For Aaliyah Mansoor, baking is both art and memory. It began with the fascination of watching her aunt frost a cake, and grew into a passion that now defines her days. With her signature chocolate ganache, her grandmother’s wisdom that “you first eat with your eyes,” and a community that cheered her on through burnt edges and late nights, Aaliyah has built Cuppacreme into more than a home-based bakery; it’s a canvas of flavour and feeling, layere
Over the years, Mama’s Brownies has been known for creating simple ingredients into unforgettable indulgences. It’s a place where little moments turn into sweet memories. Now, as they open the doors to their newest outlet in Nugegoda, Mama’s Brownie is ready to take their loyal fans and new visitors on a delightful flavour journey like never before.
The wafer paper was delicate, almost too delicate. One wrong brushstroke and it would tear, crumple, or worse, disintegrate into sugar dust. But night after night, surrounded by bowls of cornflour and with edible glue on her fingers, Chammarie Daniel wasn’t baking. She was designing.
The siblings behind The Chinwag bring together their latest venture - Natter & Nosh, a fusion cuisine restaurant set right along Gregory’s Road in Colombo 7. The name itself is a playful nod to British slang and captures exactly what the space intends to be: “Natter” for an informal chat and “Nosh” for food. Natter & Nosh - an easy, informal hangout where good food meets good company.
Yoroko is Cinnamon Life’s Japanese offering, but not in the usual bento-box and bamboo-panel sense; this is Japanese-inspired through the Nobu lens; fresh, precise and just exotic enough to justify the bill. If you are shelling out big money for sushi in a city already crowded with Japanese restaurants of varying ambition, Yoroko makes a convincing case for what high-end Japanese dining should stand for.
The right café can make all the difference when you’re trying to be productive. Luckily, Colombo has plenty of options with reliable Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and, of course, excellent coffee. Here are some work-friendly cafés that are worth checking out.
The Fort Cafe by Tasty Caterers, located at No. 54 Australia Building, York Street, Colombo 1 is the newest addition to the city’s vibrant food scene. Tucked away in the heart of Colombo Fort, this serene cafe offers a refreshing experience that blends timeless charm with everyday comfort.
Cinnamon Life’s bistro leans into lighter lunches, comfort dishes, and less decision fatigue. For a while, Bistro Des Marées felt like the kind of place you only went to for a long lunch, where the food was great, but the formality made it feel like an occasion. It was smart, polished, and just a little too heavy if you were looking for something quick and satisfying in the middle of the day. This new menu changes that.
Gourmet Galle, the island’s signature food festival, is set to return from 26 January to 1 February 2026 with a fresh and immersive format. Against the stunning backdrop of Sri Lanka’s southern coast, this week-long celebration promises to bring together visionary chefs, carefully crafted menus, and indulgent experiences that honour the country’s rich culinary heritage.
I never considered myself a big fan of desserts. I couldn’t care less where we went for sweets and always went along with whatever spot others picked. But these 5 places flipped a switch. Now I’m dragging friends to these specific dessert spots because they made me fall in love with sweets. Here are my top picks for desserts in Colombo. (All of these dessert preferences I’ve listed below are subjective. Just a list based on personal experiences.)
Colombo is filled with eateries, cafes, street food and star-class restaurants of mouth-watering cuisine. One among the latest entry of South Indian franchises of repute is the Erode Amman Mess (EAM), situated at Galle Road, Bambalapitiya.
For the longest time, to me, BBQ was just marinated, grilled meat with some salad on the side at a cousin’s birthday. Don’t get me wrong, those BBQ meals were amazing. But I didn’t know what BBQ was supposed to taste like until I tried real BBQ. Now I judge every BBQ place I try out based on two things: 1) Does it make me involuntarily close my eyes on first bite? 2) Would I order just for myself instead of sharing? The answer is yes and yes for
How do our food experts cook and eat? This week, Shehana – the founder of Curry O’ Clock, bringing Sri Lankan flavours to the Netherlands, takes our Q&A!
Chocoholics was founded with the aim of introducing world-class chocolate to Sri Lanka. With four different outlets, premium Belgian chocolate is now within reach for anyone in the country. Amidst the bustling street of Duplication Road lies one of their largest branches. Here, we were greeted and served by friendly and hardworking staff.
I didn’t choose the brunch life. The brunch life chose me. But there was a time when I used to stress about picking a good brunch spot to eat. Those days are over. After countless mediocre meals and a few truly transcendent ones, I’ve cracked the code. These are the places that never let me down, the five spots I return to when I want to guarantee good food and good vibes.
How do our food experts cook & eat? This week, chef Sudeera – the man behind the famous Lost Flavours of Ceylon series, takes our Q&A!
Let me start by saying this ‘I’m not a food critic’, just someone who really, really loves dumplings. After years of spontaneous dumpling hunting, I’ve formed some strong, very personal opinions on where to find the best ones. Taste is subjective, of course. But if you’re craving delicious dumplings, maybe you can start with these. Here are my totally biased, completely unsponsored top five picks.
Aqua Pazza may be relatively new to Colombo’s restaurant scene, but it walks in with the quiet confidence of a place that knows exactly who it is. The interiors are sleek and sculptural, with warm lighting, curved European furniture, and tableware so chic I found myself running my fingers along the bread basket. It’s modern, yes, but never sterile. The kind of space where you want to linger, preferably with good company and a lot of food. Fun fac
Behind the viral TikToks, the smoky jungle grills, and the clay pots bubbling with spice, there’s a young man who’s not just cooking—he’s storytelling. He’s wild, yes—but also wonderfully grounded, ridiculously humble, and very much a family guy. And maybe that’sthe real secret ingredient behind the brilliance of his food.
In 2020, while the world was locked down, one Sri Lankan IT professional discovered an unexpected passion—decorated cookies. What started as a lockdown experiment became Tutu’s Kookies, a brilliant cookie business blending art, flavour, and serious tech-like precision. We sat down with the founder to chat about his unexpected and delicious career pivot.
As the iconic London Grill at Cinnamon Grand Colombo marks its golden jubilee, it isn’t just a celebration of five decades of fine dining—it’s the beginning of an exciting new era. Kicking off the 50-year milestone in true style is internationally acclaimed chef Phillip Davenport, known for his bold fusion of global flavours and precision-led technique.
If you have settled into knowing The Chinwag as one of Colombo’s best hole-in-the-wall joints for juicy, flavour-packed dumplings (I’m thinking of you, Thai-style creamy curried prawn dumplings), they have surprised their customers by leaning into the Sri Lankan fusion side of their menu with an All-You-Can-Eat Curry Night.
As a travel consultant of 10 years, Naura Aufer has journeyed across the world, but there’s something about Turkey that always draws her back- the warm Turkish hospitality, the blend of the East and West, the history and culture and of course, the utterly delightful Turkish cuisine.
How do our food experts cook and eat? This week, food blogger of @synamonstick, Sarangi, takes our Q&A!
Celebrated chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa brings his world-renowned Ministry of Crab to Melbourne, marking its 10th international location. The journey began with a pop-up at Crown Melbourne, which sparked a deeper collaboration with local Sri Lankan restaurateurs Harsha Kumarasingha and Jayantha Warnakula. That union led to something far more permanent: a vibrant new home on Flinders Lane. Set among Melbourne’s most exciting culinary addres
Sri Lanka’s highest restaurant, Blue Orbit offers diners a sky-high, one-of-a-kind dining experience at an elevation of 750 feet above ground. The first and only revolving restaurant in the country, Blue Orbit is located at the 26th floor of the Lotus Tower – the tallest structure in South Asia.
Barbeque Nation, one of Asia’s most celebrated and pioneering casual dining chains, officially made its Sri Lankan debut with the opening of its first-ever outlet at Level 2 of Colombo City Centre. Making Sri Lanka the fifth country outside of India in its expansive range of 200 plus outlets in India, UAE, Malaysia and Oman, the launch had former Sri Lankan Skipper Aravinda de Silva as chief guest. This launch marks a significant milestone in th
Tucked inside the historic Dutch Hospital, Ceylon Curry Club has become one of Colombo’s go-to restaurants for Sri Lankan cuisine with a refined, contemporary twist. A member of the Citrus Group, the restaurant first opened its doors back in 2021 and is known for their ability to bring local flavours and traditional cooking styles to the table with a modern take. More recently, the restaurant made headlines for being invited (for the second time,
At just 21 years old, Nitara Fernando has already carved a niche in Colombo’s bustling café scene with The Daily Bread by Nitara, a cosy spot on 5th Lane known for its heartwarming comfort food. What began as a humble online venture during the pandemic in 2020 has blossomed into a thriving café, where signature dishes like her family’s beloved beef lasagna and decadent double chocolate brownies keep customers coming back for more.
Some chefs train in culinary schools. Others learn through years of apprenticeships in professional kitchens. And then there are those, like Mansa, who absorb the craft by simply watching, by standing at the elbow of someone who knows food in a way that can’t be taught.
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