Best restaurants in Colombo

16 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Life's Good Kitchen is widely recommended for its vibe and food, often as a date spot, and one diner singles out the Mezze plate. One longtime regular says the food has always been great, and one commenter advises reserving ahead. One diner found a recent visit, apart from the Mezze, only average.

15 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka

Giovanni's is recommended mainly for its pizza, with one commenter calling it the best they have had in Sri Lanka and another recommending the bacon pizza. Several commenters suggest it for a casual date, and a couple describe a cozy setting with music. One commenter says it is perfect if you don't mind crowds, while another had a poor experience with the pizza.

Thimbirigasyaya Rd

13 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo, r/SriLankaTravel

The Gallery Cafe is recommended by many commenters for first dates, brunch and vegetarian meals. One says its quality and portions have stayed consistent for decades, and another describes it as a pleasant, somewhat upscale café. One commenter found it too loud.

Bambalapitiya

12 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka, X

Many commenters recommend Gini, and several suggest it for fine dining or a fancy dinner, though a few say it is not strictly formal fine dining. Commenters praise the food, one praises the cocktails, and one calls it among the finest restaurants they have eaten at in Asia. Two commenters find the indoor room loud, so a few suggest sitting outside, and one found it hot and uncomfortable.

11 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka

Many commenters recommend Erode Amman Mess for South Indian food. A few praise its parotta, a couple single out the mutton curry, and several name its biryani. One commenter says the food is genuinely good, while another disagrees with the recommendation without giving a reason.

Colombo 4

10 people recommendvia r/Colombo, r/srilanka, r/SriLankaTravel

Many commenters recommend Culture Colombo for traditional Sri Lankan food, often as a lunch option. One diner likes its lamprais, and one commenter suggests it may be better than Upali's. One commenter notes that waits can be long at busy times.

10 people recommendvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Capital Bar and Grill at the Shangri-La is recommended by many commenters, usually in short lists of steakhouse, dinner or fine-dining options. One notes that the Tomahawk suits a small group, and a couple like the atmosphere. Most mentions are brief, so there is little detail on the food.

Shangri La

10 people recommendvia r/Colombo, r/srilanka

Many people recommend the Quizine buffet at Cinnamon Life, and several rank it among the best buffets in Colombo. A couple of commenters point to its unusual spread, and one diner who went rates it well above other lunch buffets in the country. One recent visitor found most of the dishes only average.

Cinnamon Life

10 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/SriLankaTravel, r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Upali's is recommended by many commenters for traditional Sri Lankan food, and one praises its mutton curry. One visitor found the food good but touristy, one commenter says it is not the very best but represents Sri Lankan cooking well, and another suggests Culture Colombo may be the better choice.

9 people recommendvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Many commenters recommend the buffet at Cinnamon Grand, and several list it among their top Colombo buffets. One notes a decent Indian spread, and others suggest it for a celebration or a formal lunch. One diner finds it consistently good but busier and more rushed than Cinnamon Lakeside, and one commenter is lukewarm, saying it is okay but could be better.

Cinnamon Grand Colombo

9 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Many commenters recommend the lamprais at the Dutch Burgher Union, and one recommends it for Burgher cooking found nowhere else. One calls its lamprais the most authentic, and another advises checking availability. One commenter finds the portions small and feels other places do better.

9 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Harbour Court, the buffet restaurant at Kingsbury, is recommended by many commenters, and several rank it among the best dinner buffets in Colombo. A couple like the range of cuisines and desserts, and one calls it underrated. Two commenters warn against the Kingsbury buffet, one finding it disappointing.

Kingsbury Colombo

8 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/Colombo, r/srilanka

The Stache is recommended for its Sri Lankan fusion food, including kiribath with chicken curry, and one commenter says it is among the best places they have dined anywhere. One describes a cozy spot, but another finds the space tight and one says it gets crowded and loud.

De Fonseka Road

8 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/Colombo, r/srilanka

Graze Kitchen at the Hilton is recommended mainly for its buffet, with several commenters calling it their top pick or the best dinner buffet in Colombo. One says the buffet is good but the layout feels cramped. Two commenters are critical: one recent visitor felt the quality had declined, and another found the food bland.

Hilton

7 people recommendvia r/srilanka, r/SriLankaTravel

Shang Palace at the Shangri-La is recommended by several commenters, most often for a romantic or birthday dinner, and one puts it forward for fine dining. One recommends its dim sum.

Shangri La

7 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Junior Kuppanna is recommended by several commenters, mostly for South Indian food. A couple praise its parathas, with one calling the nool paratha incredible, and others name it for bajjis and chaat, biryani or family dinners.

7 people recommendvia r/srilanka, r/SriLankaTravel, r/Colombo

Ceylon Curry Club is recommended by several commenters for Sri Lankan food, with two pointing to its hoppers and one loving the prawn curry. One rates its fusion Sri Lankan cooking very highly while noting it is not fine dining, and another praises its baked curd dessert.

7 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka

Min Han is recommended for Chinese food, with one commenter naming its dumplings, fried rice and sweet potato leaves stir fry, another the chilli pork egg fried rice, and another the cuttlefish. One calls it cozy though not fancy, and says it suits diners who don't mind plain surroundings. One commenter says it has declined since an ownership change.

7 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Many commenters say ITC Ratnadipa is good, and a couple point to its variety. One says its Sunday brunch beats the alternatives, and another finds the buffet strong on South Asian food and the Chinese restaurant good for Indo-Chinese dishes, though the rest is unremarkable. It is divisive: a few say it falls short of its reputation and one calls the buffet terrible.

6 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Thalappakatti is recommended by several commenters as a South Indian option, especially for its Dindigul seeragasamba biryani, and one suggests pairing the mushroom pepper fry with the biryani. One commenter says it was good at first but some branches have since declined in taste.

6 people recommendvia r/Colombo, r/srilanka

The Dining Room at Cinnamon Lakeside is recommended by several commenters as a hotel buffet, with a few calling it their favourite or the clear best choice. One commenter lists it among their picks but says the best choice depends on the kind of food you want.

Cinnamon Lakeside

6 people recommendvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Shanmugas is recommended as an all-vegetarian South Indian restaurant. One commenter places its parathas among the finest they have had, another says the cheese paneer dosa at its Ramakrishna Road branch has no equal, and others suggest it for lunch.

6 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Several commenters recommend Dolce Italia among Colombo's Italian restaurants. One praises its hot chocolate, one notes it is run by Italians, and one calls it the most authentic Italian in the city while saying other spots suit Sri Lankan tastes better.

6 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka

Chinese Dragon is recommended by several commenters, and a few single out its hot butter cuttlefish, with one naming it among the best places they have tried. Several suggest it as somewhere to eat, and one says it has stayed consistent in quality over the years, though another disagrees.

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka, r/SriLankaTravel, r/Colombo

Ministry of Crab, in the Old Dutch Hospital, is recommended by several commenters for seafood, with one calling it iconic and another recommending it highly for tourists. A couple of commenters say it is only worth it for crab fans or find it just okay.

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Barracuda is recommended by a handful of commenters, pooled on the Galle Face pin; not every comment names an outlet. One diner names the Dehiwala branch among the best they have had, one suggests the Galle Face branch for dinner, and one recommends Breeze by Barracuda for a beach setting. One calls it a good seafood option.

Galle Face

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Café On The 5th is recommended by several commenters, with two praising the hoppers and others liking the ambiance and its takeaway options. One commenter finds it hard to beat for a pleasant venue.

5 people recommendvia r/SriLankaTravel, r/Colombo, r/srilanka

Curry Pot is recommended by several commenters for rice and curry, pooled on the Kollupitiya Road pin; it has multiple locations and most do not name one. One names it among the good spicy local curry spots, and another says it is consistently better than most places nearby, around Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya.

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Several commenters recommend Maharaja Palace for Indian food, and a couple call it their favourite restaurant. Most mentions are brief, so there is little detail on what to order.

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka

London Grill at Cinnamon Grand is recommended by several commenters, mostly as a fine-dining or dinner-date option. One describes an elegant, traditional atmosphere and another lists the Chateaubriand among steakhouse picks. The mentions are brief, with little detail on the food.

Cinnamon Grand

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Cafe Japan is recommended for Japanese food, with one diner singling out the bento box, tonkatsu and yakiniku pork and another the spicy tuna roll and coffee jelly. One describes the Borella spot as a small family-run place that is rarely crowded and has a private area on request. Another calls it a classic with good food, though not as nice-looking as Zen.

Borella

5 people recommendvia r/srilanka

Rocco's is recommended by several commenters among Colombo's good Italian options. One suggests it as a lighter first-date choice, and another suggests the Gregory's Road location for dinner.

5 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Raheema's is recommended by several commenters, mostly for its parotta, which one calls a beloved tradition while noting some find it greasy, chewy and salty. Another calls it one of two easy winners. One diner tried it once, found the parotta rubbery and won't return.

5 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/srilanka

Tilapiya is recommended by several commenters as a BYOB restaurant, with one calling the food great and noting private dining, and another suggesting it for a group dinner. One commenter says it runs a buffet on certain days and advises calling ahead, while one who tried the buffet disliked it.

5 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/srilanka

Hotel De Plaza is recommended by several commenters, with a couple singling out its kottu and cheese kottu and one suggesting late-night rotti; one calls it one of Colombo's most famous saivar kades. Two commenters warn against it, one finding the food forgettable.

5 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/srilanka, r/Colombo

Vertical by Jetwing is recommended by several commenters, with two suggesting it for a romantic dinner, one praising the outlook and another listing it as a date option. Two commenters say it has slipped in quality or that the choice of dishes was limited.