…

  • Papa Mango

    Mirissa

    This restaurant has a prime beachfront location on the east side of Mirissa with tables dotted around a large garden shaded by palms. The menu takes in…

  • Cafe Punto

    Galle

    The praise for this rice-and-curry joint is far wider than its narrow dining room. It also serves tasty Chinese-style fried rice and noodle dishes and…

  • Coconut Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant

    The South

    A fine place to taste the fruits of the sea, with delicious crab, prawn, squid and fish dishes served up right by the ocean. Located on a pretty little…

  • Koko's on the Beach

    Unawatuna

    The beach bar for those who literally can't wait to get home for a tasty burger and fries or authentic fish and chips. Chicken kebabs and fish tacos are…

  • Queens Art Cafe

    Unawatuna

    A popular traveller cafe with fine espresso coffee and good snacks and meals (curries, fish dishes and breakfasts) in a street-facing, open-sided dining…

  • Serendipity Arts Cafe

    Galle

    This boho cafe has a fusion menu that includes Western sandwiches and Eastern curries, fresh juices and shakes, bacon-and-egg hoppers and filter coffee…

  • Galle Oriental Bakery Restaurant

    Matara

    The best central option is a creaky but historic place with lots of little dining rooms, a wooden interior and warped display cases bulging with baked and…

  • Saliya Restaurant

    Tangalla & Around

    Sitting on wobbly stilts 1.5km east of the town centre near the 198km post, this eccentric wooden shack is worth considering for the mangrove views; the…

  • Mangrove Chalets

    Tangalla & Around

    With a wonderful beachside location, this hotel restaurant is a memorable setting for a meal. You can wiggle your feet in the sand and feast on fresh…