Are you looking for a café to chill after a tiring session of shopping? Are you looking to curb your dessert cravings? Do you want something to snack on but do not want to visit a restaurant? Don’t worry because the cafes in Sri Lanka have got you covered!

Not only do cafes offer a wide variety of great food, but they also do not burn a hole in your pocket, unlike some restaurants. The reason I choose cafes over restaurants is that I don’t need to spend a lot of time here. All I do is wait for a couple of minutes for food, have it and then get back to exploring places without wasting a lot of time.

During my solo trip to Sri Lanka, I visited a lot of cafes. And in this blog, I would like to tell you about some of the most stunning cafes that you must visit on your solo trip to Sri Lanka too.

1. Black Cat Café

This is hands down one of my most favourite cafes in Sri Lanka. It has a homey atmosphere, which is the reason for its popularity. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating with relaxing music in the background. Talking about food, they offer a variety of pasta, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and tea. A meal will cost you no more than $3, so visiting Black Cat Café is one of your best options if you are on a tight budget.

Address: 11 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 00700

Timings: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day

2. Barefoot

Sri Lanka is known for its history, and so is Barefoot. Established in 1964 by the famous artist Barbara Sansoni, this is a beautiful café with a garden. Even though the café is local, you can find a great variety in the dishes they serve. Not only does the food taste amazing, but it also looks fantastic. So, get ready to take your camera out and click a few pictures! The best part is that there is also an art gallery, good music, and a bookstore! And don’t be surprised because a meal would cost you roughly $6, which is totally worth it!

Address: 704 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo 00300

Timings: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

3. Café Kumbuk

Café Kumbuk was an ancient colonial house until someone decided to turn it into a stylish café. It is a minimalistic place with wooden furniture and simple decorations. Furthermore, it offers both indoor and outdoor seating, which is excellent. And it almost feels like a surprise whenever I visit Café Kumbuk. This is because the menu seasonally changes as they use only organic and locally grown items. A meal costs less than $6, and you get to do your bit to save the environment as you won’t be eating any processed food here.

Address: 3/1 Thambiah Avenue, Independence Ave, Colombo 00700

Timings: Tuesday-Sunday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

4. Dumplings Café

This place in Galle is heaven for all momo, bao buns, and dumplings lovers. It offers a variety of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan dumplings. The staff is friendly and very welcoming, which also adds to the positive vibe of the place. And don’t forget to order a cup of coffee with a plate of dumplings because they just go incredibly well together!

Address: 58 Pedlar Street, Galle 80000

Timings: Weekdays: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Weekends: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

5. Stirred Café

Located on the top floor of the Cinnamon Red hotel, it provides some of the best views of the capital city. Not only that, but it is also famous for serving some of the best quality food. Wait, that’s not all. It is open 24 hours a day, so you can step in and enjoy top-quality food at any hour of the day. Be it coffee, wraps, desserts, or even beer and wine – they have it all. You would also be surprised to know that an average meal costs only $5, making it a must-try.

Address: 59 Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 00700

Timings: Open all day, every day!

6. Kiku Colombo

This café is a simple one and has Japanese-inspired meals and interiors. If you love a minimalistic interior design and Japanese food, you’ll love Kiku Colombo. In addition, they offer all kinds of coffee and beverages that you can ever think of, be it piccolo coffee, flat white coffee, or other caffeine-free drinks. On the other hand, their food menu isn’t that extensive, and a meal costs around $10, which might be on the higher side.

Address: Layards Road, Colombo 00500

Timings: Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM; Sunday: 12 noon to 4:30 PM

7. Café 64

Located inside the Galadari Hotel, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful cafes in the capital city of Sri Lanka. It provides an open-air seating area and is the best place to curb your sugary cravings. You can also choose from sandwiches, fresh juices, and chilled beer. But ice creams, pastries, and handmade chocolates are the USPs of the café. All it costs is $3 to be satisfied at this café, which is the icing on the cake!

Address: 64 Lotus Road, Colombo 00100

Timings: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day

8. Coco Veranda

Sri Lanka is known for its tea production. But what if you are a coffee lover? In that case, Coco Veranda is the place to be at! It serves some of the best cups of coffee in the country. You will be spoilt for choices once you look at their extensive menu. I also tried out the sandwiches and burgers here with coffee, and I just loved them! The wooden interior, comfortable indoor and outdoor cushion seating add to the soothing vibe of the place.

Address: 32 Ward Place, Colombo 00700

Timings: 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM every day, except on Fridays (closes at 10:00 PM on Fridays)

9. Royal Dutch Café

This is one of the most famous cafes in Galle, and I visited here quite often on my solo trip to Sri Lanka. The views of the Galle Fort from the cafe are stunning! However, you might have to wait for a little while for your food due to its popularity. But, do try out their sandwiches and milkshakes. You’ll thank me later!

Address: 72 Leyn Baan Street, Galle 80000

Timings: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day, except on Fridays (opens at 1:00 PM on Fridays)

10. Cloud Café

Located on top of the Colombo Court & Spa Hotel, the Cloud Cafe has gained popularity due to its chill vibe. The pleasing interiors make this the perfect getaway from the hustle-bustle of the capital city. Add to that the music events and movie nights, you can indeed have a great time here. Don’t forget to try out their mouth-watering chicken salads and pizzas.

Address: Hotel & Spa, Colombo Court, 32 Alfred House Ave, Colombo 00300

Timings: Tuesday-Saturday: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM (closed on Sundays and Mondays)

11. Simply Strawberries

Simply Strawberries are heaven for all the sweet tooths out there. It has gained popularity amongst the locals in recent times as it serves some of the tastiest desserts in Colombo. Also, the cosy atmosphere and the stylish décor ensure that you enjoy your favourite desserts to the fullest. “So why is it named after strawberries?” you may ask. Because whatever you have here, you get some complimentary strawberries!

Address: 2 Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 00300

Timings: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day

12. Kopi Kade

If you want to have the best cup of coffee in Colombo, look no further than Kopi Kade. It literally translates to “coffee shop” from Tamil and Sinhalese. It is also one of those hidden places that you must check out on your solo trip. And it is my go-to place in Colombo whenever I want to have a cup of coffee. It flaunts minimalistic décor and has a variety of coffee machines. You must try out their chicken wings with a cup of coffee, all for less than $3! 

Address: 15/3 Stratford Avenue, Colombo 00006

Timings: Wednesday-Thursday: 12:00 noon to 8:00 PM; Friday-Sunday: 12:00 noon to 9:00 PM (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)

13. The Heritage Café & Bistro

The Heritage Café & Bistro is easily one of the busiest cafes in Galle. The artistic interior and pocket-friendly meals are the reason for its popularity. It is also the perfect example of great art blending with tasty food. I visited the café often due to its cheap and delicious meals. They serve a wide variety of cuisines, so you won’t get bored of eating the same thing over and over again. Don’t forget to try out their lip-smacking pasta and seafood!

Address: 53 Lighthouse Street, Galle 80000

Timings: 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM every day

14. The Blue Swan

Considered to be one of Colombo’s cozy cafes, the Blue Swan is a great place to have some me-time, away from the hustle-bustle of city life. They also offer comfortable seating spaces with minimalistic décor that gives this place a homely vibe. And it just costs $4 to satiate your tummy with milkshakes and flavoursome toasts!

Address: 12 Greenlands Avenue, Colombo 00500

Timings: Weekdays: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM (closed on weekends)

15. Café Enviro

This is the most famous café in Negombo and for good reasons. They offer a wide variety of cuisines, all of which are made with love and fresh ingredients. Be it the fresh juices, pancakes, or burgers – these were some of the tastiest and freshest I had eaten in a while! This makes it easier to take care of our health on solo trips too. The cafe has a good vibe, and you may well end up having a conversation with other travellers visiting the area.

Address: 277 Lewis Place, Negombo 11500

Timings: Monday-Saturday: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Sunday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

16. The Whizz

If you had a lousy day exploring places in Kandy, which is rare, head to the Whizz to make up for the loss. Many people visit the café to enjoy the breathtaking sunset and also the views of the busy city life. It offers a wide variety of cuisines, but fast food stands out. You won’t be disappointed if you are a vegan either, because they offer many vegan options too. A typical meal costs around $4, and I must say, it’s damn cheap!

Address: 155 SWRD Bandaranayake Road, Kandy 20000

Timings: Tuesday-Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (closed on Mondays)

17. Butter Boutique

For all your cake and pastry cravings, Butter Boutique is a great place to be at. It is the perfect place to stop and have a bite in the middle of your exploration of Colombo. A cup of coffee with a pastry here is heaven! Be it red velvet, chocolate, carrot cake, apple pie – they make it all here. They also have many milk alternatives to make coffee for vegans, which is excellent. So do not forget to have a bite here at least once.

Address: 70 Rosmead Place, Colombo 00700

Timings: Sunday-Thursday: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Friday-Saturday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM

18. Tea Avenue

Tea Avenue is arguably the most famous tea place in Colombo. It has three branches across the capital city, and I visited the one on Jawatta Road. While there are many beverages available here, the star of the show is tea, as the name suggests. I totally fell in love with it. It was just flawless! They also offer a variety of pasta, sandwiches, soups, salads, and other snacks. A meal can cost you around $8, but it is well worth that price.

Address: 08 Jawatta Road, Colombo 00500

Timings: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day

19. Café Nuga

Café Nuga sits right in between a café and a restaurant. You get to enjoy a good quantity of food without spending a lot of money. Combine that with organic and fresh food, and you are in for a treat! I tried out one of their rice bowls and a smoothie. All of it was great, and I had no complaints. If you are also a health-conscious person, do check out this café.

Address: 52 Rosmead Place, Colombo 00700

Timings: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day

20. Pages & Coffee

This is one of the most colourful cafes that you will ever come across in your life – colourful streamers outside, wooden tables, artwork, and walls lined up with hundreds of books. Not only is this place great for a cup of coffee, but also to get lost in a book. They offer a basic range of coffee, all of which taste amazing. You can also have sandwiches, salads, or soups along with a cup of coffee. In addition to that, you can get some work done here as they have great tables and free Wi-Fi, which is incredibly fast.

Address: 78A Stratford Avenue, Colombo 00600

Timings: Tuesday-Friday: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Weekends: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (closed on Mondays)

Which ones are you planning to check out on your solo trip?

Phew! That was a long list of cafes. I know that you cannot check out all of these on your solo trip to Sri Lanka. But shortlist the ones that you like and the ones that are convenient for you to visit. Make sure that you save this blog so you can refer to it in the future. That is what I did on my solo trip to Sri Lanka! And to be very honest, I didn’t dislike anything and had a great experience overall. Also, don’t forget to click some pictures for Instagram as most of these cafes are very picturesque! Bon appetit, ladies! May your solo trip to Sri Lanka be as amazing as you!