Colombo's 10 Best Restaurants
Colombo's 10 Best Restaurants
Sri Lankan cuisine has
always been one of the delights of this island nation. Colombo’s restaurant
scene is thriving, with a range of fine dining, budget eats and quirky colonial
eateries offering everything from seafood extravaganzas, tea festivals and
fusion innovation to suit every taste. As these ten restaurants reveal, a visit
to Colombo offers an unmissable chance to explore the best of Sri Lankan food
culture.
The Gallery Café
Opened in 1998 in the
former offices of world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, The Gallery Café offers
a unique combination of art and gastronomy within its atmospheric dining room.
As part of the Paradise Road complex,
visitors can peruse an art gallery which hosts a rotating selection of local
artists and designers before sitting down to dine. In the dining room they will
be served the best in authentic Sri Lankan fare, topped off with fusion
elements, and using only the freshest local ingredients. The lemon grass and
ginger chicken, black pork curry and prawn curry with sautéed kankun all come highly recommended, as do the
Café’s many cocktails.
Nihonbashi
Named the 38th best restaurant in Asia by San Pellegrino, Nihonbashi is run by Japanese-Sri Lankan chef
restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa, who brings a slice of Japanese elegance
to the Sri Lankan capital. The décor purposefully evokes the Zen like calm of a
Japanese garden, with gently bubbling fountains and a minimalist, understated
atmosphere. The cuisine is similarly simple, utilizing the most delicate
combinations to bring the best out of sashimi and sushi, all of which is
presented with beautiful attention to detail. Every item on the menu is
prepared to perfection, with a charcoal grill and hotpot dishes to accompany
the signature sushi and sashimi.
Zaza
Ensconced in a magnificent glass chamber, Zaza is a combined bar, café and restaurant
which offers something for everyone through its ever-changing menu. In the
daytime Zaza offers the best of Ceylon tea,
combining the age old flavors of Sri Lanka’s tea culture with some modern
fusion twists, and creating Tea mocktails. Zaza then transforms into a hip
tapas restaurant, with an extensive range of local and international dishes. At
nighttime Zaza comes to life as one of Colombo’s best bars, and the glass cube
is lit up as revelers descend on the highly acclaimed ‘Uber Bar Lounge’.
Chutneys
Offering a master class in south Indian cuisine, Chutneys is one of the best places to
experience the rich variety of this culinary culture. It includes dishes from
all of the four primary states of southern India – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
Kerala and Tamil Nadu – and also features vegetarian dishes for every state.
The incredible diversity of food culture in each of these states is explored
through an extensive menu, particular highlights of which include the many
types of Dosai on offer, and
dishes such as Prawn Masala and Cashew Nut and Onion Raga.
Chutneys, 77, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri
Lanka, +94 11 249 7372
Curry Leaf
Known as one of Colombo’s most exclusive restaurants, Curry Leaf raises
Sri Lankan cuisine to new gastronomic heights and is the best place to
experience the culinary potential of the tradition fare of this island nation.
Dishes such as String Hoppers, Hoppers, Pittu and Kottu Rotti are transformed into refined pieces of classical gastronomy,
whilst the relaxed open-air ambience lets visitors observe the cooking
techniques for themselves.
Seafood Cove
Sri Lanka’s seafood is one of the most prized elements of its
culinary scene, with Sri Lankan restaurateurs taking advantage of the riches of
the Indian Ocean to offer the freshest ingredients every day. This is
exemplified inSeafood Cove, which
is located in a rustic setting right on the beach front, and which lets the
daily catch determine its ever-changing menu. The chefs are able to tailor the
wide range of fish and shellfish to patron’s specifications, whilst a live
Calypso band brings a touch of the tropical to proceedings.
Seafood Cove, 100 Hotel Rd, Mt Lavinia,
Colombo, Sri Lanka, +94
011 271 52217
Beach Wadiya
Another beachfront restaurant that takes advantage of Colombo’s
abundant seafood supply, Beach Wadiya has
a reputation across the country for its massive seafood platters and the cheap
and cheerful style of cooking. It is now a Colombo institution, which has
attracted many famous patrons to its dining tables, including several members
of the British Royal Family. Beach Wadiya’s take on
authentic Sri Lankan classics is simple but flavorful, and its no frills style
makes it the perfect place to experience quality seafood in a relaxed and
vibrant setting.
Beach Wadiya, Marine Dr, Colombo, Sri
Lanka, +94 11 2 588568
Ministry of Crab
Created by Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Dharshan
Munidase (of Nihonbashi) as a celebration of Sri Lanka’s seafood, Ministry of Crabspecializes in offering every possible
variation on the humble crab, transforming it into the height of gourmet
excellence in the process. The culinary credentials of the three owner/chefs
are first rate and this is translated in their innovative and refined take on
the rustic crab, which they sell in vast quantities every day. Diners can enjoy
simple but hugely flavorful dishes such as Garlic Crab, Ginger Steamed Crab,
Pepper Crab or Butter Crab, whilst also choosing the size of their crab dinner,
from a petite 1/2 Kilo Crab to Crabzilla, which comes in at an astounding 2kg
and upwards! Located in the Old Dutch Hospital, the historic colonial façade is
the perfect location for this festival of crab.
The Cricket Club Café
If it is a colonial atmosphere you are after, then the Cricket Club Café is the ideal place to start. Built in
a small colonial villa by an Australian couple, James & Gabrielle Whight,
The Cricket Club Café celebrates everything that is great about Sri Lanka’s
favourite sport whilst also offering first rate dining. The walls are lined
with autographed bats and pictures of famous cricket stars from Sri Lanka and
Australia, whilst the regular congregation of cricket fans mean that this is
also the best places to watch matches.
Cricket Club Café, 34 Queens Rd,
Kollupitiya, Colombo, Sri Lanka +94
11 250 1384
Chesa Swiss *NOW CLOSED*
Sri Lanka’s only Swiss restaurant, Chesa Swiss is a favourite amongst expatriates and
prides itself on its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, as well as its recreation
of signature Swiss dishes. The fondue and bourguignonne come
recommended and the extensive grill selection means that meat lovers will find
something to please their palette. Although the Alpine classics of Swiss
cuisine may not immediately come to mind in Sri Lanka’s sultry climate, Chesa
Swiss makes the unusual combination work, whilst offering a wholly unique
experience of cultural exchange.
Chesa Swiss, 3 Deal Place A, Colombo 03,
Colombo, Sri Lanka, +94
11 2 573433
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