Andrew Phillipes
Colombo, Sri Lanka, is popular for its cityscape as well as its food. If you are looking for a place for a gastronomical adventure, here are top 5 picks as rated by actual visitors.
Sri Lanka is very much famous for its delectable traditional cuisine, rich in coconut milk and local herbs and spices. Perhaps it is this incomparable taste that can be discovered in the heart of Colombo that has made Nuga Gama by Cinnamon Grand Colombo the number one favourite among visitors for dining. Nuga Gama is Sinhala, meaning "Banyan Village". True to its name, the restaurant is created around a Banyan tree that is over 200 years old. Mud huts surround the tree to enhance the village-like feeling, and the staff is attired in traditional garments to complete the look. Considered as Asia's very first carbon neutral venue, do not miss to taste the toddy – a local alcohol – when you visit Nuga Gama for a dinner you will never forget.
Remember that trip you took to Down South Sri Lanka, and watched the fishermen haul in day's catch? Remember the liveliness of the market on the sand, as the excitement over a good haul, spread through the gathering? It is this effect that is created at Lagoon, one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo. It must be the 150 different methods of preparing seafood that has made it the second favourite among visitors, which is sure to be a novel experience even if you visit the restaurant every night during your stay. Two specialty chefs operate the kitchen, and you will be swept away by the freshest fish of the island.
Located in the Old Dutch Hospital Precinct, which is now a shopping complex with a number of chain establishments, Ministry of Crab proudly presents one of the most famous dishes in Sri Lanka, the crab. As per their declaration, the establishment does not freeze any of their food, ensuring that the crab that ends up on your plate is fresh as it can be. With a colonial charm added into enhancing your Sri Lankan experience, Ministry of Crab is the place to visit if you are looking for a unique dining option, and do not mind getting your fingers a little messy. While the establishment provides special utensils to make sure that you are able to enjoy the crab flesh to the last bite, Sri Lankans are rather fond of digging in with their bare hands to properly enjoy this delectable dish.
Although named a café, this establishment is much more than that. A popular place among the locals and tourists alike, especially for a romantic dinner, the place is an architectural wonder by the famous Geoffrey Bawa. The open courtyard allows for a fresh breeze to circulate through the entire space, while the scattered trees provide a chilliness to the tables. The food is varied in options – both international and local cuisine is available – and the service is attentive and polite. But it is the ambience that has visitors returning to the Gallery Café. If you are paying a visit here, do not forget to try their home-made ice cream. It is one desert you should not miss!
Out of all the Colombo hotels, Cinnamon Grand must be doing something right, as this establishment, Chutneys – ranked number five according to reviews, is also a part of the hotel. Chutneys is an Indian restaurant that provides you five-star treatment. Covering almost the entire subcontinent of India, it offers Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh as well as Kerala cuisine. The restaurant is thick with the aroma of Indian spices, and the interior gives you a vibe of the subcontinental culture. If you are truly looking for an unforgettable meal, the restaurant has an all-you-can-eat vegetarian dinner buffet every week on Tuesdays.
