9 of the best · Sri Lanka
Cafés and Tea Rooms in Sri Lanka
Speciality coffee in Colombo, cafés in Galle Fort and tea in the hills.
Our 9 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in Sri Lanka
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Sri Lanka.
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Freshly roasted
London House of Coffee
A coffee house on Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7, roasting its coffee fresh, with a sister café in England.
2B Gregory’s Road (R. G. Senanayake Mawatha), Colombo 7Explore View on map
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A tea menu in the Fort
The t-Lounge by Dilmah
Dilmah’s tea lounge on Chatham Street, with a long list of Ceylon teas, tea cocktails and snacks.
Chatham Street 62/2, Colombo 1Explore View on map
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Fort café
Pedlar’s Inn Café
A popular café on Pedlar Street in Galle Fort, with a gelato shop a few doors away.
92 Pedlar Street, Galle FortExplore View on map
The full list: Cafés, A–Z
Colombo 5
Roasters, garden cafés and a tea lounge.
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In the Barefoot courtyard
Barefoot Garden Café
The courtyard café behind the Barefoot shop, with a gallery and the bookshop alongside.
Barefoot, Galle Road, Colombo 3Explore View on map
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Coffee and cake in Colombo 7
Black Cat
A café and guesthouse on Wijerama Mawatha in Cinnamon Gardens, known for coffee and baking.
Wijerama Mawatha 11, Colombo 7Explore View on map
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Garden café
Café Kumbuk
A café in a leafy house off Independence Avenue, with fresh breakfasts, lunches and good coffee.
3/1 Thambiah Avenue, Colombo 7Explore View on map
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Freshly roasted
London House of Coffee
A coffee house on Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7, roasting its coffee fresh, with a sister café in England.
2B Gregory’s Road (R. G. Senanayake Mawatha), Colombo 7Explore View on map
-
A tea menu in the Fort
The t-Lounge by Dilmah
Dilmah’s tea lounge on Chatham Street, with a long list of Ceylon teas, tea cocktails and snacks.
Chatham Street 62/2, Colombo 1Explore View on map
Galle and the south 2
Inside the fort and along the coast.
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Fort café
Pedlar’s Inn Café
A popular café on Pedlar Street in Galle Fort, with a gelato shop a few doors away.
92 Pedlar Street, Galle FortExplore View on map
The hills 2
Kandy and Ella.
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Ella institution
Café Chill
A big, friendly roadside café and restaurant on Ella’s main street, for rice and curry, kottu and drinks.
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By the temple
The Empire Café
A café near the Temple of the Tooth, popular with travellers for rice and curry and coffee.
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