Chinese

There is a huge selection of Chinese restaurants but we recommend two: No. 168 off the Galle Road, which is an authentic no-frills restaurant popular with the local Chinese community, and the Emperors Wok at the Hilton.

• 168 Seafood Palace, 8 Sea View Avenue, Colombo 3. Tel: 2573456
• Emperor’s Wok, Hilton, 2 Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2. Tel: 254464


Fusion Cuisine

For those looking for fusion or European-style food, there are some very special treats. For the quality of its food, especially its meats, Chesa Suisse, a Swiss restaurant, is outstanding. The most popular dining-out experience is at the Paradise Road Gallery Cafe, the restaurant with the most seductive ambience in the island. The owner of the Gallery Cafe, Shan Fernando, has also now opened Tintagel, a private hotel and restaurant that offers a more refined menu. For a more informal open-air dining experience, the Barefoot Cafe, managed by colourful celebrity chef Koluu, is popular and often has live jazz. Havelock Place Bungalow serves a variety of sumptuous dishes and deserts in a garden setting.

• Chesa Swiss, 3 Deal Place A, Colombo 3. Tel: 2573433
• The Gallery Café, 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 2582162
• Tintagel, 65 Rosmead Place, Colombo 7. Tel: 4602060
• Barefoot Garden Café, 704 Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 2553075
• Havelock Place Bungalow, 6 Havelock Place, Colombo 5. Tel: 258519
• London Grill, Cinnamon Grand, Colombo 2. Tel: 2497450


Indian

Colombo is the best place in the island for Indian cuisine and the following are recommended: Mango Tree, Saffron, and Navaratna.

• Mango Tree, 82 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 5379790
• Saffron, Trans Asia, 115 Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha,Colombo 2. Tel: 2491000
• Navaratna, Taj Samudra, 25 Galle Face Centre Road, Colombo 3 Tel: 2446622


Italian

Il Ponte at Hilton Colombo serves a range of pastas and pizzas. The Bay Leaf housed in a colonial bungalow down a leafy by road in Colombo 7, also has an interesting choice of Italian dishes.

• Il Ponte, Hilton, 2 Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2. Tel: 2544644
• Bay Leaf, 79 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Tel: 2695920


Japanese

Japanese cuisine is popular with Sri Lankans and the many expats living in Colombo. Recommended restaurants include Nihonbashi, Ginza Ohsen and the more informal Sakura.

• Ginza Hohsen, Hilton, 2 Sir Chittamplama A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2 Tel: 2544644
• Nihonbashi, 11 Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 3. Tel:
• Nihonbashi, ODEL, 5 Alexandra Place, Colombo 7. Tel: 4718758
• Sakura, 14 Rheinland Place, Colombo 3. Tel: 2573877


Seafood

The Lagoon at the Cinnamon Grand offers a variety of fresh seafood dishes. The Seafood Cove at Mt. Lavinia Hotel and the Sea Spray restaurant at Galle Face hotel provide a more informal outdoor dining setting on the beach.

• Sea Spray, Galle Face Hotel, 2 Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 2541010
• Seafood Cove, Mt. Lavinia Hotel, 102 Hotel Road, Mt. Lavinia Tel: 2715221
• The Lagoon, cinnamon Grand, 77 Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 2437437


Sri Lankan

If you are searching for authentic Sri Lankan food then choose from the Palmyrah Restaurant at Renuka Hotel, the Peninsula in Rajagiriya suburbs, Hilton’s Curry Leaf and the iconic Green Cabin Restaurant on Galle Road.

• Green Cabin Terrace, 453 Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 2588811
• Palmyrah, Renuka Hotel, 328 Galle Road, Colombo 3. Tel: 2573598
• Peninsula, 372A Nawala Road, Rajagiriya. Tel: 2862940
• Curry Leaf, Hilton, 2 Sir Chittampala A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2 Tel: 2544644


Thai

The Royal Thai at Trans Asia hotel serves sumptuous Thai dishes in a more formal setting. Thai Siam more centrally located off Galle Road, is also recommended.

• Royal Thai, Trans Asia, 115 Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha,Colombo 2. Tel: 2491000
• Siam House, 17 Melbourne Avenue, Colombo 4. Tel: 4720249

Colombo by night can be fun with a scattering of pubs and nightclubs that come alive especially on Friday and Saturday nights and features live bands or DJ music.  Sugar,  D’s, and Zanziba are more popular with the younger lot.  Bistro Latino, Rhythm & Blues, and the Library at Trans Asia appeal to a more mature crowd.  Characterful pubs include the Breeze Bar and Cheers Pub at Cinnamon Grand, Cricket Club Café, Buba in Mt. Lavinia and Inn on the Green nearby Galle Face in Colombo 1.

• Bistro Latino, 21 De Vos Avenue, Off Duplication Road, Colombo 4. Tel: 2580063
• Buba, 42/11 Vihara Road, Mt Lavinia.  Tel: 2732190
• Cheers, Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.  Tel: 2497450
• Inn on the Green, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Road, Colombo 1.  Tel: 2394440
• Rhythm & Blues, 119/1 Daisy Villa Avenue, Duplication Road, Colombo 4.  Tel: 5363859
• Cricket Club Café, 34 Queens Road, Colombo 3.  Tel: 2501384
• Sugar, 447 Union Place, Colombo 2.  Tel: 5374444
• White Horse, 46/42 Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 2.  2304922
• Library, Trans Asia Hotel, 155 Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2.  Tel: 2544200
• Zanziba, 32B Hujay Courts, 2nd Floor, Maccan Markar Mawatha, Colombo 1 (adjoining Holiday Inn).  Tel: 0777 677837