11, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07.
Open until 09:00 PM
The Black Cat Café serves up amazing sandwiches, coffee, and fresh fruit juices. They're also a B+B.
Let's get this out straight away — we LOVE Black Cat Cafe. There's literally nothing (in our humble opinion) to dislike about this place. They have a really concise and focused menu specializing in sandwiches, great coffee and a limited array of wonderful and homemade juices. To add to that, they have a spacious and well-lit room with shelves of a wonderful selection of books, and two adopted kittens that they picked off the streets.
Plus, they also have a bed and breakfast, and good music. Great place really, just go there already.
They just have six sandwiches on their menu (and one secret one off it. Ask for the machang, a pol sambolese favourite, I was told), each prepared with ingredients fresh off the morning market. Should orders fill out and they run out of the stuff they bought in the morning, you'd find yourself short of a sandwich. I went for a Portobello (Rs. 650) and my friend picked an Alaska (Rs. 700), which was just straight up amazing.
Let's start off with the Alaska, since that was the best.
Do I even need to elaborate? Because the picture speaks for itself.
The salmon was super fresh, and there were plentiful amounts of it. They haven't skimped on the toppings, and the cream cheese bed it was on gave a welcome sour tang. My only gripe that it's not enough in quantity: this is great for a snack, but if you're really hungry (like we were), you'd need to get something more (which we did).
Next up is the Portobello, in which the mushrooms gave off a slightly sweet flavour which went quite well with the grilled chicken. Once again, nothing was skimped on. There were generous doses of mozarella, chicken, and mushrooms in our beautifully grilled sandwich.
It looks rather colourless, but don't let that deceive you. It's not at all spicy, so dip it into the sauce if you want any heat. It's Sriracha sauce, and I can't even begin to overstate how amazing Sriracha is. If you love chilli and heat, you'll dig this until you cry happy (and painful) tears. The sandwich in itself was great, with the components blending together beautifully and each flavour standing out on its own without overpowering each other.
My friend and I were still hungry after these two (don't judge), so we asked one of the co-owners what else he'd recommend, and he suggested the smoked turkey breast one — Boxing, priced at Rs. 650. It comes sandwiched between swiss cheese and cranberry jam, the combination which could be strange to the local palate as we're not used to mixing jams and meats. It was delish, and completely filling; we were stuffed after that.
All of the sandwiches comes with a side of crispy and well-seasoned potato wedges with Sriracha, so, happy times.
Their drinks are just as amazing. Priced in the 300 - 350 range, it's worth every penny. I tried their homemade ginger beer (which, if I'm not mistaken, they harvest from their own ginger patch), and it was ... *gesticulates wildly*. I got a light undercurrent of the taste of honey in it, and was told that they use wild bees' honey instead of sugar as a sweetener. So much win.
Their soursop and lychee iced tea is equally amazing. it's all very subtle and light, so it's a refreshing boost in our tropical weather.
They come in huge glass jars, and we love the composition.
A friend told me that the coffee here trumps the coffee at Whight, so I (once again) asked the proprietor what his recommendation would be. He first asked how full I was, and then listed a couple of drinks which wouldn't be too filling but would be just right. I settled for the macchiato (Rs. 310).
I love how the surface of it literally has a single spot of white on it, living upto the name of what a macchiato is — spotted. As in, an espresso spotted/stained with milk. Maintaining the high bar set by the preceeding meals and drinks, this didn't disappoint. The coffee was flavoursome, not hideously bitter, and gives you a very light, happy little buzz. That might even just be me because I was really happy about having a cuppa which didn't make me sad.
Another friend kindly shared her Flat White, and it was light, airy, and had a subtle yet definite punch of good coffee in it. It's not my type of coffee, but I still liked it.
Moving onto service, they're stellar. Friendly, welcoming staff who knows the menu inside out and who could reliably make suggestions and recommendations. It's run by a duo who rented out the space by winning out a bid made by Pizza Hut and a Chinese restaurant, because they promised the owner of the property that they'd retain the mansion's integrity and originality. True to their word, they've done little to change the original building. The furniture is simple, minimalistic, and mostly DIY — the tables are made of old Singer sewing machines, with sandpaper-smoothened doors as the tabletops.
They have some retro posters framed and hanging up on the walls, with a few of them available for sale should you wish to own some.
There's a reading room with some amazing comics (Neil Gaiman, Calvin and Hobbes and stuff like that) and old books you'd be very hard pressed to find in any of our regular bookstores. You also get more popular ones like Chinaman and a few other books by local authors though.
Upstairs are five bedrooms, four king-sized ones, and one with twin beds. Even the bathroom furnishing is quaint and upcycled. Check our gallery for more pictures, because I'll be flooding this post with everything I found fascinating if not.
Just go there and camp out already. The kittens are somewhere in the garden and are utterly adorable.
If you love books, coffee, and cats, this is the perfect place in SL for you (you get cat cafes in other parts of the world). If you don't, why would you go to a place which christens itself 'Black Cat Cafe'?
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
Report InaccuracyOpen until 09:00 PM
Cuisine
Price Range
Dish Types
Ratings Breakdown
Comfortable tree houses with a superb jungle view in…
Beautifully designed comfortable restaurant in Delkanda, has delicious Sri…
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!