Top Sri Lankan Restaurants in Colombo

Sri Lankan restaurants in Colombo are known to offer a varied assortment of cuisines – from the traditional and authentic local rice and curries, to exquisite fusions of culinary influences derived from historic visitors – the Dutch, Portuguese, Malay, Arabs and Indians. Typically, Sri lankan food includes an array of curries, from fish and meat dishes to vegetables liberally sprinkled with spices, along with rice, lentils and sweet treats. From the authentic to the high art, here is a list of our favorite Sri Lankan restaurants in Colombo.

Top Sri Lankan Restaurant Tips from our Experts

Authentic and Economical: Curry Pot

314/1a Kollupitiya Road, Marine Drive, Colombo

Authentic and unpretentious are the mantras at this Sri Lankan restaurant – it’s no wonder then that this small establishment has found favor with locals and visitor’s alike! The ambiance at Curry Pot is certainly rustic, but this restaurant offers the ideal introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine – fresh meat-based curries paired with a variety of vegetarian options. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available aplenty.

Mid-range: Nuga Gama

77, Galle Road, Colombo

Tucked away in a breezy garden surrounded by the shade of giant banyans, Nuga Gama beautifully replicates the ambiance of an authentic Sri Lankan village with thatched roof huts, strategically placed lanterns, and local musicians to entertain guests. Tuck into thick curries paired with rice or hoppers – we especially recommend the delicious crab curry and the potato sweet treats!

High-end: Ministry of Crab

No. 04, Old Dutch Hospital, Colombo

Ministry of Crab Promo Video

What began as a foodie dream for cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, and celebrity chef Dharshan Munidasa, is today the most exclusive hotspot in all of Sri Lanka. Lodged within the picturesque precincts of the Old Dutch Hospital that has now been converted into a hub of shops and cafe, this Sri Lankan restaurant takes fine dining to an art. Feast on deliciously fresh seafood accompanied by equally delectable accouterments at Ministry of Crab – the crabs, however, will steal the show!

Dine at the best Sri Lankan restaurants on your tour

Find yourself feasting on the finest fare with our top tips on Sri Lankan restaurants. We’ll tailor your trip to suit your taste buds and reserve a table for you as well! Get in touch with us right away to plan your trip of a lifetime.

DINE AT SRI LANKA’S BEST RESTAURANTS

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We’ve worked with Enchanting Travels on more than ten trips now………….many have been 3-5 week adventures that require tremendous attention to detail in remote parts of the world. We have never been disappointed–only incredibly delighted! Anita was amazing to work with for Sri Lanka/Southeast Asia. I had a very specific wish list and she made sure I crossed everything off of it! The itinerary was geared to our interests and the pace we prefer. Divya kept a close eye on us throughout to ensure that things went smoothly. Working with Enchanting for so many years has allowed us to build relationships that increase the quality of our experiences as time goes on. Not only do they know the best places to see throughout the world but now the bonus is that they know US! These trips keep getting better. We run out of superlatives in trying to explain just how outstanding our experiences have been since we started working with Enchanting. As long as we can drag our suitcases to an airport, we will continue to plan meaningful, life changing adventures with them. Many thanks to the entire Enchanting Team for all of the efforts in making this trip so memorable!

Rating 5/5

Carol Susan Larimore

USA

Once again we were delighted to travel with Enchanting Travels. This was our third time and destination and they didn’t disappoint. Our driver/guide was of exceptional standard proudly showing us his country with the combination of the Enchanting team in the background making it a seamless adventure. I would recommend them to one and all.

Rating 5/5

Pauline Hunter Kleeman

Australia

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Rating 5/5

Mark Raymond Wallace

USA

Enchanting Travels put together a beautiful trip for our family. They took all the stress out of planning the trip, and delivered a richer experience than we could have achieved on our own.

Rating 5/5

Tonya Lester

USA

Not only did we get a personal, private tour for the family, we got an authentic experience on many days getting personalized experiences with locals such as going to a seafood market visited only by locals and authentic food eating with locals.

Rating 5/5

Christopher Hsu

USA

This was our third Enchanting Travel trip and was the longest one, 6 weeks. From beginning to end, all communication, arrangements, accommodations, activities were just what we wanted in this trip. Visiting Sri Lanka, southern India, Assam and Bhutan via car and 6 internal flights sounds tiring but, surprisingly, it really wasn’t. Some of the boutique hotels were exceptional, ranging from charming and quaint to luxurious, and all memorable. Our guides in Sri Lanka (Kusum) and Assam (Dipankar) were outstanding and provided us with unique experiences of day-to-day life for the average person that were not on the itinerary. This was exactly what we wanted and they delivered!! In Bhutan, our local trekking guide, who spoke no English, invited us to eat our picnic lunch in his home and to meet his wife. It was a spur-of-the moment offer as we neared the end of the trek (which was above 12,000 ft elevation). That kind gesture was heartwarming and we truly appreciated his hospitality! At several sites we visited in Assam, we were asked to pose for selfies with many people. We now know how celebrities feel!! At one point, we had about 30 people surround us for photo opps. We never felt threatened, just sort of embarrassed by the attention. However, my husband said he loved being asked to pose for selfies with pretty young women! (He’s 80, so everyone is young!)

Rating 5/5

Tonya Harper

USA