Best Bars & Pubs in Colombo

Currently trending as one of the most happening pubs in Colombo, IOG has great deals and the best live music. It gets very crowded on Tuesdays (ladies' night) and from Thursday to Saturday. It's styled as an old British pub with colonial memorabilia decorated on the walls. It's not the biggest place so if you want good seats, it is recommended to go early (around 6pm even). There is pub grub (not large meals) which tastes really good, and is conveniently located on the main road a few meters away from the Galle Face roundabout.

The Tavern at Honey Beach Club is located inside The Kingsbury Hotel premises near the pool. It is a Sri Lankan bar that offers a variety of 69 arrack flavours and delectable Sri Lankan snacks such as wadey, roti and devilled meats. It was opened following the Kingsbury's partial refurbishment, and is styled with thatched roofs and sea sand underfoot. It is becoming more and more popular due to its central location, affordable prices and unbelievably chill atmosphere - with sea breeze and cool from the pool. There is a wide selection of yummy food and Honey Beach Club also serves shisha. It's outdoor so especially lovely in the evenings. It is fast becoming one of the most popular bars in Colombo.

&Co is the main restaurant and pub of The Steuart hotel in Colombo, located on the ground floor. It is a prime wining and dining location, due to its especially great food. The location is very spacious with both indoor and outdoor seating, and live music on certain days. It is styled in Scottish pub aesthetic, with green, red and gold designs, dark wood and gilded crests. It's not only popular in the evenings but also draws a solid crowd for lunch. It's not the cheapest but it's not crazy high and well worth the price in my opinion.

The Dutch Pub is located just behind the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct - attached to the Fairway Hotel. It is a narrow strip of high tables and chairs with a live band playing on weekends. It's a great place to catch up with friends after work and enjoy a cold beer. They also have cool happy hour deals and bottle deals, as well. It's a tight fit between tables, with small tables as well, and it gets noisy. So it's not the best for an intimate conversation but a very happening spot nonetheless.

Re:Pub:LK has been on the scene for many years now and it keeps reinventing itself to ensure that it keeps drawing in crowds. Re:Pub:LK is located in the side alleyway out of the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct. Unassuming to the eye, it has an upstairs with an indoor and outdoor area. It serves good drinks and the food although it is not full-sized meals. It plays good music loudly, and sometimes has a live band on weekends. It is also a popular host of occasional quiz nights. It gets really crowded on weekends and has a nice, elegant atmosphere with lots of dark wood and potted ferns adorning the roof. It gets really crowded so make sure to reserve a table or go early.

Taphouse was immensely popular around a decade ago being the number one spot to be during weekends because of the amazing live bands that played there. It still gets really crowded on Thursdays and weekends (as does the entire Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct). It features mostly outdoor seating with some indoor seating available. It serves up cheap beer and good food, and still attracts a sizeable crowd dancing to the live music and downing multiple beer towers. The crowd is mostly young 'uns and working crowds.

Colombar is the newest pub in Colombo taking the city by storm. Located at Cinnamon Lakeside, replacing the old 7 Degrees North, it is an arrack-based bar with old Ceylon touches and serves up the most interesting and aesthetically pleasing cocktails, with quirky old Ceylon names. It is outdoors and has a live band, and is making Cinnamon Lakeside more popular among city youth. It opens at 5pm but you can get drinks before, but not food. Food is really affordable and tasty as well, although drinks are a tiny bit on the expensive side considering arrack is generally very cheap in Sri Lanka.

Breeze Bar is a lovely outdoor bar at the back of Cinnamon Grand hotel. It serves up lovely cocktails and shisha as well. It's located by the swimming pool, and features mainly outdoor seating but has a section near the bar that is somewhat covered. It's suitable for a lovely nighttime drink with friends or dates.

Cheers is a popular sports-themed pub in Cinnamon Grand, located one floor below the ground level. It has TVs placed around the pub which gets crowded on weekends and days with major sporting events. It is fully air-conditioned and dark and cosy, with carpets, couches and wooden interiors. It serves up filling mains which taste really good as well, and the drinks are also solid and well-made. It's a little bit on the pricey side but again, worth the cost in my opinion, and to be expected from Cinnamon Grand.

King of the Mambo is Galle Face Hotel's most recent restaurant opening, and it is Mexican-themed in terms of music, aesthetics and food served. It has good ladies' nights and happy hour deals, and is a very popular spot among ladies. It features outdoor seating with just fans to cool down, and overlooks the ocean directly. Sometimes featuring a live band or a DJ, you can even dance if you feel like it.