Guidebook for Colombo
Food Scene
Good Coffee, generous portion sizes and really friendly staff make this place a great go to spot for all day breakfast and brunch. They are also located very close to the Villa - five to ten minutes walk on Galle Main Road, Bambalapitiya
Oneup alldaybreakfast
4 කොළඹ - ගාල්ල ප්රධාන මාර්ගයGood Coffee, generous portion sizes and really friendly staff make this place a great go to spot for all day breakfast and brunch. They are also located very close to the Villa - five to ten minutes walk on Galle Main Road, Bambalapitiya
Their brownie chocolate cake is extremely dense and very good! It's a really cute little store with a large variety of cakes and desserts.
Butter Boutique
70 Rosmead PlTheir brownie chocolate cake is extremely dense and very good! It's a really cute little store with a large variety of cakes and desserts.
They are open till pretty late and are a good all round cafe which isn't too far from the Villa. Their raspberry and white chocolate and caramel white chocolate cheesecake are really good.
Cafe Shaze
56 Horton PlThey are open till pretty late and are a good all round cafe which isn't too far from the Villa. Their raspberry and white chocolate and caramel white chocolate cheesecake are really good.
A ten minute walk on Galle road will take you to this authentic Thai restaurant made by chef's from Thailand. All their food is very good, especially the Tom Yum soup.
8 íbúar mæla með
Tom Yum Restaurant
330 A2A ten minute walk on Galle road will take you to this authentic Thai restaurant made by chef's from Thailand. All their food is very good, especially the Tom Yum soup.
This is the best Thai restaurant in Colombo at the moment. A bit on the pricy side but excellent flavours and good portion sizes.
Thai Cuisine Boulevard
33 Queen's RdThis is the best Thai restaurant in Colombo at the moment. A bit on the pricy side but excellent flavours and good portion sizes.
They have great seafood served fresh off ice. For a restaurant in a five star hotel, their pricing is pretty reasonable. Their cuttlefish in tamarind sauce is really good.
The Lagoon
77 A2They have great seafood served fresh off ice. For a restaurant in a five star hotel, their pricing is pretty reasonable. Their cuttlefish in tamarind sauce is really good.
Best sashimi in Colombo. This is Colombo's best Japanese Restaurant and one of Asias top 20 restaurants.
11 íbúar mæla með
Nihonbashi
11 Galle Face TerraceBest sashimi in Colombo. This is Colombo's best Japanese Restaurant and one of Asias top 20 restaurants.
Best restaurant for Northern Sri Lankan food in Colombo. Pricy but they have the freshest hoppers (Appa) and the jaggery hopper is delicious. Their rasam, cashew and prawn curry are also excellent. Watch out for the spice in the rasam though.
7 íbúar mæla með
Palmyrah Restaurant
328 A2Best restaurant for Northern Sri Lankan food in Colombo. Pricy but they have the freshest hoppers (Appa) and the jaggery hopper is delicious. Their rasam, cashew and prawn curry are also excellent. Watch out for the spice in the rasam though.
Traditional Sri Lankan village set up recreated in a zero carbon environment. The restaurant has good Sri Lankan food and a lovely ambience.
8 íbúar mæla með
Nuga Gama
77 Galle RdTraditional Sri Lankan village set up recreated in a zero carbon environment. The restaurant has good Sri Lankan food and a lovely ambience.
A cult classic. The resto-cafe is beautifully set up and their lobster thermidor is great if you would like to treat yourself. They have a really nice little store as well where you can get some Sri Lankan gifts.
Paradise Road Studio
3 Alfred House GardensA cult classic. The resto-cafe is beautifully set up and their lobster thermidor is great if you would like to treat yourself. They have a really nice little store as well where you can get some Sri Lankan gifts.
The most sought after restaurant for crabs in Colombo albeit very expensive. They are always booked so best make a reservation before going. Their mussels in hot butter sauce are very good as is their kade paan.
26 íbúar mæla með
Ministry of Crab
04 Hospital StThe most sought after restaurant for crabs in Colombo albeit very expensive. They are always booked so best make a reservation before going. Their mussels in hot butter sauce are very good as is their kade paan.
Let's Brunch
53 Haig RdGreat sea view and a toast bar which has a unique combination of toast
This coffee shop cum cafe has really good coffee. They also serve food and light drinks.
6 íbúar mæla með
Whight & Co Cafe
24b Marine DriveThis coffee shop cum cafe has really good coffee. They also serve food and light drinks.
This Resto-pub is Colombo's trendiest and best French restaurant and pub. Beautiful interiors on one of Colombo's most happening streets, its a great place to go in the evenings.
Café Français
48 Park StThis Resto-pub is Colombo's trendiest and best French restaurant and pub. Beautiful interiors on one of Colombo's most happening streets, its a great place to go in the evenings.
Open air cafe which serves beer and light cocktails/mocktails, Barefoot is located on Bambalapitiya Galle Road. It's a great place to unwind with some good food and great music. Their store is well worth a visit too.
74 íbúar mæla með
Barefoot
704 Colombo - Galle Main RdOpen air cafe which serves beer and light cocktails/mocktails, Barefoot is located on Bambalapitiya Galle Road. It's a great place to unwind with some good food and great music. Their store is well worth a visit too.
Great selection of Coffee in a minimal environment. This coffee shop has a large variety of coffees to choose from so if you are missing quality coffee, this is a great place to visit.
Kopi Kade
15/3 Stratford AveGreat selection of Coffee in a minimal environment. This coffee shop has a large variety of coffees to choose from so if you are missing quality coffee, this is a great place to visit.
Their famed Lamprais which is a traditional Sri Lankan Dutch inspired dish which can also be quite spicy. They also have some interesting information on Dutch colonial rule over Sri Lanka.
6 íbúar mæla með
The Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon
114 Reid AveTheir famed Lamprais which is a traditional Sri Lankan Dutch inspired dish which can also be quite spicy. They also have some interesting information on Dutch colonial rule over Sri Lanka.
Convenient location just 3 minutes walk from the Villa. The food is good and it's very budget friendly. Their new grill section is very good and offers some really good charcoal grilled submarines. They also make a great lime juice which is refreshing on a hot day.
28 íbúar mæla með
Paan Paan
84 Lorenz RdConvenient location just 3 minutes walk from the Villa. The food is good and it's very budget friendly. Their new grill section is very good and offers some really good charcoal grilled submarines. They also make a great lime juice which is refreshing on a hot day.
Drinks & Nightlife
Rooftop bar and lounge with great views of the Indian Ocean and Galle Face.
11 íbúar mæla með
CÉ LA VI Colombo
48 Janadhipathi MawathaRooftop bar and lounge with great views of the Indian Ocean and Galle Face.
Eclectic place with unique interiors and good drinks. They have a bar/club upstairs called The Love Bar which is a great place for drinks
13 íbúar mæla með
Flamingo House
58a Horton PlEclectic place with unique interiors and good drinks. They have a bar/club upstairs called The Love Bar which is a great place for drinks
Beautifully done up ambience and it is supposed to be one of the best spots in Colombo for a night out. Also located very close to the Villa so its great for a night out.
16 íbúar mæla með
Rhythm and Blues
R. A. De Mel MawathaBeautifully done up ambience and it is supposed to be one of the best spots in Colombo for a night out. Also located very close to the Villa so its great for a night out.
Sightseeing
Great place to try your hand at street food and fly kites while you are at it. Galle Face overlooks the ocean and is a good place to take a stroll. To avoid overcrowding, it's best to visit on weekdays between 4 and 6 so you can catch the sunset.
126 íbúar mæla með
Galle Face
Great place to try your hand at street food and fly kites while you are at it. Galle Face overlooks the ocean and is a good place to take a stroll. To avoid overcrowding, it's best to visit on weekdays between 4 and 6 so you can catch the sunset.
This Buddhist temple is located 10 minutes away from the Villa by foot and is good to visit to experience Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Isipathanaramaya Buddhist Temple
Isipathana RoadThis Buddhist temple is located 10 minutes away from the Villa by foot and is good to visit to experience Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Colombo's Buddhist Cultural Centre has a lot of books and information about Buddhism. It's good to go if you would like to spend a couple of hours reading about Buddhism.
Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya
32 Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi MawathaColombo's Buddhist Cultural Centre has a lot of books and information about Buddhism. It's good to go if you would like to spend a couple of hours reading about Buddhism.
This temple is by the lake and hosts a lot of cultural events and weddings so if you are lucky you can witness a traditional Sinhalese Buddhist wedding or a mini perahara here.
105 íbúar mæla með
Gangaramaya-templi
61 Sri Jinarathana RdThis temple is by the lake and hosts a lot of cultural events and weddings so if you are lucky you can witness a traditional Sinhalese Buddhist wedding or a mini perahara here.
Þjóðminjasafn
Sir Marcus Fernando MawathaA curated selection of historical artefacts
This Hindu temple in Colombo is located just a 5 minute walk from the Villa. Learn about Hindu belief and view Hindu art to experience Sri Lankan Hindu spirituality.
New Kathiresan Kovil
11 Sea StThis Hindu temple in Colombo is located just a 5 minute walk from the Villa. Learn about Hindu belief and view Hindu art to experience Sri Lankan Hindu spirituality.
Parks & Nature
Large expansive park with a large play area for kids. It's also got walking trails, a man made lake, a cycling track and cycles for rent. Gets really crowded on weekends and holidays but it's a great place to visit on weekdays. The street opposite the park also hosts a Sunday Art Pola where you can pick up art from local artists.
191 íbúar mæla með
Viharamahadevi Park
Large expansive park with a large play area for kids. It's also got walking trails, a man made lake, a cycling track and cycles for rent. Gets really crowded on weekends and holidays but it's a great place to visit on weekdays. The street opposite the park also hosts a Sunday Art Pola where you can pick up art from local artists.
It's a local park operated by the municipality. It's good for kids but not recommended for adults. It has a lot of kids play equipment like swings, slides and monkey bars but nothing too fancy.
Havelock Grounds
It's a local park operated by the municipality. It's good for kids but not recommended for adults. It has a lot of kids play equipment like swings, slides and monkey bars but nothing too fancy.
Large park which is great for jogging and walking. Its also got ample space for a relaxing picnic. There's a shortcut to get there which can cut your travel time by half so make sure to ask us.
46 íbúar mæla með
Independence Square
Independence SquareLarge park which is great for jogging and walking. Its also got ample space for a relaxing picnic. There's a shortcut to get there which can cut your travel time by half so make sure to ask us.
Arts & Culture
Art exhibitions and a lot of local plays are held here. It's a great place to catch a glimpse of Colombo's theatre and art scene. Check their website for events while you are here or ask us and we'll be happy to help
18 íbúar mæla með
Lionel Wendt Art Gallery
Premasiri Khemadasa MawathaArt exhibitions and a lot of local plays are held here. It's a great place to catch a glimpse of Colombo's theatre and art scene. Check their website for events while you are here or ask us and we'll be happy to help
Every Sunday's the Colombo Good Market has a curated selection of local artisan stalls and food stalls at Racecourse.
13 íbúar mæla með
Good Market
14 Independence AveEvery Sunday's the Colombo Good Market has a curated selection of local artisan stalls and food stalls at Racecourse.
A great bookstore located very close to the Villa to pick up some books. They have some nice couches to sit and read on as well. Ask us how to get here using a shortcut.
M.D.Gunasena The Bookshop Duplication Road
133D Vajira RdA great bookstore located very close to the Villa to pick up some books. They have some nice couches to sit and read on as well. Ask us how to get here using a shortcut.
Shopping
Owned by the famed Barbara Sansoni, Barefoot has a great collection of Sri Lankan art, craft, linen, homeware and gifts. Their focus is on handloom and you'll find a lot of Sansoni's original work here.
74 íbúar mæla með
Barefoot
704 Colombo - Galle Main RdOwned by the famed Barbara Sansoni, Barefoot has a great collection of Sri Lankan art, craft, linen, homeware and gifts. Their focus is on handloom and you'll find a lot of Sansoni's original work here.
Upcycled clothes and shoes by local designer Lonali. Check on Sundays if they are open as they open only by booking on Sundays.
House of Lonali
40 ස්ට්රැෆර්ඩ් මාවතUpcycled clothes and shoes by local designer Lonali. Check on Sundays if they are open as they open only by booking on Sundays.
Great fair trade store with a large collection of clothes, homeware, accessories and gifting located very close to the Villa
Island Craft
33 R. A. De Mel MawathaGreat fair trade store with a large collection of clothes, homeware, accessories and gifting located very close to the Villa
A department store with a little bit of everything. We love their collection of children's books.
14 íbúar mæla með
Cool Planet
61 Isipathana MawathaA department store with a little bit of everything. We love their collection of children's books.
There's two stores, the larger Collection and the smaller Gallery which have beautiful curated home and gifting items. Highly recommended to visit in case you'd like to pick some locally inspired but modern gifts.
31 íbúar mæla með
Paradise Road
213 Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala MawathaThere's two stores, the larger Collection and the smaller Gallery which have beautiful curated home and gifting items. Highly recommended to visit in case you'd like to pick some locally inspired but modern gifts.
Colombo's most famed department store has clothes, gifts, accessories, toys and bath products. It can get pretty crowded on weekends.
134 íbúar mæla með
Odel
No.5 Alexandra PlColombo's most famed department store has clothes, gifts, accessories, toys and bath products. It can get pretty crowded on weekends.
Good for gadgets and shopping. Cotton Collection, Odel and Triumph as well as other less known brands have smaller versions of their larger outlets here so it might be good to pay a visit if you are stressed for time but still want to do some quick shopping.
91 íbúar mæla með
Majestic City
10 Station RdGood for gadgets and shopping. Cotton Collection, Odel and Triumph as well as other less known brands have smaller versions of their larger outlets here so it might be good to pay a visit if you are stressed for time but still want to do some quick shopping.
Their new wing has some very nice stores like Avirate and Uptown Kandy. Branded stores like Nike and Coffee Shops like Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf as well as fast food restaurants like Burger King are also located here. Their food court is also one of the better food courts with a good selection of food at reasonable prices.
42 íbúar mæla með
Liberty Plaza
300 R. A. De Mel MawathaTheir new wing has some very nice stores like Avirate and Uptown Kandy. Branded stores like Nike and Coffee Shops like Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf as well as fast food restaurants like Burger King are also located here. Their food court is also one of the better food courts with a good selection of food at reasonable prices.
This mall has a lot of the higher end brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Crocs, Fossil and Charles and Kieth. They also have a good Sri Lankan restaurant called Kaema Sutra and fast-food options like Burger King. It's good to stop by if you are visiting Independence Square/Park as it is walking distance.
62 íbúar mæla með
Arcade Independence Square
Independence SquareThis mall has a lot of the higher end brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Crocs, Fossil and Charles and Kieth. They also have a good Sri Lankan restaurant called Kaema Sutra and fast-food options like Burger King. It's good to stop by if you are visiting Independence Square/Park as it is walking distance.
There's a lot of international shopping brands as well as some Sri Lankan local brands.
Racecourse Promenade
Philip Gunewardena MawathaThere's a lot of international shopping brands as well as some Sri Lankan local brands.
Essentials
Walking distance from the Villa, this little convenience store has everything you will need to get some quick essentials and personal care products.
7 íbúar mæla með
Cargills Food City - Norris Canal
25 Norris Canal RdWalking distance from the Villa, this little convenience store has everything you will need to get some quick essentials and personal care products.
Larger convenience store also within 10 minutes walking distance to the Villa. They have a little in house bakery section as well with fresh baked goods off the counter.
6 íbúar mæla með
Keells - Dehiwala
Dehiwala-Maharagama RoadLarger convenience store also within 10 minutes walking distance to the Villa. They have a little in house bakery section as well with fresh baked goods off the counter.
Large multi specialty hospital is useful for any medical emergencies. Ask us about the shortcut and we'll let you know how to get here quickly.
31 íbúar mæla með
Lanka Hospitals
578 Elvitigala MawathaLarge multi specialty hospital is useful for any medical emergencies. Ask us about the shortcut and we'll let you know how to get here quickly.
Outpatient unit here is pretty quick and effective. They are also a multi speciality hospital and located not too far from the Villa
24 íbúar mæla með
Durdans Hospital
3 Alfred PlOutpatient unit here is pretty quick and effective. They are also a multi speciality hospital and located not too far from the Villa
Beautiful interiors with deep tissue massage, thai massage and a variety of other massage options.
Baan Thai Spa
490 Havelock RdBeautiful interiors with deep tissue massage, thai massage and a variety of other massage options.
If you need a quick wax or a threading touch up, this place is great. Ask for Sandhamali for the waxing session. She's particularly good but all their other therapists are good too.
Honey Pot (Ladies Only)
14a Park RdIf you need a quick wax or a threading touch up, this place is great. Ask for Sandhamali for the waxing session. She's particularly good but all their other therapists are good too.