Joanna James
The beating heart of cosmopolitan Sri Lanka, Colombo is not only the commercial epicentre of the island but also its party capital. Colombo is home to the best nightclubs, bars, pubs and dining venues in the country, and enjoying a great night out in this city is simply a matter of deciding where to go. From the city's best clubs and drinking holes to the casinos and entertainment hubs suitable for family--friendly pursuits, here's a guide to exploring Colombo's vibrant nightlife.
Partygoers based in the bustling metropolis of Colombo will find that the discos and nightclubs in the city are some of the best places to go after sundown. While most clubs are located inside high-end hotels and resorts, there are independent venues where one can grab a drink and dance one's cares away until the wee hours of the morning. Top nightclubs in Colombo include Taphouse by RnR, Floor by O! and the W Lounge. Retro music lovers, however, can head to Disques where the cocktails keep flowing as the hits from yesteryear fill the dance floors. Rhythm and Blues and Curve are other places where the locals and expats flock to on Friday nights and weekends to enjoy great music and a thumping dance floor.
The finest bars in the city are typically located down trendy Galle Road where some of the best hotels in Colombo are also found. Apart from the Sky Lounge at The Kingsbury Hotel, some of the best rooftop bars in town include the ON14 Rooftop Bar and the Botanik Rooftop Bistro & Bar. Other drinking holes with spectacular views include the Vistas Bar and Sky Yard while Ward 7 also boasts an infinity pool. Karaoke bars are also some of the most vibrant cocktail hotspots in the city as the Vienna Karaoke Bar and Stella have demonstrated over the years.
Those who would rather hit the gaming tables on a night out in Colombo also have more than a handful of gambling haunts and casinos to choose from. While Wijewardena Mawatha's Bally's Casino is one of the oldest establishments in the city, Bellagio Colombo is another plush casino in the city. The Bellagio is the only casino on the island that's open around the clock so avid gamers can technically get their fix at any time of the day although the casinos in the city are best explored after dark.
When it comes to more family-friendly pursuits that one can enjoy with kids of all ages in tow, Colombo's Galle Face Green appears to cater to nearly every reveller's requirement. Lined with ice cream vans and street food vendors, the Galle Face Green converts from a city jogging hub to a recreational hotspot for the masses after sundown thanks to the countless vendors that flock to the green lawns of this oceanfront park. In addition to flying kites and soaking up the seaside atmosphere, tourists can enjoy classic Sri Lankan street grub such as "Isso Wadey" and cotton candy for a few rupees.
Colombo is home to more cinemas than any other city on the island, and late-night screenings and special theatres with plush facilities mean that cinephiles have somewhere to go at the end of the day. Some of the best movie theatres in Colombo are found at the Colombo City Centre, One Galle Face and Majestic City where cineplexes screening Hollywood, Bollywood, Tamil and Sinhalese films can be found. The Empire Theatre at the Colombo Arcade is for those who prefer private screenings as the 16-seater theatres of this cinema boast La-Z-Boy chairs and other perks.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
