It took me three years to write the most obvious post on this blog — about the best restaurants in Colombo. Not that I have been writing it for three years. But it occurred to me only now, three years after starting this blog, that I should probably share my favorite dining spots in a city where I lived (and/or traveled to) since 2010. I’d go as far as to say that it’s irresponsible and selfish of me to keep them a secret any longer.
So here you go, here are the 18 best restaurants in Colombo. And if you are wondering what makes them best — it’s my extremely personal opinion. I am no Eater or Thrillist, guys, I am just an ordinary girl sharing her favorite, tried-and-true restaurants in Colombo. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
The 18 Best Restaurants in Colombo
Jeewa’s and Kuma’s Natural Foods
I’ve had my fair share of rice and curry in Sri Lanka, and this little stall at Colombo farmers’ market has been my personal #1 for years now. I truly believe they make the best rice and curry in the city, if not in Sri Lanka.
The only downside is that you can only try their food once a week, on Saturdays, at the Good Market Colombo. Finding them at the market is easy: they have the largest selection of curries and the pots are larger than life. Do not leave without trying their eggplant curry (batu moju), cuttlefish curry, and jackfruit cutlets.
Price range: $
Ministry of Crab
You’ll probably see their advertisement in the in-flight magazine on your way to Sri Lanka. Their slogan is “reservations essential”. And you better make a reservation before you arrive. Located in Colombo Dutch Hospital, a popular shopping and dining district, Ministry of Crab was created by one of Sri Lanka’s most innovative chefs, Dharshan Munidasa.
It has been listed on Asia’s 50 best restaurants on multiple occasions, and rightfully so. Their crabs, reaching up to 2 kg in weight, are out of this world. Make sure to order some garlic bread with your crab curry to soak up all the gravy.
Price range: $$$$
Mayura Hotel
Don’t let the name confuse you: Mayura Hotel is not a hotel, but a tiny hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant in Pettah, Colombo’s biggest market. If you are not scared of navigating the busy streets of Pettah by yourself, then Mayura will offer you some of the best crab curry in Colombo.
Here, you won’t find big fat crabs like at Ministry of Crab. But while Mayura’s crabs might be lacking in size, they overdeliver in the taste department. Pro tip: try their omelet! Heavily beaten and fried in butter, Mayura’s omelet takes egg dishes to a whole next level.
Price range: $
Upali’s
Upali’s is one of the most popular restaurants in Colombo serving traditional Sri Lankan food. It is conveniently located near major tourist attractions like Town Hall, Odel, and Viharamahadevi Park, making it a logical choice for dining while you are exploring Colombo.
It is, however, a popular spot among locals too. On a weekday, getting a table at lunchtime can be tricky, since many office workers choose Upali’s for their delicious food and reasonable prices. If you are looking for a place to try traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry, Upali’s is a good choice.
Price range: $$
Palmyrah
Palmyrah is a fine-dining restaurant located inside Renuka Hotel, on busy Galle Road. It offers traditional Jaffna dishes popular in the north of the country, like pittu, tossai, mutton curry, whole crab curry, and my personal favorite — milk hoppers. The latter, by the way, is so hard to come by in Colombo that I was the one who introduced my Sri Lankan husband and his friends to this delicacy (very proud of myself to this day).
Price range: $$
Monsoon
Monsoon is a relatively new addition to the busy Park Street that features several popular dining spots and boutique shops in Colombo. Monsoon is a fusion of cuisines from South East Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The plates are served family-style and are meant to be shared. Monsoon is headed by two Indonesian chefs who pay close attention to the quality and freshness of ingredients and bring their love for home cooked meals to the table.
Price range: $$$
Dao Krua Thai
Dao Krua Thai, a little unassuming joint in Colombo-4, literally translates to “Dao’s Thai Kitchen”. Opened by Ms. Dao, fun and cheerful woman who immigrated to the island from Thailand, this spot is arguably the best for authentic Thai food in the city.
Although it was opened as a street food joint, there are a few tables inside if you prefer a more comfortable experience. It’s a popular place for late night eats, so even after 10 pm the place is bustling. Try their pad Thai or rice with a set of side dishes (chicken stir fry and bokchoy with mushrooms are great) and don’t miss out on mango sticky rice for dessert.
Price range: $
Cafe Kumbuk
Kumbuk cafe was the first of a kind in Colombo, the first to combine tropical vibes with poached eggs on avo toast and good coffee — everything that other cafes are trying to replicate now: some successfully, others less so.
When in Sri Lanka, my first preference is always cafes that, architecturally speaking, let the inside and outside spaces morph into one, a concept beloved by Geoffrey Bawa, renowned Sri Lankan architect. I will always choose a garden cafe over an inclosed, air-conditioned space. Kumbuk’s cosy main room opens into a tropical garden on both sides. Their creative menu make an emphasis on using local ingredients, with signature dishes like croffle (a cross between a croissant and waffle) stuffed with spicy pork, homemade granola, and pol sambol toast.
Price range: $$
Seed Cafe
Possibly, the most popular cafe in the whole of Colombo at this point. The space is unbelievably beautiful, with floor to ceiling windows that open up onto a tiled terrace that flows into a little garden. The menu is similar to that of Kumbuk — breakfast and brunch favorites made with a Sri Lankan twist. Think: croissant with chili crab, golden folded eggs on sourdough, pumpkin roti with poached egg. They have stepped up their game in the coffee department (La Marzocco coffee machine is the new addition to their kitchen). My favorite is hot mocha made with dark chocolate.
Price range: $$
Grind
This is a sister cafe of Seed, so you know the food and coffee are going to be good. They have recently moved into a bigger spacious place inside Access Towers. While the cafe is inside, it still has an airy, bright feel to it thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. This is yet another great place for brunch, with options like slow-cooked pulled beef on sourdough and smoked salmon bagel. But they are open all day, so pop in anytime.
Price range: $$
Department of Coffee
As the name suggests, this cafe is all about coffee in its every possible form. From classics like latte and cappuccino, to coffee cocktails like Cafe Martini and the Palms, to all kinds of specialty coffee preparations like V60 and Belgian syphon — Department of Coffee has it all. Their food menu is also really good. I love to come here for breakfast, especially on Saturday mornings, as it’s located just across the road from Saturday Good Market. My favorites here are honey oat latte and kade tea.
Price range: $$
Barefoot Cafe
If there’s an iconic place that’s been a favorite of both locals and tourists for decades, it is Barefoot cafe. The garden cafe is attached to, perhaps, the most famous souvenir shop in Colombo — Barefoot. So you kill two birds with one stone: shop for handloom fabrics, locally made cosmetics and books by Sri Lankan authors, then chill in the garden with a glass of ginger beer.
Price range: $$
Butter Boutique
The go-to spot for Colombo locals when in need of a cake fix. Butter Boutique started out 10 years ago as a home-based bakery before they got a stall at the Good Market Colombo and finally opened two brick-and-mortar locations in Rosmead Place and on Park Street.
My personal favorite are the cheesecakes and tres leches cake. The latter is somewhat of a legend in Colombo that everyone is raving about. Added bonus: their coffee is one of the best in the city which hardly comes as a surprise since their beans are delivered from Australia and the staff was trained by Davide Drummond, the founder of Niccolo Coffee.
Price range: $$
The Cakery (The English Cake Company)
The Cakery, like Butter Boutique and yours truly, started out at the Good Market (yes, I used to have a home-based bakery in Colombo). Today, they have a large shop on Sulaiman Terrace that, apart from cakes and cookies, offers sandwiches, breads, and drinks.
There’s been some controversy lately about the quality of their service which deteriorated over the years. But despite long waiting time, I still think their cakes are the best in Colombo. Maybe just go for take-away option. In and out, without the stress of dealing with waiters. To me, the unparalleled taste of their cheesecakes and brownie are worth the wait.
Location 1, Location 2, Location 3
Price range: $$
Black Cat Cafe
Black Cat Cafe is located on the ground floor of a gorgeous 1920’s colonial mansion, decorated with vintage posters inside. The tables converted from old zinger sewing machines deserve a special mention. High-quality coffee grounds are imported from all over the world and roasted on the premises.
The cafe also offers a range of healthy dishes, prepared with locally-sourced ingredients. Black Cat Cafe is perfect for a satisfying breakfast, followed by a great cup of coffee.
Price range: $$
Agra
North Indian food at its best is served at Agra, a fine-dining restaurant that has been around since 2007. Once you step through the front door, you are greeted with live Oriental music that sets the mood right away. The food, like in any Indian restaurant, is best shared. Make sure to order butter naan, one of their mutton curries, and paneer butter masala. The food is rich, heavy, and oh-so-satisfying!
Price range: $$$
Giovanni’s
Admittedly, Sri Lanka is not the country where you’d be seeking out great pizza. For the longest time, Pizza Hut was the best you could get, and I made my peace with it. That is until my sister-in-law introduced me to Giovanni’s, the most popular pizza spot in Colombo.
They have a wood-fired oven, high-quality fresh ingredients, and a beautiful garden in the back of the restaurant. And if they were stretching their pizza dough instead of rolling it, I’d love them even more. Go for the simplest, pizza Margherita, and you will not be disappointed.
Price range: $$
Ask for Fern
At last, I couldn’t leave you without recommending a good place for late-night cocktails. Ask for Fern is another speakeasy in Colombo. Unlike at Baillie Street Merchants, you don’t need a password to get in. All you need to do is find “The Little Flower Shop” board down the lane from Ramada Hotel.
The entrance is hard to miss with lots of fresh flowers on the staircase and a pretty blue door guarded by an old gentlemen in a bowtie. He’ll show you in. Ask for Fern boast a large dining area, a bar, and a patio overlooking the city. I haven’t had the chance to try their food, but the cocktails are top-notch. Make sure to try their Boozy Achcharu, a twist on traditional Sri Lankan snack of spiced and pickled fruits, prepared here with local arrack.
Price range: $$$
Want to Learn More About Sri Lanka? I Got You!
Here are some of my other guides on Sri Lanka that will help you to plan your trip:
40 Seriously Cool Things to Do in Colombo
Colombo City Guides (a shopping guide, a guide to the best restaurants, Pettah market guide)
My Favorite Hotels in Sri Lanka
50 Important Tips for Traveling in Sri Lanka
The Ultimate Guide to Sri Lankan Food: 50 Must Try Dishes
Street Food in Sri Lanka: 25 Must-Try Dishes
11 Things to Do in Kandy Beyond the Temple of the Tooth Relic
The Absolute Best Things to Do in Sigiriya in Two Days
If you have recommendations for the best restaurants in Colombo, let me know in the comments. My search for delicious food in Sri Lanka is never-ending!
Pin for Later:
Hi nice list. Sure i haven’t tried Mayura yet and want to try it today. Another good place for authentic Sri Lankan food is Nuga Gama restaurant in Cinnamon Grand.
For a quick bite of fusion Peppermint on Horton place is also good.
Hi Indika!
Nuga Gama has been on my list of places to visit forever! I must try it next time I am in Sri Lanka. Thank you for the tips!
Random question- do you have the same post in Russian? I want to share with my friend
Hi Lizzy,
I’ve only translated a handful of my posts into Russian. Wish I had more time to work on it! Not this one, unfortunately.
Absolutely loved your roundup of the best restaurants in Colombo! Your detailed descriptions and personal touches really make it come alive. I can’t wait to try some of these places on my next visit. Thank you for the recommendations!
Thank you for the kind words!
Loved your tips on food.
We tried Barefoot shop plus the café. Had lunch at Seed café with the best tea (nr.25+27) and an incredible Avocado Seed! Loved this place. For dinner Upali’s for great Srilankan food. Thank you!
Thank you, Andrea!
So glad my tips were helpful! Seed is truly such a beautiful space, as is Barefoot! Can’t wait till I go to Sri Lanka again!
Yulia
Nice compiled list. Department of Coffee, The coffee beans were far too strong and bitter for my taste, which made the brew a bit overwhelming. Unfortunately, like many things in Sri Lanka, it felt overpriced for the value received. It’s disappointing when the quality doesn’t quite match the cost. A coffee in Vietnam or Thailand would be offered at 500 LKR, with a glass of water and the coffee there is amazing. You also get amazing internet in any cafe in Thailand and Vietnam as compared to any cafe in Lanka.
Hi Yohan,
I am glad the blog post was useful!
I have to disagree on the part about the quality not matching the price, though. I think considering that 10 years ago all you could get was Harischandra Coffee that tasted like mudwater, Sri Lanka has come a long way when it comes to coffee. Many local cafes invested in good quality machines like LaMarzocco and, more importantly, support local coffee industry by serving Ceylon coffee instead of imported varieties.
Moreover, the reason the coffee price is high is not the corporate greed, but the result of the crazy inflation. Carrots at some point cost 2000 Rs per kilo. A cup of coffee at a nice air-conditioned cafe with access to Internet can not be served at 500Rs without the cafe going out of business.
I love the coffee at Department of Coffee, Seed Cafe, and Kumbuk. If you want the highest quality, I’d recommed Butter Boutique. Those guys are on another level. But their coffee is even more expensive than other places in Colombo.
Yulia