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The 10 Best Cafes In Colombo, Sri Lanka

Barefoot Garden Café
Barefoot Garden Café | © Courtesy of Barefoot Garden Café

After a hot day walking around Colombo, take a break from its bustling streets and sit back with a steaming cup of coffee. Whether you are looking for a cozy atmosphere, delicious pastries or simply a quality caffeine fix, here’s our guide to the best of Colombo’s cafes.

Cup Cafe

Cup Cafe

The charming Cup Cafe is one of Colombo’s best kept secrets, situated across from the bustling Odel shopping center. They offer a variety of sweet treats, cakes and international dishes such as burgers to go along with your choice of hot beverages.

Address: 6 CWW Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7, Colombo 000700, Sri Lanka, +94 11 2 690906

Barefoot Garden Cafe

There’s hardly a more scenic spot to enjoy a cool drink or a warm coffee than Barefoot Garden Cafe, an oasis of calm in the middle of the busy city. The romantic cafe, surrounded by lush greenery, exudes a tranquil atmosphere and has a laid-back feel to it with its open constructions and simple decorations. The cafe serves a variety of hot and cold beverages and offers an extensive food menu featuring delights such as sandwiches, falafels, curries, pastas and desserts. The space also functions as an art gallery where visitors can marvel at the works of local artists. Take a seat in the garden patio and enjoy the warm breezes with a cup of quality coffee.
Address: 704 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo, Sri Lanka, +94 11 2 589305

Barefoot Garden Café

Choco Luv

Serving all things chocolate, Choco Luv is best known for its signature milkshakes but also serves caffeinated beverages and teas. This cafe and chocolate shop is a true paradise for lovers of sweet delights and stocks many international brands such as Nutella, Kinder Chocolate or Ferrero Roche, which are difficult to find in the Sri Lankan capital. Soft yellow lights and comfortable leather sofas create a cozy atmosphere in which visitors can enjoy the extraordinary milkshake combinations or take their pick from the menu which features international and local dishes, from sandwiches to burgers, steaks, Nasi Goreng and kothu.

Address: No 16, Flower Road, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka, +94 112301140

Choco Luv

Stirred Cafe

Stirred Cafe is located on The Cinnamon Red rooftop and serves quality beverages as well as offering marvelous views over the city. The stylish space features minimalist decor with red and green accents. The cafe is open 24 hours a day and serves up a variety of tasty burgers, wraps and other delicious dishes. For those with a sweet tooth there are also numerous cakes and sweet bites on offer. Apart from flavorsome teas and good coffee, visitors can also opt for international wines and beers. Stirred Cafe is also a great spot to watch the sunset.

Address: 117, Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka, +94 – 11 – 2306600

Coco Veranda

Coco Veranda remains one of Colombo’s most popular coffee shops and serves gourmet coffee of the highest quality. Its Filicori beans are imported all the way from Bologna and the drinks menu offers an extensive selection of beverages. The food menu consists of a range of snacks and main meals. Located at Ward Place, Coco Veranda’s space oozes comfort.
Address: 32 Ward Place, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka, +94 11 7 635635

Coco Veranda

T Republic

Located in the dazzling Casa Colombo boutique hotel, T Republic is an outdoor café which offers a refuge from the heat and the hustle and bustle of Colombo. With a setting dominated by the Moorish mansion, towering trees and a pond, here visitors can lean back in comfortable antique couches and chairs and enjoy a wide selection of premium teas and coffees. The café also features a marvelous tapas menu which is best enjoyed during the happy hour, offering a buy-one-get-one-free option. You can let the day turn into night while relaxing in the shade of the lush greenery and switch from coffee to a glass of champagne or sparkling wine and marvel at the hanging fairy lights, which are lit as soon as the sun has set. T Republic, with its magical atmosphere, is one of the most unique hangout spots in the city.
Address: 231 Galle Road, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4, Sri Lanka, +94 11 4 520130

Photo courtesy of T Republic

Lattice

If you are looking for a combination of comfort and elegance make your way to Lattice, the cafe set in the Taj Samudra Hotel. Beautifully carved lattice screens sit alongside luxurious chandeliers, date palms and comfortable sofas, creating an authentic atmosphere which incorporates elements of Sri Lankan culture and tradition. Visitors can stop by any time of the day, but the English High Tea in the afternoon is particularly noteworthy, providing a wonderful opportunity to try the country’s premium leaves. In order to retain its intimate ambiance, the hotel restricts the venue’s capacity to 42 guests at a time.
Address: 25, Galle Face Center Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka

Simply Strawberries

Simply Strawberries operates two outlets in the Sri Lankan capital and serves up some of the most marvelous desserts and sweet treats in the city. Visitors can take their pick from brownies, scones, ice cream and other options, all of which are served with heaps of delicious strawberries.
Address: Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka, +94 11 3 288663

Simply Strawberries

Whight & Co

This hip cafe has brought a breath of fresh air to Colombo’s coffee scene. The trendy Whight & Co cafe serves some of the best coffee in the city alongside tasty dishes such as herbed prawns and juicy burgers. The selective menu includes both national and international options. Visitors can retreat to the upstairs lounge or mingle with the lively crowds on the ground floor.

Address: Marine Drive and Aloe Avenue , Colombo 3, Sri Lanka, +94 11 438 3236

The Commons Coffee House

The Commons Coffee House is frequently described as the city’s coziest and most popular hangout spot. The menu caters to a variety of tastes offering vegetarian options, breakfast meals, and a selection of mains and desserts. Aside from crepes, salads, wraps and waffles, visitors can sample kottu rotti, spring hoppers, seafood dishes or other nibbles.

Address: 39A, Flower Road, Colombo CO 800, Sri Lanka, +94 11 2 694435

About the author

Lena was born in rural Germany and showed a passion for philosophy and linguistics from an early age. Her journeys would lead her from being a trainee in a Greek diving centre to an English teacher in Thailand, to finally becoming a student of politics and languages at Royal Holloway. In recent years Lena has focused on developing her personal and academic skills through her very own Ted Talk and internships in journalism and TV presenting. Lena's multiple talents and curious personality have led her to seek out ever new challenges and travels, not setting herself any limits.

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