Food is the soul element that makes any place, best for a vacation break. While you are in Southern Asia, Sri Lanka is one of the best destinations for foodies. From the authentic spices to the international taste, there is a diversity that makes it so rich in flavors. There are restaurants in Sri Lanka that have listed a complete menu to offer you the right zeal and zest. There will be quality, quantity, and the perfect Southern taste to sedate your taste buds. Here are some top recommended eateries you can visit to discover the extensive taste of some detectable delicacies.
Top 10 Sri Lanka Restaurants That Offer You Some Irresistible Flavors
If you are a foodie out on a vacation, there are many restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal. The perfect blend of Indian, Dutch, and Indonesian flavors has added a unique taste to enjoy on your holiday. Check out these amazing places where you can eat and discover the magic of food.
1. Lords Restaurant, Nembo
Located at one of the fishing ports in Sri Lanka, the Lords Restaurant is a hub for foodies who are big fans of Seafood. Serving quality for the past 17 years, the restaurant in Sri Lanka has enhanced the dining experience for all. The team of professionals working here knows how important an authentic taste could be, so the food served here is not just fresh and healthy, but it delivers the real Lankan flavors in every bite. The hospitality and service will make it the best experience of dining in an Asian country.
Focusing a little on interiors and the seating, Lords exhibit a casual ambiance where you can plan a night with the family. There is indoor and outdoor seating space, some illuminating hues, live music, to make the ambiance fun and happening, and a bar. Shisha lounge, the LBW Cocktail and Wine Bar screens sporting events are some exciting features of Lords Restaurant, Sri Lanka that makes it a place for all.
Location: 80 B Poroutha Road, Beach Road Ettukala, Negombo, Western 11500
Timings: 1.30pm to 11.30pm
Cuisine: Sri Lankan and Thai Food
Best From the Menu: Prawns Cocktail, Crab & Sweet Corn Soup, Mini Thai Chicken Balls
2. The Curry Leaf
Nestled in the luxury premises of Hilton, the best hotels in Sri Lanka, Curry leaf restaurant is the best dining spot to book your table. Know what makes the curry leaf, one of the best restaurants in Colombo is its exclusive menu and the cozy settings. The luxuriating premises of Hilton compliments the causal yet fascinating ambiance of the eatery. The wooden seating, earthy tones, and illuminating lights have enhanced every corner of the restaurant.
The menu of the curry leaf menu offers the best traditional taste, and some flavors inspired by the far-off places. Do try the Chili Crab, a featured dish that is served as top-selling on the menu. Further elaborating the menu, the curry leaf has an irresistible seafood buffet that cannot be missed. Live Music and the band are also organized every evening to entertain the guests. The Curry leaf is designed with a village-themed setup and offers a cool and soothing ambiance for a peaceful dinner.
Location: 2, SIR CHITTAMPALAM A GARDINER MW, Lotus Rd, Colombo
Timings: 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Cuisine: Sri Lankan and SeaFood
Best From the Menu: Kottu roti, fish, cuttlefish, prawns and crabs, local sweetmeats, curd with treacle.
3. Ministry Of Crab
Colombo is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka where you have a number of dining options. The Ministry of Crab in Colombo is the best place to relish the taste of seafood and Sri Lankan food. Crabs have always been an essential part of their traditional meal. You will find a variety of dishes made from the show stoppers of this famous restaurant. Try the pepper crab or the backed crab, the butter crab of crab curry prepared by a team of professional chefs.
Apart from Crabs, you can find many other seafood options too like fish and prawns. They also serve halal chicken, and every dish here is cooked without alcohol. The restaurant is often crowded with visitors, therefore, make sure you have a reservation to avoid the wait. The Ministry of Crab was featured in the top 50 best restaurants in 2017 and holds popularity for its beckoning food.
Location: Old Colombo Dutch Hospital, Fort, Colombo
Timings: 12 noon to 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. to 11 p.m (closed on Poya Day)
Cuisine: Sri Lankan and SeaFood
Best From the Menu: Kottu roti, fish, cuttlefish, prawns and crabs, local sweetmeats, curd with treacle.
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4. Nihonbashi
For all your special dining, Nihombashi is one of the best Japanese Restaurants in Sri Lanka, serving you an exceptional taste. The eatery is famous for its comfy ambiance, which can be perfect for all business and casual meets. It’s been more than 15 years since Nihonbashi is serving quality in every bite.
The specialty of the restaurant is its wine room which houses a collection of the finest wines. The Japanese ambiance, the heartwarming hospitality, and the contemporary menu are some other features that make dining at Nihonbashi the best thing to do in Sri Lanka. This eatery was founded in the year 1995, and since then, it has represented a perfect fusion of Japanese and Sri Lankan flavors. There are 7 private dining rooms where you can spend quality time with family or friends, and make the night a lavish memory to cherish. Facilities like i-pod, music and rock gardens, and canopies are also there for the guests.
Location: 11, Galle Face Terrace, Kollupitiya, Colombo
Timings: 11 AM to 2:30 PM, 6 PM to 11 PM
Cuisine: Sri Lankan and Japanese food
Best From the Menu: Prawn Tempura, Crab Fried Rice, Sushi, Tensabi Temaki, Yakitori
5. Sea Spray Restaurant
With a colonial charm, the Sea Spray Restaurant is quite a popular eatery, known for the best traditional food in Sri Lanka. This expensively designed restaurant is located in Galle Face Hotel, the oldest hotel in the country. Exhibiting a beachfront view and cozy setting, the restaurant has a magical ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy the view of Sri Lanka beach while you relish the taste of detectable cuisines served here.
The menu of Sea Spray Restaurant has listed some delicious options like seafood or the Barramundi. The chefs are using traditional Sri Lankan techniques for crafting the right taste for the day. At Sea Spray, you can order the best cocktails, mocktails, and shakes to compliment your meal. You can find a vast selection of wines from the Wine Cellar to make your dining a bit more lavish. Waiters and assistants are always at service to guide the guest in choosing their top dishes from the menu.
Location: No. 02 Galle Road | Galle Face Hotel, Colombo
Timings: 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Cuisine: South Asian, Seafood
Best From the Menu: Crabs, Fish curry, Garlic Prawns, Tiger Prawns, Cocktails and Mocktails, Barramundi
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6. Amangalla
The beauty of Sri Lanka makes it the best honeymoon destination in the world. Keeping the romance in mind, Amangalla has set a perfect ambiance to make it your restaurant for a romantic dinner. This heritage hotel with an extensive dining space is nothing lesser than a paradise to visit. With a colonial ambiance, luxuriating interiors, and a relishing menu, this Sri Lankan Restaurant has brought every fascinating charm of its heritage under one roof.
The dining area of Amangalla is furnished with elegantly designed furniture. You will find chairs and tables, white linen, and some antique silverware decorating the room with a luxuriating touch. Guests living here can truly experience what leisure and luxury are. Amangalla not only offers the real taste of Sri Lanka food but it also serves every cuisine you like to make your dining special. Here is a unique menu for breakfast, tea breaks, and dinners. Do not miss out on the freshly made cocktails, which are undoubtedly the best.
Location: 10 Church Street, Galle
Timings: Consult the official website for more
Cuisine: Multi Cuisine
Best From the Menu: Fruit Tea, cakes, Soups, Prawn, Rice and Curry
7. Panorama Restaurant
Panorama Restaurant is an integral part of cinnamon hotels in Sri Lanka that offers a perfect dining space to all. As the name says, Panorama, the restaurant offers a scenic view of lush mountains and the Mahaweli River. The glimpse of magnificent natural beauty makes dining unique and memorable.
If you need a change of taste, Panorama is the best Sri Lankan restaurant where you can reserve your tables. The menu includes the finest delicacies like Thai, Chinese, French, Italian and Indian cuisines for you to savor the taste. The Buffet meal menu here is the best to taste the top dish of the day. There will be a grill station, salad corner, and pasta counter, serving you a taste that is hard to resist. Interiors are designed with subtle color, exquisite furnishing, and vast space with proper seating to make dining comfy and pleasant.
There is outdoor and indoor dining with pool views for those who are looking for a romantic evening.
Location: Srimath Kudarathwatta Mawatha, Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy 20000
Timings:
Breakfast: 6.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m.
Lunch:12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Dinner: 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cuisine: Multi Cuisine
Best From the Menu: Try their best Sri Lankan, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian, and French cuisine
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8. The Kandy House
This restaurant with a hotel is the epitome of comfort and luxury, where you can indulge in the scrumptious taste of authentic delights. The Kandy House is designed with a blend of traditional art and a modern feel to offer a perfectly set contemporary ambiance.
This Sri Lankan restaurant is set over a vast and airy Veranda, well styled with looking glass mirrors and some exquisite furnishing. This is a place where you can feel the magic of comforting Asian fusion and a menu that will satiate your taste buds. Try their best pumpkin soup, crab ravioli, Indonesian goat spicy curry, and cardamom kulfi. The menu has different options for your lunch and dinner meals. The specialty of Kandy House is loaves of bread with different tastes to complement your main courses.
The Kandy House features a well equipped bar space offering every authentic and exotic drink of the day. From champagne to wine and your best cocktails, there is everything you need to add extra punch to your dining mood.
Location: Amunugama Walauwa, Kandy
Timings: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cuisine: Multi Cuisine/ Sri Lankan/ International
Best From the Menu: Pumpkin soup, crab ravioli, Indonesian goat spicy curry, and cardamom kulfi.
9. The 1864
The cosmopolitan feel, the luxuriating interiors, and delighting menu of 1864 have made it the best place to try the diverse flavors of Sri Lankan Food. Being one of the finest eateries in the country, 1864 has managed to serve its guests every desirable taste they need.
The restaurant was built from an ancient building, dating back to 1864. One can still discover the hidden art and that touch of historic beauty, which probably dates back to the 18th century. The bare brick, carved murals, lightning, and gourmet-style dining are some features that make this fancy restaurant in Sri Lanka, a perfect dining spot.
The menu includes authentic, continental, and seafood, making it the best restaurant in Colombo. There is a section for sweets, fruit juices, mocktails, and other traditional drinks. 1864 serves alcohol, therefore beers, spirits, and wine are available here.
Location: Galle Face Hotel, 2, Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo
Timings: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cuisine: Continental and Sri Lankan
Best from the Menu: Jumbo Prawns, Crab burgers, Classic Caesar Salad, Pork Kebab, Baked mushrooms
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10. Seafood Cove
Islands in Sri Lanka are the major attraction for tourists, therefore, one thing that you cannot miss is the seafood. The Seafood Cove is an ideal spot to enjoy the relishing flavors of freshly made seafood in Sri Lanka. Located in the Mt. Lavinia Hotel, the restaurant is a paradise for those who love crab curry or some traditionally cooked fish.
Although the restaurant is open for all-day dining, it is recommended to plan an evening visit as there is more variety to the menu. The restaurant is rightly perched on the pristine sands of Paradise Beach, and it provides the ideal environment to dine in. You can plan for a romantic supper with your love or go out with your friends to relax and feel the beauty of the deep blue ocean. To entertain the guests, Seafood cove has a tempting gazebo, and live Calypso music, and a menu that is hard to resist. Every International and traditional Sri Lankan food offered here is freshly made. The illuminated ambiance, outdoor seating, and the overlooking beach make it just the right place to relax.
Location: Hotel Road, Colombo
Timings: 7.00 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Cuisine: Seafood
Best from the Menu: Crab Fillets, Fish chips, Prawn Curry, Fried Cuttlefish, crab curry
Make your holidays more about food and the native taste of the place. There are many restaurants in Sri Lanka that are not just serving you an appetizing meal, but every distinct flavor to make it the best gastronomic experience. Whether you are a fan of Asian cuisine, or seafood, the pure Indian and Sri Lankan food, these eating joints in the country will offer you every variety you desire. While some restaurants are quite sophisticated for your family or business dinner, there are beach cafes and resto-bars where you can plan a perfect evening with friends. Get your Sri Lanka flight ticket booked today and head off to this country of detectable delicacies.
FAQs
Sri Lanka is a culinary delight that is serving the best food option, be it Asian or International. Some of the top eateries in the country are:
- The Kandy House
- The Curry Leaf
- Ministry of Crab
- Sea Spray Restaurant
- Nihonbashi
Beach cafes in Sri Lanka are quite popular among tourists where they can enjoy the best seafood, and experience a unique nightlife. The top beach cafes to visit here are:
- Sea Cove restaurant
- Sea Spray Restaurant
- Green Villa Beach And Juice Bar
Colombo is quite famous among travelers for its charismatic beauty and luxuriating comfort. If you are looking for an amazing dining experience, these are the best restaurants to check;
- Curry Leaf
- Gallery Café
- Ministry of Crabs
- 1864
- Sea Spray restaurant.
Sea Food is quite famous in Sri Lanka, but it is the Sea Cove restaurant that is serving the best seafood in the country. The restaurant is rightly perched on the pristine sands of Paradise Beach, and it provides the ideal environment to dine in. Some best dishes you can try are Crab Fillets, Fish chips, Prawn Curry, and Fried Cuttlefish.
The Curry leaf restaurant is the best dining spot known for its exclusive traditional menu and cozy settings. The menu of the curry leaf offers the best traditional taste and an irresistible seafood buffet that cannot be missed.
Ministry of Crab is known for its all-crab menu and some deliciously made meat. You will find the best crab curry and other crab dishes freshly made with an irresistible taste. They serve halal chicken, Kottu roti, fish, cuttlefish, prawns and crabs, local sweetmeats, curd with treacle.
Yes, many Japanese restaurants in Sri Lanka are not only serving the authentic taste but a fully loaded menu to choose your favorite dish. Some best Japanese restaurants you can visit here are:
- Nihonbashi
- Kami Maki
- Naniyori
- Sushi Kai
- Tsukiji
Food in Sri Lanka is a perfect blend of spices that gives a relishing taste. Sea Food is quite popular in the country, while you will find many traditional dishes that adds the finest touch of South Indian flavor. Vegetable or meat curries, Prawns, and crabs are some of the best dishes you must try here.