One of the Negombo strip’s more popular little bar/restaurants, Serendib is right on the beach and has a regular stream of visitors. It strikes a fine balance between dodgy and nice. Now that Negombo is an easy 30 minute drive thanks to the highway, Serendib is a good place to while away a lazy Saturday afternoon. It’s on the same strip as that whole host of Jetwing hotels.
Food & Drinks
Their menu is pretty large, but as it is with these places, it’s best to stick with the basics like fries or devilled chicken/beef. They also do some decent pizzas at about Rs. 700 a pop, and the chilli con carne pizza is a real dark horse. You wouldn’t expect it to be a good option but it is fairly delicious. We also tried a hot butter cuttlefish which was alright but not particularly good.
The drinks are really their forte though. The place is branded entirely by Lion so obviously their bottles of Lion beer are the cheapest and most common option. Served nice and chilled on a hot west coast afternoon, they’re kept cold with these dubious regifoam beer cosies that people write varying messages on (ranging from “I luv u Anoma” to “Jesus is life”).
Their cocktail menu is short and seems a tad expensive because at Rs 650 upwards, they are on par with any fancy Colombo bar/ restaurant. However, the alcohol content is another matter. These drinks are truly potent and that alone explains the extra moolah you’re paying.
Ambience
Sandwiched neatly between the beach and the Poruthota road, the restaurant has a great location. It’s also pretty versatile, going from family restaurant during the day to bar in the evening/nights. They also host a rather popular disco on weekend nights. The décor is all done by Lion, from the lighting to the posters to the walls, so if gigantic savannah scenes are your thing, you’ll be at home. They also have a couple of walls on which you can write or draw whatever you wish to (which after a couple of those mojitos seems like a really great plan). It’s mostly al fresco, which is quite nice unless there’s a bit of a tropical thunderstorm or crow attack.
The crowd is usually quite chill, groups of friends or tourists having a quiet beer and snack. Serendib’s location on the strip makes it a perfect addition to the usual Negombo bar crawl made infamous by birthdays and stag nights.
Service
Quick, friendly and efficient. The staff’s English skills aren’t brilliant but more than enough to get the job done.
