I didn’t believe it when people told me that Sri Lankan food was their favourite cuisine. But I swear, I have never tasted food like it- the curries, roti, hoppers, pancakes, fruit. Honestly, it is the best food I have ever eaten. We ate a mix of western and Sri Lankan food and have noted our favourites below (in no particular order).

Sunny Side Up Hikkaduwa

A great little brunch spot in Hikkaduwa. Lots of delicious smoothie bowls, matcha and vegan dishes.

Cafe Nella Giungla

Nella Giungla is a great coffee and brunch spot for when you are in Hikkaduwa. It is a very relxed vibe with lovely breakfast.

Marshmellow Cafe Ahangama

This cafe is so gorgeous I wish we could have spent more time here just chilling out. The cafe has delicious food but the beach views are definitely what makes this place amazing. They have beanbags lining the balcony which also has steps down to the beach.

ShantiShanti Talpe

ShantiShanti is definitely a popular spot, however since we visited during off-season we had the place to ourselves. We had amazing food and with the restaurant located on the beach, watching the sun set over the ocean was a highlight. We had a pizza and chicken curry and both were amazing! It is also the home of Rasta Rope Swing.

The Cliff Weligama

The Cliff is a must for a special occasion or to treat yourself. They offer nice cocktails and the food is unreal! Make sure you book in advance on their website. You can choose to sit in their garden or on the cliffside. We chose cliffside which I’m sure would have been amazing if it wasn’t so windy.

Nomad Cafe Weligama

This place is so underrated! We stopped in for a quick coffee and left after eating gyozas, summer rolls, cheesecake a croissant plus the coffees. There is plenty of space and there were a lot of people working on laptops in there. Fantastic coffee too!

Shady Lane Mirissa

I think Shady Lane and Sunny Side Up are owned by the same people. Which means the food was stunning! Smoothie bowl and chia pudding heaven!

Dhana’s Curry Pot

A lovely taste of traditional cuisine. Dhana’s Curry Pot is a curry buffet with a huge range of dishes to choose from! Very fairly priced too and would highly recommend during your stay in Mirissa.

Maco Mirissa

Honestly, Sri Lanka just knows how to do breakfast. Sit upstairs looking onto the main street and watch the world go by.

Smoke & Bitters

Smoke & Bitters was definitely our favourite cocktail or “nice” spot. A little pricey compared to other places but definitely worth it! The cocktails were amazing and the food even better! Make sure you book in advance as it is a very popular spot.

Taboo Hiriketiya

Taboo was so good that we went back twice! We had dinner and brunch here and both were delicious. As it was off-season, there was only one other table at dinner, but the vibes and music were still immaculate. And shoutout for the great coffee too.

La Luna Hiriketiya

La Luna was a favourite of ours in Hiriketiya (okay we loved everywhere in Hiriketiya). Tip: nutella milkshake is the bomb! We ate here three times for brunch. It seemed quite busy for dinner when we passed and the Italian menu sounded delicious.

La Playa Hiriketiya

La Playa Hiriketiya is a great beach club and restaurant for a day of relaxing. The day beds fill up pretty quickly so make sure you get there early. During off-season, they didn’t have a minimum spend which was great. Pizzas were great!

Hiriketiya Sea Food Restaurant

Okay hear me out, come here for the chicken curry. It was hands-down the best chicken curry we had in all of Sri Lanka! We visited on our last night in Hiriketiya and wish we had found it sooner. The family that own the restaurant are super friendly and welcoming. You need to eat here when you visit Hiriketiya.

Dots Bay Hiriketiya

Dots Bay is a cute restaurant, bar, hostel and pool tucked away off the main road. It is colourful, welcoming and the staff were super friendly!

Malu Poke Hiriketiya

Malu Poke is a great spot for a midday snack. We had super fresh and delicious Poke Bowls, washed down with cold coconuts.

The White Rabbit, Ella

The White Rabbit was another one of our favourite spots in Sri Lanka. It is a twist on traditional Sri Lankan food and they do it right! Reasonably priced and I would recommend their chicken curry or prawn pasta – both 10/10.

Sleek Spoon Restaurant Ella

Sleek Spoon is a tiny restaurant in Ella. It has a sign in the window made of cardboard, and sits about 10 people in total. A very authentic experience and so delicious that I ordered a second main course.

Soul Food Sigiriya

Soul Food is a delicious vegan restaurant with spectacular views looking for Lion Rock.