by Anitra Perera
On the 23rd floor of Cinnamon Life, Colombo lies a culinary gem – Indiya. This is a word that translates to “India glorious” and we’ll take you with us to show how it is exactly that. This restaurant prides itself in providing an authentic luxurious Indian culinary experience to its guests.
Through the iconic vibrant blue and orange doors, you enter into a world of Indian heritage. With its colourful patterned walls, warm lighting, oriental rugs, sculpted arches and detailed traditional furniture, you’d almost think you’ve hopped on a flight to India!
Chef Bhairav Singh – the restaurant’s specialty chef – took time to explain a carefully thought out menu that spanned over 15 states in India. Each dish is meticulously created from simple ingredients to tell a story, all of which truly captures an overall idea of India by taking the best flavours of each region.
Beverages
There were two non-alcoholic beverages up for grabs. We tried them both!
Keshaya was a refreshing iced masala tea with hints of pomegranate, soursop and lemon grass while the Papaya Lassi was an unusual combo but a delight.
Apart from these, there is a vast selection of alcohols and hot teas to choose from.
Keshaya – Rs 1200
Indiya House Lassi – Rs 1300
Starters
We were presented with six works of art.
The Aloo tikki chaat was an interesting twist on the beloved classic chaat. The yoghurt and sweet and sour chutneys paired well with the crispy potato patties. We also had paneer stuffed with chickpea which was wrapped in a banana leaf, making it a fun surprise. The Mutton was good but isn’t something we’d run back for. Another fascinating dish was the stuffed capsicum filled with dessert beans. But the winners out of the lot were the juicy NH48 Chicken Tikka with a perfectly spiced marinade and the Sarson Macchi Tikka – a mustard and chilli fish dish.
NH48 Chicken Tikka – Rs.3800
Jodhpuri Sangri Mirchiya – Rs.3800
Sarson Macchi Tikka – Rs.4200
Paneer Lifafa – Rs.3800
Aloo Tikki Chaat – Rs.2200
Mutton Seekh Kebab – Rs.4200
Mains
What really stood out was the Mutton Dum Biriyani. The waitress cut open its flatbread casing to reveal the colourful saffron-infused biriyani inside. It tasted as good as it looked and was a visual feast to our eyes. Another notable standout was the crispy fried okra with tomato sauce. They had excelled!
The Butter Chicken could have used a bit more depth in flavor. However it coupled with the assortment of naan, parata and roti? Heaven! The dhal was a good side dish but not something to brag about.
Kurkuri Bhindi – Rs. 2800
Dum Mutton Biriyani – Rs. 5800
Dal Makhani Rs. 2800
Naans, Parata and Roti – Rs. 750 upwards
Singh Sahab’s Butter Chicken Rs. 4200
Dessert
This round was a fan-favourite at the table.
The Kaju Katli – a sweet cashew paste molded into a dome shape was a tasty play on the famous Indian sweet. The Lancha Jamun dumplings were sinfully sweet, however we would’ve loved it if ice cream was served as an accompaniment. The star of the show was the warm carrot Halwa pudding topped with vanilla ice-cream and pistachio. This was the perfect balance of hot and cold that left our taste buds dancing.
Lancha Jamun – Rs. 1700
Kaju Katli – Rs. 1700
Gajar Halwa – Rs. 1500
Ice Cream Scoop – Rs. 700
Staff Service
Our server was a 10/10 and took care of us extremely well. From gracing us with hot towels upon arrival to offering us cold scented wet wipes when leaving, she made sure that we were treated like royalty.
The head chef and restaurant managers also checked in with us and asked for feedback occasionally.
Politeness and pleasantness were also notable attributes of all hotel staff.
Overall Theme
Two words: Authentically Indian. From the restaurant décor and the smells of spices to the staff attire and each & every bite, Indiya is all about taking you on a journey to India’s cultural roots.
While the food may require just a little bit of elevation of flavor to suit our Lankan taste buds, the presentation and authenticity of the food receive a 100/100 score from us.
This is definitely a restaurant to look out for on your next visit to Cinnamon Life. One for the books for sure!
Opening hours (Daily)
• Lunch – 12.00pm – 3.30pm
• Dinner – 6.30pm – 11pm
Pricing – Rs.25, 000 + for two with starters, desserts and drinks
Location – 23rd Floor – Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams
Address – 01 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200
How can I make a reservation?
1. Through this link:
On the 23rd floor of Cinnamon Life, Colombo lies a culinary gem – Indiya. This is a word that translates to “India glorious” and we’ll take you with us to show how it is exactly that. This restaurant prides itself in providing an authentic luxurious Indian culinary experience to its guests.
Through the iconic vibrant blue and orange doors, you enter into a world of Indian heritage. With its colourful patterned walls, warm lighting, oriental rugs, sculpted arches and detailed traditional furniture, you’d almost think you’ve hopped on a flight to India!
Chef Bhairav Singh – the restaurant’s specialty chef – took time to explain a carefully thought out menu that spanned over 15 states in India. Each dish is meticulously created from simple ingredients to tell a story, all of which truly captures an overall idea of India by taking the best flavours of each region.
Beverages
There were two non-alcoholic beverages up for grabs. We tried them both!
Keshaya was a refreshing iced masala tea with hints of pomegranate, soursop and lemon grass while the Papaya Lassi was an unusual combo but a delight.
Apart from these, there is a vast selection of alcohols and hot teas to choose from.
Keshaya – Rs 1200
Indiya House Lassi – Rs 1300
Starters
We were presented with six works of art.
The Aloo tikki chaat was an interesting twist on the beloved classic chaat. The yoghurt and sweet and sour chutneys paired well with the crispy potato patties. We also had paneer stuffed with chickpea which was wrapped in a banana leaf, making it a fun surprise. The Mutton was good but isn’t something we’d run back for. Another fascinating dish was the stuffed capsicum filled with dessert beans. But the winners out of the lot were the juicy NH48 Chicken Tikka with a perfectly spiced marinade and the Sarson Macchi Tikka – a mustard and chilli fish dish.
NH48 Chicken Tikka – Rs.3800
Jodhpuri Sangri Mirchiya – Rs.3800
Sarson Macchi Tikka – Rs.4200
Paneer Lifafa – Rs.3800
Aloo Tikki Chaat – Rs.2200
Mutton Seekh Kebab – Rs.4200
Mains
What really stood out was the Mutton Dum Biriyani. The waitress cut open its flatbread casing to reveal the colourful saffron-infused biriyani inside. It tasted as good as it looked and was a visual feast to our eyes. Another notable standout was the crispy fried okra with tomato sauce. They had excelled!
The Butter Chicken could have used a bit more depth in flavor. However it coupled with the assortment of naan, parata and roti? Heaven! The dhal was a good side dish but not something to brag about.
Kurkuri Bhindi – Rs. 2800
Dum Mutton Biriyani – Rs. 5800
Dal Makhani Rs. 2800
Naans, Parata and Roti – Rs. 750 upwards
Singh Sahab’s Butter Chicken Rs. 4200
Dessert
This round was a fan-favourite at the table.
The Kaju Katli – a sweet cashew paste molded into a dome shape was a tasty play on the famous Indian sweet. The Lancha Jamun dumplings were sinfully sweet, however we would’ve loved it if ice cream was served as an accompaniment. The star of the show was the warm carrot Halwa pudding topped with vanilla ice-cream and pistachio. This was the perfect balance of hot and cold that left our taste buds dancing.
Lancha Jamun – Rs. 1700
Kaju Katli – Rs. 1700
Gajar Halwa – Rs. 1500
Ice Cream Scoop – Rs. 700
Staff Service
Our server was a 10/10 and took care of us extremely well. From gracing us with hot towels upon arrival to offering us cold scented wet wipes when leaving, she made sure that we were treated like royalty.
The head chef and restaurant managers also checked in with us and asked for feedback occasionally.
Politeness and pleasantness were also notable attributes of all hotel staff.
Overall Theme
Two words: Authentically Indian. From the restaurant décor and the smells of spices to the staff attire and each & every bite, Indiya is all about taking you on a journey to India’s cultural roots.
While the food may require just a little bit of elevation of flavor to suit our Lankan taste buds, the presentation and authenticity of the food receive a 100/100 score from us.
This is definitely a restaurant to look out for on your next visit to Cinnamon Life. One for the books for sure!
Opening hours (Daily)
• Lunch – 12.00pm – 3.30pm
• Dinner – 6.30pm – 11pm
Pricing – Rs.25, 000 + for two with starters, desserts and drinks
Location – 23rd Floor – Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams
Address – 01 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200
How can I make a reservation?
1. You can make a reservation here
2. Call 0112 220 000’
View the Full Menu (with pricing) here.*
*(Prices mentioned are as at August 2025 and are subject to change)
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