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Best Restaurants In Sri Lanka & Their Must-Try Dishes
Written by Sohinee Basu
Sri Lanka’s magic explodes through its sizzling seafood curries flash-tempered with aromatic spices and served in some of the country’s best restaurants.
From curries, kottu rotis to hoppers – Sri Lanka trumps as a flavour-filled destination that should be on every seafood lover’s itinerary. Sharing a close affinity to South Indian cuisine and staying true to its tropical location, Sri Lankan dishes are all about coconut, fresh fish and a big dash of spices. Fondly known as the ‘Island of Rice and Curry’, delve into a vibrant smorgasbord of rich crab, prawn, fish and lamb curries. Prepare to be taken on an epicurean journey with our guide to the best restaurants in Sri Lanka and their must-try dishes.
Ministry of Crab, Colombo
The island nation of Sri Lanka is hugged by ocean waters that are a haven for crustaceans big and small. A regular feature in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants since 2015, Ministry of Crab invites you to indulge in an epic crustacean feast, with crabs, prawns and clams being the highlight. Co-founded by renowned chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa and Sri Lankan cricketers, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, Ministry of Crab celebrates the culinary homecoming of the famed lagoon crab.
Choose from 10 different crab sizes – from the 500-gram crab to the fierce two-kilo ‘Crabzilla’ and prepare for a flavourful and juicy feast. Sample their star dish, the chilli crab, made from Dharshan’s secret recipe and generously cooked in fiery Sri Lankan red chillies, or go gentle with a succulent butter crab. Moreover, the restaurant prides itself in offering the freshest of seafood with a no-freezer policy.
Must-try dish: garlic chilli crab.
Ocean, Colombo
Make all your seafood cravings come true at Ocean, a restaurant located in The Kingsbury Hotel serving dishes featuring crabs, prawns, cuttlefish and oysters. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the stingray baked in banana leaf and served with Assam seafood paste or savour squid stuffed with crab meat. Other dishes include mussels cooked in white wine and garlic butter and lagoon crabs made into a classic Sri Lankan curry. Be sure to end things on a sweet note with a honey-glazed baked yoghurt with flamed orange, or delve into a triple chocolate mousse, served in a crispy tuile cup. Happy feasting!
Must-try dish: squid stuffed with crab meat.
Upali’s, Colombo
Featuring treasured local recipes, Upali’s channels the perfect blend of Sri Lankan flavours. A labour of love by Upali Dharmadasa, Upali’s – boasting a second location in Melbourne – offers a home-away-from-home dining experience through its wide variety of local dishes. Within a stone’s throw of the serene Viharamaha Devi Park and the iconic Town Hall, Upali’s is a legendary dining destination. Enticing you with rich Sri Lankan flavours, try the unique seven-in-one vegetable curry or the maalu oluwa (fish head curry) cooked in a coconut curry broth and their mutton varuwal. For classic Sri Lankan fare, sample the parippu (a traditional lentil dish), egg hoppers or indulge in a grand feast with Upali’s lunch set menu featuring delicacies like coconut sambol and dry fish curried with red chilli.
Must-try dish: maalu oluwa (fish head curry).
The Gallery Café, Colombo
The unique setting of The Gallery Café at Paradise Road has been featured in the Australian Gourmet Traveller, New York Times and Conde Nast Traveller. This stylish restaurant houses a constant rotation of art exhibitions featuring both budding and established artists to create a surreal dining experience. Once the office of world-renowned Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, this transformed gallery-restaurant offers a romantic escape with an alfresco courtyard, a pond dotted with lily pads and glimmering candelabras.
Relish simple Sri Lankan delicacies like a hearty prawn curry or a black pork curry, with refreshing tiki cocktails at this chic café that dabbles well across both local and international cuisines. Don’t forget to indulge in a neat sugar rush with a tall list of 30 desserts to choose from – think jaggery crème brûlée, mocha pot and a good ol’ pecan pie!
Must-try dish: jaggery crème brûlée.
A Minute by Tuk-Tuk, Galle
Picture yourself sitting on a large veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean and enjoying a balmy breeze as you feast on a delightful platter of seafood kottu roti. Paying homage to the three-wheeler tuk tuk, this quirky restaurant enjoys a scenic location, a 10-minute walk from the historic Galle Fort and is especially renowned for its unique recipes. Let your tastebuds enjoy a classic black pork curry tempered with Sri Lankan spices or experience a flavour-fest with a classic prawn curry with coconut sambol. The tuna steak is another must-try when at this seaside restaurant. While you’re at it, be sure to enjoy a fruity, tropical cocktail (or two) and catch an epic sunset over the ocean.
Must-try dish: prawn curry.
Fortaleza, Galle
How does a colonial-era spice warehouse with dimly lit 16th-century walls sound like for a unique dining experience? Welcome to Fortaleza Hotel Galle’s lavish restaurant in Galle where fresh seafood is roasted on charcoal embers, tender meat is grilled, and Middle Eastern-inspired mezze platters are served. As historic as the building and the port city of Galle itself, Fortaleza retains an old-world charm and features a leafy courtyard setting. For seafood lovers, this is another joyful affair as Fortaleza specialises in tiger prawn delicacies, seared tuna with wasabi and spicy chilli crab preparations, that will leave you wanting more.
Must-try dish: seared tuna with wasabi.
1864 Limited Edition, Colombo
Finding a home within the historic Galle Face Hotel, 1864 Limited Edition is a gastro-chic restaurant, bar, wine cellar and art gallery rolled into one. The elegant space exudes European charm: crisp white tablecloths and soft candlelight create an intimate atmosphere, artwork from local artists adorns the walls and a cosy wine cellar and lounge area makes for an excellent cocktail space.
The menu, curated by Swiss-born chef Bjorn van der Horst, is a celebration of contemporary European cuisine, crafted from the finest Sri Lankan ingredients. Think homemade pappardelle with fresh-caught Indian Ocean lobster and roasted beef bone marrow with wild garlic and parsley brown butter. Desserts are equally as tantalising – try the Nuwara Eliya strawberry pavlova or citrus tart with buffalo curd for a sweet finish. After dinner, adjourn to the whiskey bar where an impressive selection of the world’s finest drops awaits.
Must-try dish: homemade pappardelle with Indian Ocean lobster.
Hill House Restaurant, Weligama
Sri Lanka’s abundance of exceptional ingredients are on show at Hill House Restaurant, located within Malabar Hill, one of the island’s most luxurious resorts. The rustic restaurant offers farm-to-table fare with a distinctly Mediterranean twist and breathtaking wilderness views.
Every plate is crafted with fresh, local ingredients, from line-caught barramundi reeled in that morning to farm-fresh buffalo curd milked from the hotel’s own livestock. Start with entrées like sticky aubergine salad and tangy ceviche, before moving on to mains like fiery crab curry, crispy skin barramundi and delicate sesame-crusted tofu. Be sure to leave room for dessert: the wattalapan (steamed coconut milk and jaggery pudding infused with Sri Lankan spices like cardamom and clove) is an exquisite rendition of this local favourite, while the buffalo curd with spiced treacle celebrates local ingredients in a simple yet flavour-filled combination.
Must-try dish: Buffalo curd with spiced treacle.
GINI, Colombo
Flame-grilled lobster, charred cauliflower and grilled Moratuwa oysters are just some of the delights on offer at GINI, Sri Lanka’s exciting live-fire cooking restaurant. Led by Melbourne-trained head chef, Surith Adhihetty, the team at GINI offer a focused selection of fresh dishes with one thing in common – they’re all cooked over an open flame.
Local ingredients are enhanced with cinnamon and fragrant rubber wood smoke, elevating ordinary meat, seafood and vegetables into unforgettable dishes. Favourites include the hand-picked oysters, infused with coconut cream and herb oil, and the lobster with miso butter and chilli oil. Don’t leave without dessert – a playful offering including ‘Cereal’ (ice cream with caramelised banana, dulce de leche and biscuit crumb) are sure to satisfy your inner child.
Must-try dish: flame-grilled lobster with miso butter and chilli oil.
Nihonbashi By Dharshan, Colombo
World-class Japanese precision meets garden-fresh Sri Lankan ingredients in an exciting fusion menu at Nihonbashi By Dharshan. Founded by renowned chef and restauranteur Dharshan Munidasa (you might recognise his name from Ministry of Crab), the award-winning restaurant offers Japanese fine dining in a stylish space, inspired by wabi-sabi design principles and local materials.
From the moment you step through the 18 Torii gates – each a homage to one of Dharshan’s restaurants – you’re immersed in a world of culinary innovation. Savour the delicate flavour of shoyu in an elegant tomato soup and relish the crunch of tempura karapincha (Sri Lankan curry leaves). Don’t miss the seer fish marinated in an iconic teriyaki sauce, which has been brewing since 1995, or the signature gyuu no tataki, which showcases tender local beef. Finish with Shibuya-style French toast – you won’t be disappointed.
Must-try dish: gyuu no tataki or seer fish teriyaki.
Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya
Regularly recognised as Sri Lanka’s best bar by The World’s 50 Best Bars and Condé Nast Traveller, Smoke & Bitters lies in the dreamy south coast surf village of Hiriketiya. With a focus on local spirits and native ingredients, the cocktail list spans age-old classics and inventive concoctions. The island’s national spirit takes centre stage in the Old & Smoked, a smoking chai-spiced creation prepared with arrack, smoked orange and Ceylon bitters, while the humble banana is elevated beyond belief in the Bananarama, a combination of wild honey (sourced straight from the jungle), house-made banana peel syrup and smoked hellfire bitters.
As you work your way through the cocktail list, a selection of share plates from the smokehouse makes the perfect pairing. Think slow-cooked confit leaks with wasabi mayo, smoked roti tacos with spiced goat and curry sauce, and charred prawns with pickled wild eggplant. Pair your dessert cocktail with an equally exciting, sweet treat – the arrack-infused semifreddo with salted caramel and almond crumb is a local favourite.
Must-try dish: Old & Smoked.
Sapphyr Lounge, Colombo
Set within the five-star Shangri-La Colombo hotel, the lavish Sapphyr Lounge offers one of the country’s best high tea experiences. Be serenaded by the sweet sound of live acoustic music as you tuck into a mouthwatering five-tier platter of finger sandwiches, delicate pastries and fluffy scones. Highlights include the blackened salmon in charred brioche, tandoori chicken with coriander mayo, and coconut and fresh mango macarons.
Pair your platter with a cup of Ceylon tea, grown in Sri Lanka’s verdant tea country. Specialty teas include the delicate Lovers Leap Estate blend – the ‘champagne of Ceylon tea’ – and Arabian Nights, a strong and malty brew with a hint of caramel. Champagne is also on offer if you prefer to elevate this already indulgent experience.
Must-try dish: Five-tier high tea platter.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out Seas the Day: The Six Best Beaches in Sri Lanka.
