11, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07.
Closed right now
The Black Cat Café serves up amazing sandwiches, coffee, and fresh fruit juices. They're also a B+B.
Centuries ago, Aisha visited Black Cat and gave it five stars amidst much controversy and accusations of corruption. We went back recently to check out their new menu and if the place is still as cool as she claimed it was.
While it’s great coffee and food certainly plays a role, how Black Cat really wins is through a thoughtfully curated ambiance and an amazingly laid back (but efficient) service approach that really makes you feel at home.
The new menu is divided into two. There's the breakfast menu which lasts until noon, and then another menu for the afternoon and evenings.
We tried two items from the breakfast menu and were a little underwhelmed by both. The Gone Troppo (Rs. 1200) had a selection of seasonal tropical fruit on Swiss muesli, complemented by buffalo curd, milk, and kithul treacle. We thought there could have been a few more fruits in it, also the buffalo curd seemed to be your standard off-the-shelf supermarket variety. Not what you'd expect for the price.
The Eggs Colombo (Rs. 1100) usually comes with sprats, but we tried it with smoked salmon because the kitchen was out of sprats on that day. It tasted pretty good, felt healthy and the extra toast was welcome. Although, the munkunuwenna greens weren't quite gelling with the whole dish for me.
I only tried the Mezze Platter (Rs. 1200) from the afternoon menu. It was really good. The hummus was had a soft, slightly grainy texture. It comes with cut up veggies; carrots and cucumbers as well as a bit of Tabouleh with nicely seasoned, fresh and crunchy parsley. This dish also has a very good harissa hot sauce that really hits the spot. It's bloody good to taste some unabashedly spicy stuff at a time where menus across the country are getting progressively blander.
Different kinds of cakes and desserts will pop up and Black Cat as and when they get made. Aunty Nimi’s Date Cake was the bomb. Not too sweet and served with vanilla ice cream on a tray that blended with the table, facilitating minimalist photography opportunities.
The classic homemade ginger beer (Rs. 400) was not as good as I remember. It was so sharp, the ginger almost burned my throat on the way down. It also had a slightly bitter aftertaste. Is this some sort of purist’s ginger beer that’s just a little too hardcore for my amateur taste buds or just an off-batch?
The Peach and Cinnamon Ice Tea (Rs. 400) had great mouthfeel but ultimately was a little too syrupy sweet. The coffee here is as good as anywhere else. The Cappuccino is both perfectly balanced doses of caffeine for sleepy mornings and afternoons alike.
On weekends Black Cat is a little too noisy on the inside. It’s echoey, sometimes the music can be loud-ish and raised voices of aunty-get-togethers reverberate through the room. Things vastly improve on weekdays though, I guess weekends aren’t for work. Also the wifi here is usually terrific, albeit less so on the outside. Power outlets are limited to certain corners, and there are none in the outside seating areas.
The furniture is cute but sometimes inconvenient. There are tables made out of doors, whose sharp edges and still-attached hinges can cut into you, and some made out of sewing machine stands that get in the way of your limbs. There is no need to sit at the hipster fittings if you don’t want to though, bag one of the many comfy armchairs/couches instead.
The service here can seem a little matter of fact in the beginning, but the initially gruff exterior masks a genuine friendliness. Staff tend to recognize you by sight of you’re a regular, and there is a stark absence of dirty looks when you stay for longer than is decent. There seems to be a focus on relationship building as an approach to service and that really makes a difference.
The outside seating area, shared with Taco Cat, is one of the best in Colombo, only matched by Barefoot’s expansive garden set-up IMO. There are comfortable armchairs that remind you of your grandfather’s living room, and the limited space is designed efficiently enough to afford a surprising amount of secluded privacy.
You can BYOB or smoke and chill for hours on end, even after the cafe is closed.
It's still great. Full points for service, ambiance, and drinks. While the new menu has its moments, it's not as interesting as the old one and is sometimes a bit hit and miss.
Their menu is new but the curated ambiance and an amazingly laid back (but efficient) service approach still remain the same.
Fabulous drinks, a great selection of books, and a couple of kittens are the least of what awaits you here.
සිංහල ඉස්සර නම් මෙහෙ පූසොත් හිටියලු. දැන් නම් එක එක හේතු නිසා ඒ කට්ටිය හොයාගන්න නැති බවයි ආරංචිය.
Address
11, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07.
Directions
It's on Wijerama Mawatha just between Ward Place and Rosmead Place. If you're heading in from Ward Place, it's onto your left.
Contacts
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Cuisine
Price Range
Dish Types
Ratings Breakdown
Comfortable tree houses with a superb jungle view in…
A little misty jungle to have a hot high tea or a…
2/5
Rather disappointing spicy prawn pasta. It was quite bland with nothing spicy about it and an overwhelming taste of tomato paste. The lychee iced tea however was lovely.
5/5
The bennys eggs is a dream! my brother and I always order it and we're always delighted! It comes with a delicious side of smoked salmon and some sauteed spinach and mushroom which go well with those perfectly poached eggs! yum!
2/5
Out of just the two vegetarian options they had, only one was available and I was notified about that after I finished ordering and when my friends meal was brought to the table!
However the only option available was not at all good. It was called the "down payment" and had two slices of bread slathered in avocado and sprinkled with feta and some peppers. The poached egg was overcooked and all in all just didn't taste that good. It was quite bland.
I also ordered a chocolate milkshake which was one of the worst I've ever had. Not enough chocolate and sugar; it just tasted of. There specialty ginger beer wasn't even available.
Considering the prices of both things I ordered it was not at all worth it.
3/5
Took 20 mins to bring my Raspberry + BlackBerry smoothie! Hardly anyone here too. on the flip side, it was an awesome smoothie and the ambience is great and different.
Gushing is an understatement.
If you are going to be giving out 5 star ratings, you need more substance in the content of the review.
Black Cat got listed in the Diaspora Roundup for 2015 days before the actual review went online.
p.s. I think you should ditch the "Tips" section at the bottom of your reviews… seriously how is this a "tip"?
"Ask the staff for recommendations, they'll give you a rundown of what's special"
It's rather astonishing to find how much you guys praise this place with having such a limited menu. The reviewer would've been really hungry to find everything "Amazing" .
Hi Acestick, We're a very small outfit (husband + wife team) and we like to focus on getting a few things done really well. All our ingredients are sourced daily, direct from the markets, and when we can, from our own veggie patch. Having a small menu ensures that we try and get it right every time. We'll be expanding the menu with specials when we get our hands on seasonal produce. Come over for a coffee and a sandwich any time. Cheers!
will wait for a few more comments before deciding on this place….review does sound like a kid at a candy store only here there are only 6 sandwiches on the menu!
Hi Ray, do check out our instagram, we're trying out new things everyday. We're a small team and like to focus on a few things done really well. Our ingredients are sourced daily from the markets and we put a lot of effort into getting our small menu perfected. Come have a coffee + sandwich anytime. Cheers!
maybe Yamu should include an option for us to rate as well so we can rate what we thought of the place.
Just two tips
1. Get someone who is either comfortable in Sinhala or English to man the phone
2. Ensure they know how to give directions to ur resturant.
After going up and down Wijeyratne, Barnes Place and Rosmead Place following instructions from ur staff, finally gave up and ended up at a different restaurant. Was really looking forward to enjoying one of urgency Uchida talked about sandwiches.
Hi VJ, We're sorry you weren't able to make it down. We're located at 11 Wierama Mawatha, between Rosmead Place and Ward Place. There is some construction going on at the Horton Place end, so the easiest way to get to Black Cat is to turn onto Wijerama Mw from Ward Place. We're on the left hand side. Look out for 2 big pine trees, and a sign that says Black Cat on the wall. Hope to see you soon. Cheers!
not worth the money spent!! small portions… wasn't much amazed… loved the kittens though!
Hi Foodie, We'll take that into consideration and review our portion sizes. Cheers
This review is way OTT. Paid 420 for a mediocre and watery iced coffee and 500 for a polsambol sandwich that was much smaller and less filling than the sandwiches at Cakery and Paninos (compared for similar prices and "gourmet" aspirations). Not worth a second visit tbh. Best thing about it was the friendly and helpful waitstaff.
Totally agree! We stayed a few nights at the Black Cat, had lots of coffees, breakfasts and lunches here and we can highly recommend them. They have the best coffee we had in Sri Lanka so far and the cats are adorable :)
The article is spot on. We have been staying in the black cat for a few days now, and loving their coffees, breakfasts and lunches! The coffee is the best one we have had in Sri Lanka and the cats are just a big bonus :) so this place is highly recommended
The place has a nice laid back vibe, super friendly hosts and tasteful food.
The coffee is poured with care and love but it's definitely not THAT good. I've been there thrice and only once did I get a crema that looked anything like the photo above.
I'm sorry, but anyone who raves about their espresso has not had great espresso
But it's still okay by Colombo standards (although they have european prices)
So I tried this place after hearing that they have changed to some niche coffee. The cafe itself gets mentioned quite a bit in the expat circles.
Anyway, the portobello sandwich was nice, and the atmosphere was very laid back.
But the coffee was the showstopper. The crema was stunning and the flavours packed a real punch. I heard the guy actually asking a customer to give it a try -as it is- before adding any sugar.
The only bad news is that the black kitten (pictured above) has gone missing. So maybe Aisha ought to virtually organise a search party or something.
Great Cafe,
But HAS ONE OF THE WORST CLOSING TIMES EVER!! I MEAN WHO CLOSES A CAFE AT 7PM???!!!!!!
SERIOUSLY???
Guys at Black cat cafe u seriously need to reconsider ur closing time. PERIOD.
Every single - family run- cafe/tea shop/B&B in places like Sydney and London close by 6-7pm.
I suggest you try Coco Veranda or a Barista. Loud Music, bright lights, but full on counter service till late!
Soursop and lychee ice tea is amazing! love the chilled out atmosphere reading a good old tintin comic while I eat my food. Owner is very friendly as well
will definitely come more often :)
Greatest chill out, hide from the boss, get work done, plan your life kinda spot. Oh, and they clearly know coffee and how to properly serve it. Currently the best town! Food is simple yet diverse and just the right amount. Great ambiance and style and the boys are always warm and welcoming.
I find the place too crowded at times. Parking is the minus point. But you can't blame them for that.
Cons: The (limited) comfy seats are too dirty. Too many people rubbing up their soiled feet! And where is THE Black Cat? Or the off-white kitten.
Pros: Food is generally good. You just need to know what to order (not Benny's eggs) . Portions are fine. Can't complain about the few mediocre dishes since their prices are fair.
Great unique vibe. Very relaxed, each to their own etc
Faultless service and super friendly servers.
Coffee: Impeccable. The place smells like an espresso bar
In conclusion, I'd give it a 10/10 if they build an underground car park and get those cats back. I'd still give them an 8/10 for the female-friendly atmosphere and the kickass coffee
'I'd give it a 10 if they built an underground car park' oh great ! i'm sure they're rushing to build one !
We ordered a 'mission' and a 'Benny's' ended up having to wait an hour for our breakfast. It was a horrible experience. After such a long wait parts of the sausage was cold and the hash brown wasn't crispy.
If you're busy and slammed with orders, please learn to let the customer know that there will be a wait time. (Especially if you think the food will take an hour!!) What was most frustrating was so many people who came after us had their food and left before we even got ours. When asked the waiter he said the 'mission' dish takes time to make. I think it's absurd that it takes an hour to make an egg, sausage, spinach and hash browns.
Also, when inquired about the long wait to the foreign guy (possibly the owner) at the cashier, he said he would check on it but didn't seem to do anything or care about it. Only good thing was the coffee, but that didn't make up for the horrible experience I had. Won't be going there ever again.
Good coffee!!
Sandwich portions are way too small. Yet they are priced above Rs.800+… Quality is fine but not the best. Oh! I couldn't see a cat :V
Went yesterday to try out the service and check the ambience! Manager was a real gentleman who welcomed me, got a great pot of tea, served quickly and with grace and good manners. As a web designer and entrepreneur, I test a chil/workspace on three factors! Service, wifi and can I smoke. Passed on all 3 with flying colours. (Obviously smoked outside). I will be going back there definitely. Will venture towards a breakfast later this week. I love the building too, great colonial architecture that has been well looked after. Ok, there is a down side! Not the cat so much but the three legged dog that wouldn't stop barking, a real nuisance and a pain in the butt. Why does a cool and classy cafe allow a mangy, flea-ridden three legged mutt to wander around the premises barking is disease ridden head off is beyond me. Get rid off the mutt and I'd give 5 stars, keep it there and I won't bother rating the place. Sri Lanka needs to step it up with allowing unhygienic dogs wander around their establishments, they'd loose their licence in most European countries for allowing it.
It's a rescue dog, the cafe has deep compassion which is awesome. Also I'm sure the dog does not have fleas or decease as he's well looked after. If you don't like thier concept, you can not go there again
5/5
RMT2019
Great coffee. Lovely place to chill
2/5
Thilina599
Rather disappointing spicy prawn pasta. It was quite bland with nothing spicy about it and an overwhelming taste of tomato paste. The lychee iced tea however was lovely.
5/5
anithrabasnayake
The bennys eggs is a dream! my brother and I always order it and we're always delighted! It comes with a delicious side of smoked salmon and some sauteed spinach and mushroom which go well with those perfectly poached eggs! yum!