Travel

Best Restaurants in Colombo

March 29, 2018

Colombo offers many different restaurant options, from local cuisine to Western and International, all ranging in price. I always prefer to stick to local cuisine when I visit a country and I recommend this throughout your trip to Sri Lanka. It’s much more affordable and of higher quality. However, if you have some time to kill and enjoy dining out, I suggest you make a stop at some of these best restaurants in Colombo.

The Best Restaurants in Colombo

Kaema Sutra

Situated in the Independence Arcade building off Independence Square, this is possibly the best restaurant for Sri Lankan cuisine in Colombo. Their cuisine is local but with a finer flare and great care is taken on every dish. The menu showcases traditional dishes with an interesting twist. I can highly recommend the Hopper with Buffalo Curd and Olive Oil, pictured below. You’ve never tasted anything like it. We actually went back a second time for this! The curries are fantastic and the Verala Sudaya (Hot fish fry) makes for an interesting local appetizer. Small fish seasoned with vinegar and chili powder are deep fried and served with a buffalo curd raita.

We actually met the owner, Dharshan, who is somewhat of a celebrity chef in Sri Lanka and India. He speaks perfect English and his warmth and passion for food is truly inspiring. He also owns two other incredible restaurants which are featured on this list.

Ministry of Crab

Also one of Dharshan’s. This is an extremely popular restaurant, situated in the beautiful courtyard area of The Old Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct. Rated as one of the best restaurants in Colombo, it is a little more on the expensive side but so worth it. The crab dishes are fantastic and always served fresh. You get given a very trendy bib and crab-cracking tools and off you go!

It’s fiddly, it’s buttery and god is it mouth-wateringly delicious! The baked crab was my favourite and definitely less fiddly compared to other dishes. Sri Lanka is well known for it’s crab and for the “Ministry” it is caught fresh every day, never frozen. Dharshan and his team uphold the highest principles and standard when choosing and preparing their seafood.

Nihonbashi

The 3rd of Dharshan’s restaurants, this fully authentic Japanese kitchen will blow your mind. We saw Dharshan once again ( it seems like he was everywhere all the time – a busy man) and were offered fantastic Sake on the house! Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs and ever-growing as we read through the extensive menu. I usually find large menus a turn-off but not in this case. Everything was meticulously prepared and of utmost quality and flavour, as is Dharshan’s core value throughout his restaurants.

Table One

As part of the Luxury 5 Star Shangri La Hotel, it’s no wonder that this restaurant is rated as one of the best restaurants in Colombo. The menu features a range of local dishes inspired by Sri Lanka’s rich culinary culture. Blended with influences from surrounding countries such as Malaysia and India as well as elements of the island’s colonial Portuguese, Dutch and British history. Enjoy a market-style cuisine set against a spectacular back drop of the Indian Ocean.

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This photo of Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Kingsbury Hotel

Another Luxury 5 Star Hotel along the seafront near Galle Face Green. The Kingsbury offers several dining options, including High Tea (very British) every day between 3-6pm. But, what I want to mention in articular is the Sky Bar Rooftop Lounge. It is a great place to enjoy a sundowner with spectacular views over the city. They offer signature cocktails – the margaritas are fantastic, a champagne bar and live music, as well as a menu for tasty comfort snack foods.

Image courtesy of www.tropicalvacations.com

Cafe Kumbuk

This is one of the best restaurants in Colombo for breakfast or brunch. Their dishes are healthy, organic and delicious – think superfood. They have great coffee, delicious smoothies and fresh juices. Their Blueberry Coconut Power Balls are amazing! It is a trendy little cafe with a small boutique and yoga studio next door.