By Hiruni Herath
We’re always looking for the perfect spot that is a mix of aesthetics and amazing flavor profiles that will also look good on our instagram stories or our carefully curated feed. The beautiful aesthetics of a restaurant will definitely get us to visit them at least once but really, it’s the delicious and mouth watering food that will take us back again and again. So, here is a list of 7 instagrammable restaurants, some high end, some more affordable, that you can dine in August 2022 that have great style and good taste.
1. Central Cafe
The Central Cafe located in the Shangri La Hotel offers the perfect instagram background with their impressive floral decor that cascades from the ceiling. The plush light pink seats are the best counterpoint to the magentas, the purples, the pinks and the lavenders of the handcrafted and hand painted flowers. But it’s not just the flowery centerpiece that makes this place so instagrammable. The elegant touches to all the furniture and the tiniest of details makes going to the Central Cafe an unparalleled experience.
Of course, the food offered at the restaurant will also get your instagram app open as soon as you see it. The wide range of cuisine from the East to the West, including Sri Lanka’s very own cuisine, is sure to be a treat for your eyes and your tastebuds. Make sure not to skip out on all the buffet options available when you visit this beautiful restaurant.
Location – Level 3, 1 Galle Face, Colombo 2,
Opening hours – 11.00 am – 11.00 pm
Price range – LKR 6,500 – LKR 7,000
Visit their Website for more information
2. Giovanni’s
The atmosphere at Giovanni’s is totally different to the Central Cafe. While the Central Cafe is all about elegance and style, Giovanni’s is more about being homey and cozy. The small space of the restaurant definitely influences the cozy feeling and the checkered tablecloths, the exposed bricks as well as the abundance of plants creates the homey feeling. The outdoor seating is one of the best instagrammable experiences at the restaurant, especially when they have live music.
The food is also pretty instagrammable. A perfectly made delicious pizza placed on a wooden board against the backdrop of a checkered tablecloth or a dark wood stained table in just the right lighting is sure to make your feed more aesthetic. A Gnocchi Pesto is not something that everyone goes for so make sure you try it out and capture a unique snap.
Location – 145 Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo 05
Opening hours – Weekdays = 4.30 pm – 11.00 pm
Weekends = 11.00 am – 11.00 pm
Price range – LKR 1,500 – LKR 3,600
Visit them on Instagram and Facebook
3. The Gallery Cafe
Walking into the Gallery Cafe is an experience in itself. The minimal lighting, the quiet of the place despite being located centrally and the koi pond are very aesthetically pleasing and give off completely different vibes during the day and night. If you visit the Gallery Cafe during daytime, you can appreciate the aesthetics of the restaurant, from its rock tiled floors to the large mirrors. The combination of an art gallery and restaurant makes this one of the most unique places in Colombo.
If you visit the restaurant during night time, you can experience the chill and relaxed atmosphere that is difficult to find in a restaurant that aims for style and elegance. Be sure to grab a table by the mirrors, so you can get the best pictures. Position your plate of Tandoori Marinated Salmon or the Quail Egg Salad under the candlelight and feast your eyes before you fill yourself up.
Location – 2 Alfred House Rd, Colombo 03
Opening hours – 10.00 am – 12.00 am
Price range – LKR 3,000 – LKR 10,000+
Visit their Website and Facebook
4. Graze kitchen
Another buffet layout in this list, Graze Kitchen in Hilton Colombo is a wonderful experience you should try out. Everywhere you look around the restaurant, you’ll see gold. Metallic gold accents that might remind you of polished armor elevate the food that is placed on top of it. The warm lighting extends the luxurious atmosphere that’s present throughout the restaurant. Visiting Graze Kitchen for high tea might be the best time to achieve the most aesthetic experience with the lighting shifting from daytime to night time.
Their selection of global cuisines might overwhelm you, even more than the massive seating area that has perfectly instagrammable angles wherever you sit. They have a special A La Carte menu that you can refer to, which includes quite a range from Chicken Tikka Masala to Spiced Mutton Pizza. There’s also always something special for your little ones.
Location – 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 02
Opening hours – 6.30 am – 11.30 pm
Price range – LKR 4,000 – LKR 6,500
Visit their Website and Facebook
5. Diyatha Station by Waters Edge
This restaurant based inside several train carriages is sure to get you snapping pictures left and right. The seating capacity of the train carriages combined is 200 and imagine having an event there! It will definitely be a great and memorable experience. They also have indoor (inside the train carriages!) and outdoor seating that will allow you to have a unique experience. The outdoor seating is picnic tables that allows you to enjoy a delicious meal with a great backdrop. They also have classic train station benches that you can sit back on and relax.
Imagine sitting by the water and enjoying fresh Fish and Chips. If you visit Diyatha Station, you don’t have to imagine it. The restaurant is located by the Diyawanna Lake, in the premises of Waters Edge, making enjoying fish and chips, a whole experience. They also have a range of different Rotis from Rottia’s Kitchen including Pol Roti with Tempered Prawns and Katta Sambal.
Location – 316, Ethul Kotte Road, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
Opening hours – 4.00 pm – 11.00 pm
Price range – LKR 200 – LKR 1000
6. Honey Beach Club
The massive lit up Honey sign is an iconic part of the Colombo cityscape. The overhead strings of light, the pool and the sea in the distance are also some of the features at the Honey Beach Club that makes it so iconic. There is a good combination of fun, sun and sand at the restaurant. There is even a separate area with huts and sand where you can have the beach experience within the restaurant itself. The outdoor poolside seating is one of the best aesthetics you can experience and photograph.
Happy hour at Honey Beach Club is a must try after a tiring day at work. It’s a great space to relax and have a bit of fun and you can get a pizza to accompany the cocktails or even a combo platter with crispy beer battered prawns or crispy fried chicken wings. The restaurant even has a roti menu where you can find Umbalakada Wade and Yeast Roti to be paired with Mutton Baabath Curry.
Location – The Kingsbury, 48,Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01
Opening hours – 8.00 am – 12.00 am
Price range – LKR 1,500 – LKR 3,500
7. Mama Louie’s
The other pizza restaurant in this list has a different aesthetic to Giovanni’s which is more Italian while Mama Louie’s has a very Sri Lankan aesthetic. Located above a shop that sells Sri Lankan handicraft, the restaurant itself carries artwork that reflects Sri Lankan culture. They are an Italian artisan pizza restaurant with a Sri Lankan twist! The large artwork on the walls is also the perfect background for a stunning photo. If you go with a group of people, make sure to grab a bench seat for a better experience.
A Honey Glazed Chili Chicken pizza is just as good as the Mama’s All Meat pizza. Just as delicious and just as good looking. They also have a range of pastas that have a very Sri Lankan twist like the Mamas Black Mutton Pasta. Mama Louie’s is definitely an underrated fusion restaurant that you should check out.
Location – 14 Sri Jayawardenepura Mawatha, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Opening hours – Weekdays = 12.00 pm – 10.00 pm
Weekends = 12.00 pm – 11.00 pm
Price range – LKR 1,200 – LKR 3,500
Visit their Instagram and Facebook
This list of 7 instagrammable restaurants should help you figure out the place you need to visit this August to experience the best aesthetics and the best food in Colombo.
