Best Restaurants In Sri Lanka: Top Dishes And Location

Best Restaurants In Sri Lanka 

• The Curry Leaf

• The Gallery Cafe

• Ministry of Crab

• Plates

• The Harbour Court

• Lord’s Restaurant Complex

• Nuga Gama

• The Lagoon

• Navratna

• Upali’s by Nawaloka

• Graze Kitchen

• The Oak Ray Flower Drum

• Buba Beach Seafood Restaurant

1. The Curry Leaf

The Curry Leaf is one of the most interesting and best restaurants in Sri Lanka, serving the tastiest traditional Sri Lankan cuisine in a peaceful environment. Here you can find the tastiest mutton kottu, fish fries, and Katta Sambol. The staff is kind and welcoming, making your eating experience here a memorable one. The Curry Leaf is designed in a village style, with the richest cuisines and an exceptional buffet. With a tranquil atmosphere and an impressive menu that includes an appealing seafood buffet, this location is a seafood lover's delight. At this restaurant, you will also find various street stalls offering traditional dishes of Sri Lanka including string hoppers, Kottu roti and Pittu. The crowd at Curry Leaf restaurant is mostly international but local people also visit the restaurant especially to celebrate on occasions and test the quality of food. The main highlights of the restaurant is the live seafood counter and the curry buffet. 

• Top Dishes: Mutton Kottu, Katta Sambol, Fish Fry

• Location: Sir Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha, 2 Lotus Rd, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka

2. The Gallery Cafe

The Gallery Cafe is one of Colombo's best restaurants in Sri Lanka, featuring a rich atmosphere and excellent outside dining. Its menu includes a wide range of cuisines such as Indian, Italian, and Sri Lankan meals to delight every taste. This cafe's USP is its sweets, which come in 30 varieties and have an unmatched flavor across Sri Lanka. The Gallery Cafe started in 1998 in the former offices of the late Geoffrey Bawa, a world-renowned Sri Lankan architect. Bawa personally approved Fernando converting his beloved property into a restaurant and art gallery, and he respected Shanth's design sense in the conversion and renovation of the building to complement his own. Bawa's only input was the location of the main pavilion, where the majority of diners sit. For Sale at the Art Gallery are regularly changing exhibitions by established and emerging local artists. The Gallery Cafe's menu hasn't changed in years because regulars have favorites, and Fernando takes pride in knowing that they will always return for that option. It is known specifically for its cocktails and desserts, as well as consistently 'Good Food.'

• Top Dishes: Spanish Garlic Prawns, Roast Pork with Mustard Sauce, Chocolate Walnut Brownie, Chocolate Nemesis and Jaggery Creme Brulee. 

• Location: 2 Alfred House Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

Also Read:- Nightlife in Sri Lanka: Magic of Island Country.

3. Ministry of Crab

The Ministry of Crab, awarded one of Asia's 50 best restaurants in 2017, provides a superb dining experience with a limitless variety of crab specialties. This restaurant is unique in that it is set in Colombo's 400-year-old antique Dutch hospital and has an open kitchen concept with minimalistic decor. The Ministry of Crab offers several types of crab meat, as well as crab-claw plant decorations throughout the restaurant. The best items you never miss here are the Sri Lankan crab, pepper crab, spicy chicken teriyaki, garlic chili prawns, and chicken fried rice in a clay pot. Crabs range in size from 500g crabs to 2 kg 'Crabzillas,' and the restaurant operates on a daring no-freezer policy, getting all of its products from Sri Lanka. This is one of the highly recommended places to visit in Sri Lanka.

• Top Dishes: Garlic Chilli Crab, Pepper Crab, Avocado Crab Salad, Kaphrao Crab and Chili Crab

• Location: Old Dutch Hospital Complex, 04 Hospital St, Colombo 00100, Sri Lanka

4. Plates

Plates is the 24-hour all-day dining restaurant of Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Sri Lanka's top five-star city hotel, offering an unrivaled range of global tastes and flavors. Plates are all about experiences: the experience of dining with friends and family, the experience of savoring multi-country multi-cuisine meals at any time of day. If you're seeking famous family restaurants in Sri Lanka, head to The Plates. The PLATES offers a multi-country, multi-cuisine experience like no other. A worldwide culinary trip in a single alfresco eating or contemporary slick indoor setting to feel the comfort. To compliment your meal, you will also find a unique selection of drinks flavored with local ingredients. Breakfast, lunch, and supper buffets are provided, as well as a unique kids' menu.

• Top Dishes: Fish Curry and Mixed rice, Sushi rolls, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Prawn crackers, local Mutton Biryani and desserts like Oreo Cake. 

• Location: 77 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

5. The Harbour Court

The Harbour Court at The Kingsbury offers the most extensive international buffet in Sri Lanka in a modern and stylish atmosphere. The Harbour Court offers a unique all-day eating experience, including vegetarian options. Try this location if you're seeking the best vegetarian restaurants in Sri Lanka. The restaurant serves à une minute food, which is freshly prepared in front of visitors at specially designed action stations. Guests can watch the chefs toss, stir, fry, bake, prepare, and grill the tastiest meats, freshest fish, and veggies, bringing them on a global expedition of some of the world's best cuisine.

• Top Cuisines: Seafood like oysters and caviar, beet root, beans and cured meats.

• Location: Lobby level-Harbor View-No. 48 Janadhipathi Mawatha-Colombo 00100-Sri Lanka

6. Lord’s Restaurant Complex

Find your spot among 5 different restaurants, pubs, and lounge restaurant outlets all serving the same delicious food under one roof. There is a Garden Restaurant, a Family Restaurant, and a Romantic Restaurant, all of which include smoking and non-smoking spaces. The Lord's Restaurant complex idea is distinctive and funky, with a modern ambiance and decor, as well as an art gallery and a FREE hand and foot Fish Spa to enjoy. Freshly produced local foods are created with passion and given from the heart. There are also specific diet preferences and a distinct Vegan Menu with over 40 different selections, as well as a Gluten Free Menu. Reservations are advised for this popular dining venue among tourists to the gateway beach resort of Negombo. Every night, there is live music, and they can accommodate larger gatherings of up to 300 individuals. It is one of the top restaurants for couples in Sri Lanka.

• Top Cuisines: Seafood, Jumbo Prawns hatched by eggs, Cuttlefish and the chili crab curry.

• Location: Porutota Rd, Negombo, Sri Lanka

7. Nuga Gama

Nuga Gama is a natural haven in the heart of the city and one of the best restaurants in Sri Lanka providing wonderful traditional Sri Lankan cuisine prepared by local ammes in a charming rural environment. The restaurant is built around a 200-year-old banyan tree, ready to wow you with its rustic beauty. This is without a doubt the only venue in busy Colombo where you can sample traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. From a working kade (store) to ammes (village chefs) cooking meals, the minute details immerse you in Sri Lankan village life.  Every element has been carefully considered to offer you the greatest possible experience. The ammes would be delighted to share their family recipes and even politely show you how to prepare them. You are welcome to see their little organic farm, Asia's first carbon-neutral destination.

Savor the best island flavors that are prepared by traditional village cooks and the restaurant features rustic decoration and lush greenery that highlights the charm of rural Sri Lanka. You can enjoy having meals at the bamboo nuts and terracotta pots while feeling the sounds of nature. 

• Top Cuisines: Local fruit juices, traditional drinks, egg hoppers, milk rice and the Kavum. 

• Location: Colombo3, 77 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

8. The Lagoon

If you've been looking for genuine pleasure, The Lagoon, a seafood restaurant that mimics the colorful ambiance of seafood markets, is the place to go. They put out the freshest fish of the day so you can choose your favorite and the kitchen staff prepares it in your preferred sauce or curry. Choose how you want it sizzling, grilled, steaming, curried, or fried - and the scent will have your mouth watering. Browse through the list of the finest beverages, select the one that best matches your cuisine, and you'll be in seventh heaven in no time. You enjoy the finest Indian, Continental, Chinese, and Thai seafood specialties and the staff is very polite. The Lagoon is one of the best restaurants in Sri Lanka which provides you with fully customized foods according to your taste. Imagine you are getting a fine dining experience while exploring the natural beauty, isn’t this amazing. You can experience this by reaching The Lagoon restaurant offering a tranquil ambience and making every meal with an unforgettable experience. 

• Top Cuisines: Crab Curry, Hot butter cuttlefish, Modha fish in Thai red curry and desserts like the custard puddings. 

• Location: 77 A2, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

9. Navratna

Navratna, one of the best Indian restaurants in Sri Lanka, is located in the 5-star Taj Samudra Hotel and offers the finest Indian dining experiences in Colombo. This opulent venue has a Mughal atmosphere and is filled with sitar and drum artists who play beautiful music. The staff here is friendly and speedy, so you can expect to be served shortly after placing your order. You should also keep two things in mind before visiting this place. Always make appointments before visiting the restaurant since it is usually rather crowded, and do not over-order as the Indian meals are quite filling. Some of the must-order meals at this restaurant are Tandoori, Paneer, Dum Biryani with Saffron, and Butter Naan. Given that it is housed in a 5-star hotel, this restaurant is on the pricier side, so check at their meal pricing before attending if you are on a budget; however, the authentic flavor of the dishes compensates for the price.

• Top Dishes: Dum Biryani, Tandoori Paneer, Butter Naan

• Location: Galle Face Center Rd, Colombo 80000, Sri Lanka

10. Upali’s by Nawaloka

Upali's delivers a truly homey and distinct culinary experience with its choice of meals with the greatest Sri Lankan flavors. The signature recipes are delectably wonderful, and the remainder of the menu's courses and desserts will have you going back for more. The cuisine is unrivaled in terms of flavor and quality, and they only serve traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Upali, one of the best restaurants in Sri Lanka located in the center of Colombo, has stunning views of the serene Viharamahadevi Park, the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, and the renowned Town Hall. Upali's Coffee Shop, located only a few feet away from the restaurant, also sells locally produced coffee, favorite local munchies, and pastries. In the rush and bustle of Colombo life, Upali's provides the ideal break from the everyday grind while satisfying your taste senses. Look around the restaurant for mementos autographed by cricketers and other celebrities who have dined here over the years.

• Top Cuisines: Breadfruit curry, Jackfruit curry, pineapple curry and fish curry.

• Location: 65 Dr. CWW Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

11. Graze Kitchen

Every Monday night, the Hilton Colombo's premium restaurant, Graze Kitchen, invites diners to go on a gastronomic adventure across the world's cities with their Hawkers' Market buffet. The buffet includes street cuisine from Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, as well as Turkey, Italy, and the United States. Each of these has been hand-picked by their in-house chefs, who specialize in regional cuisines. Crisp Vietnamese rice paper rolls, Thai tom yum and Laski, Malaysian roast chicken and rice, and American hotdogs are among the classic street delicacies available.

You'd also come across lesser-known but excellent foods like Italian Agnolotti and Japanese TamagoYaki - the former is a delightful breaded and fried ravioli, while the latter is a sweet-tasting omelet on a stick. Graze Kitchen, in true street style and one of the best restaurants in Sri Lanka also provides numerous live food stations, adding a visual aspect to the gastronomic experience. So, whether you're strolling along Galle Face with their achcha (pickle) stand, the busy streets of Chennai, or the Italian piazza, the Hawkers' Market features the greatest street cuisine the globe has to offer.

• Top Cuisines: Rogan Josh, Butter chicken and diverse variety of Biryanis 

• Location: 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, 00200, Sri Lanka

Also Read:- Top Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka.

12. The Oak Ray Flower Drum

The Oak Ray Flower Drum Restaurant is a haven in the heart of Colombo and one of the best restaurants in Sri Lanka to unwind with friends. Dine at this trendy spot for more variety and quality than ever before. Prawn toast, fried dumplings, and spring rolls are among the appetizers available. Aside from fish, poultry, and beef, the menu includes cuttlefish, prawns, crab, and lobster. Serve a wide range of vegetable meals, including mixed mushroom Chinese style, golden glow veggies, and vegetable chef salad. You can choose from a delectable selection of steamed and fried rice. You can also enjoy some of the delicious noodles. The warm politeness of the personnel, along with the restaurant's breathtakingly beautiful design, will give you a great dining experience time and time again.

• Top Cuisines: Battered Prawns, Fried Dumplings, Beef and Cuttlefish

• Location: 26 Thurstan Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

13. Buba Beach Seafood Restaurant

Buba Beach Restaurant is a hidden gem on Sri Lanka's Emerald Island. Only 20 minutes south of Colombo, the capital city. Buba Beach is a haven amid a hectic cityscape. Buba Beach, hidden away among coconut trees and beautiful beach flora, has always kept nature in mind and has long been viewed by regulars as a retreat on Mount Lavinia's beaches.

One can spend a Sunday with family or friends swimming in the water. A romantic candle-lit dinner is usually a popular choice among couples. Enjoy simple snacks or a full meal with a wide variety of marine delights. Dine on the beach, among the coconut and mangrove shrubs, or on the restaurant's upper deck, which has panoramic sea views at your feet. Buba Beach is one of the best beach restaurants in Sri Lanka, offering a wonderful experience for everybody.

• Top Cuisines: Buba Prawns, mixed rice, Grilled whole fish, vegetable fried rice kankun and Buba special grilled seafood combo

• Location: 42/11 Vihara Road, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka

Conclusion

Sri Lanka is combined with the best restaurants to satisfy the culinary needs by offering the special dishes of Sri Lanka. Whether you are seeking traditional foods or you have a specific priority, the restaurants in Sri Lanka offer something to everyone. While planning a visit to Sri Lanka, you must take a look at the Sri Lanka tour packages and explore the best offers that are provided and select the offers as per your preference. So, get ready and try popular dishes in Sri Lanka’s best restaurants. 

FAQs

Q1. What is the most popular and national dish of Sri Lanka? 

Ans. The national dish of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rice and Curry that includes steaming hot and fluffy rice. 

Q2. What is the price range of beef in Sri Lanka? 

Ans. The price range is between LKR 213.36 and LKR 334.86 per kg.

Q3. Which is the best restaurant in Sri Lanka serving crab curry? 

Ans. The Ministry of Crab is the best restaurant in Sri Lanka serving crab dishes.