Restaurants in Colombo
Where to eat in Colombo, Sri Lanka — the district's 18 top-rated restaurants, each rated 4 stars or higher on Google, from local rice and curry to sit-down dining.
Abid's Restaurant
Arabic, Mandi, BBQ
A Wellawatte institution for Arabic mandi, juicy grills and biryani, drawing huge crowds for its aromatic rice platters and live BBQ. One of Colombo's most-reviewed halal restaurants.
38 Alexandra Road, Marine Drive, Colombo 00600
Big Plate
Arabic, Indian, Chinese
A wildly popular halal restaurant off Marine Drive known for enormous sharing platters of Arabic, Indian and Chinese food. Its generous portions and late-night buzz have made it one of the most-reviewed eateries in the country.
No. 32, 8th Lane, Marine Drive, Colombo 00300
Adyar Ananda Bhavan (A2B)
South Indian, Vegetarian
The Colombo branch of India's famous pure-vegetarian chain, serving dosas, chaats, North and South Indian thalis and a dazzling sweets counter.
Street Burger
Burgers, Fast food
Born as a Marine Drive food truck, Street Burger grew into Colombo's favourite gourmet burger brand, stacking halal beef, chicken and veggie burgers with big portions and bold sauces.
Marine Drive, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 00400
The Manhattan Fish Market
Seafood
A halal-certified casual seafood chain on Deal Place famous for flaming prawns, fish and chips and giant sharing platters inspired by New York's Fulton Fish Market.
No. 31, Deal Place, Colombo 00300
Graze Kitchen
International buffet
Hilton Colombo's acclaimed all-day dining restaurant with seven live cooking theatres spanning Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Western cuisines — widely rated the best buffet in the city.
Hilton Colombo, 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 00200
Park Street Mews Restaurant
International, Fusion
A stylish warehouse-conversion restaurant on cobblestoned Park Street, serving comfort food, fusion plates and famous cocktails in one of Colombo's most atmospheric dining enclaves.
50/1 Park Street, Colombo 00200
Ministry of Crab
Seafood, Sri Lankan
Sri Lanka's most celebrated restaurant, set in the 400-year-old Old Dutch Hospital and co-founded by chef Dharshan Munidasa with cricket legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. A fixture on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list, famed for its export-grade lagoon crab in pepper and garlic chilli preparations.
Old Dutch Hospital, Colombo 00100
Tea Avenue - Jawatte
Tea house, Cafe
A stylish Colombo tea house pouring premium Ceylon teas, bubble teas and iced brews alongside waffles, cakes and light bites — a favourite afternoon hangout in Colombo 5.
Jawatte Road, Colombo 00500
Chinese Dragon Cafe
Chinese, Sri Lankan-Chinese
Colombo's oldest Chinese restaurant, feeding the city since 1942 with Sri Lankan-Chinese classics like hot butter cuttlefish and chicken fried rice. The Bambalapitiya flagship remains a nostalgic favourite.
11 Milagiriya Avenue, Colombo 00400
The Gallery Cafe
International, Sri Lankan
Paradise Road's flagship restaurant set in Geoffrey Bawa's former architectural office, pairing courtyard dining with contemporary international and Sri Lankan dishes. Famous for its black pork curry and decadent dessert menu.
No. 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 00300
Arabian Knights
Arabic, Shawarma
A long-running halal chain credited with popularising shawarma in Colombo, serving Arabic grills, wraps and platters late into the night.
Shanmugas
South Indian, Vegetarian
A beloved pure-vegetarian South Indian restaurant in Wellawatte serving dosas, thalis and short eats to generations of Colombo families. One of the city's best-rated meat-free dining rooms.
53/3 Ramakrishna Road, Colombo 00600
The Sizzle
Steakhouse, Grill
A long-established Colombo grill house famous for its sizzling-platter steaks, seafood sizzlers and pepper sauces, delivering theatre with every smoking plate.
Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant
South Indian, Biryani
The Sri Lankan outpost of the legendary Tamil Nadu biryani house established in 1957, serving its famous seeraga samba mutton and chicken biryanis to packed tables.
Aluthkade Streetfood
Sri Lankan street food
Colombo's legendary night-time street food quarter near Hulftsdorp, where stalls dish out kanji, sambol bread, grilled meats and egg hoppers into the early hours — a rite of passage for local food lovers.
Aluthkade, Colombo 01200
Sri Vihar Restaurant
South Indian, Vegetarian
A no-frills pure-vegetarian restaurant at Thummulla junction beloved for dosas, vadai, pooris and South Indian meals at honest prices — a Colombo vegetarian standby for decades.
Thummulla Junction, Colombo 00500
Upali's by Nawaloka
Sri Lankan
A Colombo institution opposite Viharamahadevi Park serving authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry, hoppers and kottu in air-conditioned comfort. A reliable first stop for travellers wanting traditional island cooking done well.
No. 65, C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 00700
Frequently asked questions
- Where should I eat in Colombo?
- Browse the 18 restaurants listed across Colombo District.
- Is there local food in Colombo?
- Yes — expect Sri Lankan rice and curry, hoppers, kottu and fresh seafood.