The YAMU Staff’s Favourites in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's way more than the same handful of sexy hotspots that turn up in every international travel mag. In a world saturated by PR shoots, Instagram promos, and blanket 5 star reviews, we've been hoarding our favourite places away like Gollum hoarded the ring. But I wheedled some of our staff into writing about some of their personal, absolutely arbitrary favourites. There's no criteria here except personal preference.

Indi

Castle Hotel

My favorite place is dead. The Castle Hotel had everything I like – history, character, characters (shout out to Solomon), cheap arrack and bites. This was the king of dodgy bars but the king is dead, to be replaced by a Tata office or something. I understand development and all but this is one place I dearly miss.

Barefoot Cafe

There is something deep in the ambience of Barefoot that makes it delightful. It's not the food or the garden or the art or the store per se, it's the underlying creativity of Barbara Sansoni and her family that permeates the place and gives it soul. 

Barefoot is perhaps associated with an 'English elite' culture that people like to hate on, but if you can put down the haterade and just be in the space for a minute, it's exceedingly pleasant.

Sambodhi Chaithya

I like things that are tall, I like things that are lesser known, and I like Buddhism. Hence the giant, elevated stupa tucked away in Fort is one of my favorites. There's an amazing view of the Port and Port City construction (once you make the climb) and some interesting artwork inside.


Kinita

Min Han

Min Han is a weird and wonderful place featuring a colourful waiter named Wijeypala, numerous rats making sweet love in the walls, a collection of chain-smoking Chinese regulars, and pretty good food. This is sort of my replacement for Brown's.

SoS Children's Village

The SoS villages is probably one of my favourite causes in Sri Lanka. Rural orphans are grouped and housed in homes with a "mother" who takes care of them family-style, and they live, go to school, and work with other kids in the group of houses like a village. It's a beautiful idea that provides the kids with structure and love, and they also send you adorable cards with photos for Christmas/New Year's and an annual progress report when you sponsor a child for a year.

Casuarina Beach, Jaffna

Jaffna is going to be a vibrant tourist destination in the coming years, but for now it's still relatively quiet. While the bullet-ridden abandoned mansions haunted me, Casuarina Beach was a happy, vibrant place full of frolicking locals and achingly azure natural beauty. My favourite part was taking a boat out into the sea and paddling on a sand bank in the middle of the Ocean – surreal. Once you're done, head to Hotel Rolex for a snack and some retinal burn.

Maradana Bookshops

These books shops have always been one of my favourite bits of Sri Lanka. Leafy trees fringe this little collection of makeshift shops, stuffed to the ceiling with yellowing, mouldy, silver-fish ridden vintage books, hardbacks, all hidden by the selection of sleek new prints of self-help (7 WAYS TO BE HIGHLY SUCESSFUL AND SIMULTANEOUSLY LOSE 60 POUNDS) and academic books. Just ask the uncles for help, they're super helpful.


Chandana

Umbrella Arts Cafe, Ella

This place is so trippy with lots of psychedelic art and all. I think they do actually target tourists who are 'tripping,' although I'm not sure whether we should mention that. Also the Russian couple that run this place is super cool and friendly.

B-Leaf

One of the most authentic Sri Lankan food places in Colombo, with a wide range of rare local dishes (like, rare varieties of greens and vegetables).

Cafe Chill, Ella

It's not mentioned in Indi's review. But waiters here are super chilled! You'd find grumpy waiters even in Colombo's upmarket places, but not here.

Giovanni's

Apart from great pizza, I love their cosy upper floor which gives me a feeling of living inside a '80s movie like Wild at Heat or Goodfellas. We also order this in to office after work all the time, it's one of the few things that unite us.


Aisha

Diyaluma Waterfall

Diyaluma was my first waterfall hike and I found the whole walk and the end view to be spectacular. Haven't been to Bambarakanda (Lanka's highest!) as yet, so this sufficed. Plus I loved the lemongrass fields we trekked through!

Palmyrah


As a skeptic who thinks terrible things of restaurants that mark up prices on 'normal, local food,' I was pleasantly surprised with my experience here because of how authentic and simple the food was, and how amazing their rather expensive mutton rolls are. Would happily go broke for those.

Black Cat  


I initially liked Black Cat because they had cats, but continue to frequent it even in its current cat-less state. Definitely has to be something with their ridiculously friendly service and comfortable, homely atmosphere. Food and drinks are not too bad either (this is an understatement, but I don't want Kinita to say I'm gushing about it again).

Ella Rock


Been here twice and got lost both times: it's a great place to stumble through and push yourself, especially without a guide. It's by far one of the most arduous hikes I've been on here, Kirigalpottha was a walk in the park compared to this. Your reward is the stunning sunrise (but only if you start early enough).


Sarah

Rocket Burger

My experiences here have been very satisfactory because their portions are HUGE and come stuffed to point where the burgers are tiredly leaning to the side on account of being stuffed with so much meat. 

Arabian Knights

This my go-to for when I want to eat a lot but don’t necessarily have the means to do so. The Shawarma Platter here is my favourite because it comes with shawarma, fries and a salad on the side which is more than enough to satisfy the qualms of my rumbling stomach. 
In addition to that I’m not extremely overjoyed at their interior decorating skills because the yellow and orange walls make me feel like I’m on a hot grill.

RE.PUB.LK

The first time I ever went to The RE.PUB.LK, I was really annoyed at the name of the place because it’s an inconvenience to spell and it makes no sense.
I then walked in and my irritability disappeared as the lights make me feel like I’m a part of some tumblr blog post. Also at night if you sit at the right area you’ll be able to catch a cool view of the WTC all lit up with the fairy lights boosting the whole scene. Pretty cool.
Anyways, my favourite thing to get here would be the soft shell tacos because they’ve got chicken or whatever pretty much spilling out of them which makes manoeuvring your way around them a little difficult. But if you’re an indomitable spirit like me you’ll plow through because the mess is pretty trivial once you’ve had your first bite.


Got any secret favourites you're benevolent enough to share? Drop us a comment!

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Across Borders: A Culinary Bridge Between India and Sri Lanka Through Peshawri’s Timeless Flavors

By Vimasha Vishvadari Peshawri, a renowned restaurant chain, originated from the iconic Bukhara restaurant in

Highlights Kamu

Tenkū – a hidden Gem of the Japanese Cuisine

By Vimasha Weerawansha Ambience  The Kingsbury Rooftop offers a breathtaking panorama of the cityscape and

Highlights Kamu

Discovering Kamikura: A Journey into Authentic Japanese Cuisine

dBy Sharon Nonis Welcome to Kamikura, where the essence of Japanese cuisine meets the heart

Kamu

Full’R Burgers is Flipping into Maharagama

by Vimasha Vishvadari If you're on the lookout for the ideal burger spot in the

Kamu

Yi Jing Unveiled: Sri Lanka’s Top Chinese Dining at ITC Ratnadipa Blends Tradition with Modern Flair

By Poornima Bandara Yi Jing Unveiled: Sri Lanka’s Premier Chinese Dining Experience at ITC Ratnadipa

Highlights Kamu

Seafood Watti Rice: A Flavorful Feast from Fathi’s Spice Attic

Watti Rice is a delightful Sri Lankan dish that combines various meats, such as seafood

Highlights Kamu

Trending.

Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa Announces Road to Give 2024: A Global Movement for Local Impact

Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa is proud to announce its participation in Road to

Trending

9 Unisex Gift Ideas for Your Friends

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Finding the perfect gift for your friends can be a delightful

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide

 Dilmah Unveils their Very Special Rare Tea Collection at the t-Lounge, Horton Place

https://www.tiktok.com/@yamusrilanka/video/7415920549815160072 Dilmah, renowned globally for its dedication to tea excellence, unveiled its latest hand-picked collection

Highlights Trending

MSI Launches Next-Gen AI+ Gaming and Business & Productivity Laptops with Latest Processors at IFA 2024

IFA 2024 හිදී MSI නවතම ප්‍රොසෙසර සහිත Next-Gen AI+ ගේමිං, ව්‍යාපාර සහ ඵලදායිතා ලැප්ටොප් පරිගණක

Trending

The Best Tool for the AI Era of Computing: How to Choose Your AI Laptop

This year, the focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost productivity is gaining significant

Trending

MSI Launches Next-Gen AI+ Gaming and Business & Productivity Laptops with Latest Processors at IFA 2024

Featuring Iatest AI-supported processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ graphics MSI, a leading brand in gaming,

Trending

Yamu Guide.

9 Unisex Gift Ideas for Your Friends

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Finding the perfect gift for your friends can be a delightful

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide

9 Must-Read Self-Help Books for Personal Growth

By Jordain De Mel In recent years, people have turned to self-help books to serve

Highlights Yamu Guide

Top Restaurants with the best Cashback offers from Mintpay

With Mintpay, have a gastronomic journey and earn cashback rewards as you go! Every taste

Highlights Yamu Guide

10 Places To Celebrate Father’s Day 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya, Father’s Day is a special occasion dedicated to honoring fathers and celebrating

Highlights Yamu Guide

Top 10 Places to Work or Study in Colombo in 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Hey there! Feeling the walls closing in at home while you work

Highlights Yamu Guide