12 Restaurants in Colombo

If you want to really tickle your taste buds then you will have many restaurants in Colombo which serves some excellent food. The restaurant is blessed with some beautiful ambience and has a mesmerizing collection of fresh fish, sea food and lobsters amongst others.

As Sri Lanka’s major income is earned by the fishing industry so don’t miss the opportunity to taste crabs from the Ministry of Crabs or if you are looking for something truly spicy then it is best to visit the Yaal restaurant where you can choose the spicy cuisine called Jaffna which has the most exotic combination of vegetables and sea food.

Here are some of the best restaurants in Colombo that you should visit:

017 Degrees North - Cinnamon Lakeside
7 Degrees North is a high-profile bar in which Colombo’s who’s who can be spotted quite frequently. The interior decorations are quite swanky and fashion personified. It is considered to be one of the most stylish bars in Colombo. This place gets extremely crowded during weekends. Personalised service is available for guests coming to the bar as most of the people who come here are celebrities in their own fields.

Highlights: This bar presents a panoramic view of the Beira Lake and presents a divine view of the illuminated Gangaramaya temple during the evening hours.

Location: Five star hotel of Cinnamon Lakeside.

Price for two: The prices are indeed steep because of its location; approximately LKR3500.

Speciality dishes: Potato Wedges, Lamb Kababs, Pork Tapas, mushrooms (sauté), Lion & Bloody Mary are must-try food and drinks here.

Timings: 5PM to 12AM
02Cafe Japan
If you are a fan of authentic Japanese food, you should head right away to Café Japan in Colombo city. The customer service here is top notch. The place is not very popular; however, of late, it has been getting lot of attention through its food.

Highlights: The restaurant’s highlight is that it cooks exclusively as per its guest’s preferences. All you need to do is to call for an appointment and specify how you want your food to be.

Location: Bambalapitiya, at a short distance from the famous Galle Road.

Price for two: Comes up to approximately LKR3500<LKR5000.

Speciality dishes: Katsudon, which is a dish made from rice topped with any non-veg choice. How can you not taste Sushi in Café Japan? This place serves great Sushi.

Timings: The restaurant is open from 11 to 2 in the mornings and from 5.30 to 9 in the evenings, on all days of the week except Tuesdays.
03Eat Italy
Eat Italy is probably one of the best Italian restaurants in the entire island nation of Sri Lanka. The customer service at this place is simply awesome. However, the same cannot be said about the interiors and the ambience. It is a small joint which is done with basic lighting and additional features.

Highlights: This is currently managed by an Italian lady who takes care to greet her guests personally.

Location: Mount Lavinia.

Price for two: Approximately LKR3000.

Speciality dishes: Do not miss the rice cutlet dish known as Arancini while you come here. It is stuffed with vegetables and meat and done just the way it is prepared in Italy. Also, try out their lasagnas and desserts as they are super tasty and affordable.

Timings: This small and lesser-known joint is open from 9AM to 9PM on all days of the week.
04Candle Light Hut
Candle Light Hut is a place that ought to be visited by meat-lovers who love their dishes to be spicy and affordable. The ambience is not great or exquisite; however the food more than makes up for the same.

Highlights: South Asian, especially Pakistani cuisine is the highlight of this place. This place is sure to surprise you with its authentic South Asian cuisine.

Location: In close proximity to Galle.

Price for two: The approximate cost for two people works to around LKR 1000-1500, which is indeed quite reasonable, considering the quality and quantity of dishes available here.

Speciality dishes: Must-try dishes here are chicken biryani, mutton kurma, Chicken Kadahi and the super-soft parathas. Once you are done with your sumptuous yet affordable lunch or dinner, try the special avocado juice available here. It is a speciality of this joint.

Timings: The place is open from 9 in the morning to 11 in the night.
05The Lobby Lounge - Taj Samudra
True to all Taj Group of Hotels, Lobby Lounge has some of the world’s best interiors and great varieties in food. High-quality customer service has always been the hallmark of Lobby Lounge and they follow it till date. The calm ambience and the relaxing food leave nothing but positive memories in you, about this place.

Highlights: When it comes to the 10 best places in Colombo to have the authentic English high tea, The Lobby Lounge Café at Taj Samudra would definitely feature in it.

Location: Taj Samudra.

Price for two: Approximately LKR1500, which is surprisingly cheap. The choice of alcoholic drinks available at the lounge’s bar is pretty impressive. Their buffets are highly popular and so are their dessert options.

Speciality dishes: After the main course, do not miss to taste their Italian Tiramisu –a sweet which melts in your mouth literally!

Timings: The place is open 24/7, all through the year.
06Playtrix Sports Bar and Cafe
This is one of the unique sports bar/ restaurants in Colombo and it was established during 2015. Visitors to this bar cannot stop gushing about the customer service and ambience here.

Highlights: True to its name, the place hosts some exciting sporting events all through the year – with the beer pong and pub quiz being the most famous of them all. The ambience of the café is absolutely colourful and is definitely a far-cry from the sober cafes that are found in some other places in the city.

Location: Cinnamon Gardens.

Price for two: Approximately LKR2000 to LKR 3000.

Speciality dishes: Cocktails definitely dominate food options at this place.

Special offers: Every day, you can get exciting offers from 5 to 8 in the evenings, where you get one cocktail free when you buy 2. Their burgers and beer are one of the best in Colombo.

Timings: The place is open from 11AM to 11PM.
07Cafe Shaze
Café Shaze in Colombo is a nice joint specialising in all kinds of non-vegetarian cuisine.

Highlights: One of the best joints for Western cuisine in Colombo. The customer service is excellent with indoor and outdoor dining options available.

Location: Located in the busy area of Thimbirigasyaya, Café Shaze is quite spacious.

Price for two: Around LKR3500.

Speciality dishes: The place is known for its great variety of drinks as well. Grilled fish which is served in a roast pan here, is a must try at this place. Also, do not miss out pastas cooked with seafood of your choice, beef dishes, milkshakes and fruit juices. All the dishes have good quality and quantity of meat cooked very softly, just the way it has to be.

Timings: The place is open from 10 in the morning to 12 in the night.
08Mistsi's Delicacies
If there is one restaurant that serves high-quality vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare in local and European cuisine in Colombo, it has to be Mitsi’s Delicacies. The restaurant exudes a very homely ambience.

Highlights: Though it is quite small in size, this joint has lovely customer service and makes people want to come back again and again. This is probably the only place in Colombo city, where, you get to taste Balkan cuisine.

Location: Bagatalle Road.

Price for two: The cost for two comes up to approximately LKR2000.

Speciality dishes: Some of the must-try dishes are the mix grill platter, lamb kebabs, Chocolate cakes and macaroons. The sweet macaroons available here are believed to be one of the best in Sri Lanka. It is a relatively less-visited joint; however the food and dessert items here are simply awesome.

Timings: Open from 9AM to 11PM all through the week.
09Ministry of Crab
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Image Credit : Sai karthik reddy
Ministry of Crab is definitely a must-visit place for crab lovers. You have definitely missed something in your lives, if you haven’t tasted the crab meat here.

Highlights: The place is co-owned by legendary cricketers from Sri Lanka – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Location: Dutch Hospital, Colombo.

Price for two: Approximately LKR6000, which is indeed costly; however it is worth every penny.

Speciality dishes: Singapore style crab meat in chilly-sauce, fishes cooked in rich butter sauce and clay pot prawn curry, are some of the must try dishes here. Since huge and fleshy crabs are available here, the place is apt for group diners.

Timings: The place is open all through the year except Poya (full moon days). On weekdays, the place is open for lunch from 12 to 3PM and for dinner from 6 to 10.30PM. During weekends, the restaurant timings are 12 to 3.30PM for lunch and 6 to 10.30PM for dinner.
10Flamingo House
Flamingo House represents just one word – “strange”. Food, ambience and the overall customer service is reasonable here. It is quite an unique food joint that serves Asian and European cuisine styles.

Highlights: There are murals of flamingos all over the restaurant, which justify the reason behind the place getting its name.

Location: Horton Place, Colombo.

Price for two: Approximately LKR3000, which is slightly on the higher side.

Speciality dishes: The choice of cocktails was quite impressive and they were priced reasonably. Some of the reasonable dishes are the pork sandwich, lamb chops and dim sum. The place is quite fine for group dinners, but not recommended for couples, due to the exorbitant prices.

Timings: The restaurant is open from 11in the morning to 11 in the night.
11The Lagoon
The Lagoon is one of the best places in Colombo when it comes to seafood, though it is a tad costly. The ambience of the restaurant with its excellent yet simple interiors makes guests feel cosy. With the host of sea food joints available in Colombo, it is indeed tough to make a mark; however, The Lagoon has been doing a wonderful job so far.

Highlights: With close to 150 varieties of seafood being cooked in this restaurant, guests are surely spoilt for choice here.

Location: The restaurant is located within the five star hotel of Cinnamon Grand.

Price for two: Approximately LKR6000.

Speciality dishes: Singapore chilli crab meat dish is a must-try at the Lagoon. Feel the crab meat balls cooked in chilly- sauce melt in your mouth.

Timings: This place is open from 12 to 2.30 in the afternoons and from 7PM to 12.00AM.
12Light House Gallery
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If you are looking for a place where you can enjoy your meal quietly amidst natural sea breeze, Lighthouse Gallery, is the place where you need to visit. There are indoor and outdoor dining areas here, where guests are treated with high quality hospitality and respect. The place is situated in a quaint corner in Colombo, far away from the hustle-bustle of the city.

Highlights: Try to book and take your seats in the first floor balcony, so that you can enjoy the magical sunset and get a good view of the harbour while you dine.

Location: Chaithya Road.

Price for two: Approximately LKR2000.

Speciality dishes: Here, you get different styles of cuisine like Sri Lankan, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Italian etc. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage section is also quite impressive at this place.

Timings: The place is open from 11 in the morning to 11 in the night.