Galle, Sri Lanka, foodie guide: where to eat, drink and stay

Looking for Galle restaurants? Here are our favourite restaurants in the Sri Lankan coastal town, plus where to get the best ice cream, spices and street food.

With its balmy ocean breezes, timeworn ramparts and sun-bleached colonial architecture, Galle Fort is one of the world’s most atmospheric food destinations. In this former trading port on Sri Lanka’s south-west coast, you’ll find ice cream churned with buffalo milk, spicy Middle Eastern plates and cocktails mixed in candlelit courtyards. From humble bars to polished bistros, here’s where I’ve been eating, sipping and staying in and around Galle Fort.

Isle of Gelato

Best place to cool down

If there’s a place that defines the sweet side of Galle, it’s this inventive stylish little gelateria on Pedlar Street. Isle of Gelato takes local ingredients like buffalo curd, passionfruit and jaggery and spins them into creamy, Italian-style gelato with intense flavour. The textures are velvet-smooth, the service is warm and the flavours are always evolving — but lemon curd, mango-passionfruit and pistachio come highly recommended. Everything is made in small batches with surprising seasonal specials (try the pineapple-chilli) and plenty of vegan options, too. Grab a scoop and stroll the ramparts as the sun sets. @isleofgelato

The Tuna & The Crab

Big flavours in a historic setting

This slick seafood-meets-Japanese spot by chef Dharshan Munidasa sits inside the Dutch Hospital — a colonial building turned upscale dining enclave. Expect local crab in miso-rich ramen, delicate tuna sashimi and beautifully plated teppanyaki grills. It’s a polished, special occasion dinner where fusion Sri Lankan seafood is the highlight — and the bento lunch sets are a steal. Tables spill into an open-air courtyard and the menu nods to the chef’s heritage with precision and balance. For a theatrical touch, order the sizzling hotplate prawns and watch heads turn. tunaandthecrab.com

Sugar Bistro

Easy-going brunch, Galle style

With locations in Colombo and now Galle, Sugar Bistro is where you’ll find comforting all-day food — think prawn and avocado toast, coconut pancakes and club sandwiches done right. The vibe is low-key and breezy, with reliable coffee and cool drinks that make it perfect for a mid-morning pitstop between sightseeing. Dishes lean crowd-pleasing and familiar, but they’re executed with flair — grilled chicken burgers, tamarind-glazed wings and mango smoothies are always on point. The kind of place that welcomes flip-flops, laptops and long lunches in equal measure. @sugarbistro.galle

Church Street Social

Where cocktails and curry meet cool comfort

Part of the Fort Bazaar hotel (more on that later), this candlelit spot manages to be both stylish and soul-soothing. Church Street Social serves up refined Sri Lankan dishes (kale mallung, black pork curry, fragrant dhal) alongside grilled meats, thali-style bowls and an inventive cocktail list. Bonus: it’s one of the very few Galle Fort restaurants with air-conditioning, making it a sanctuary come midday heat. The interiors are a study in elegance – tiled floors, low lighting, vintage fans – and the kitchen doesn’t shy away from spice. The cocktails are sharp, the staff switched on and the atmosphere pure calm. teardrop-hotels.com/fort-bazaar/restaurant

AQUA Pizza

Neapolitan-style with a Sri Lankan attitude

Don’t underestimate the joy of a perfect pizza – especially when it’s thin, charred in all the right places and topped with burrata or spicy nduja. AQUA nails the crust, keeps toppings high quality and serves it all in a minimalist space where the drinks flow and the service sings. A real contender for best pizza in town. Try the chorizo and roasted pepper combo with a negroni, or sit at the counter and chat to the team while your dough bubbles in the wood-fired oven.

MARU

Fresh, bright and very addictive

Tucked into a corner of the Fort, this light-filled poke bar offers a welcome hit of freshness — heaped bowls of sushi rice, sesame-crusted tuna, pickled veg, and spicy mayo. It’s cool, casual and hits the spot when you’re craving crunch and zing rather than spice and smoke. The bowls are generously sized, the ingredients colourful and crisp, and the menu includes some excellent Asian-fusion snacks too — think gyoza, edamame and seaweed salad. Great for a lighter lunch or dinner.

Sydney Hotel

An honest corner of old Galle

This 100-year-old local bar has barely changed in decades – in the best way. Think ice-cold Lion lagers, Formica tables, fans spinning overhead and a fried rice menu that’s moreish in the extreme. Regulars gather for spicy devilled chicken, crispy egg hoppers, good conversation and the unbeatable colonial-era vibes. It’s as authentic a slice of old Galle as you’ll find.

Ropewalk

A small bar with big character

This lively little cocktail bar makes the most of its intimate setting and clever drinks list. You’ll find crisp mojitos, cardamom-tinged gin fizzes and occasional live music. Arrive early to snag one of the best stools and watch the Fort nightlife come alive around you. It’s part hidden gem, part social club — with dim lighting, exposed brick and bartenders who know their way around a muddler.

Charlie’s Bar & Bistro

Ideal for a laid-back dinner

Modern bistro food with a relaxed vibe, Charlie’s blends local ingredients with international flair. The cocktails are creative (try the lemongrass negroni), the small plates smartly executed and the service unfussy and warm. Think seared tuna with sesame dressing, truffle fries and tropical fruit desserts. A friendly option for a casual dinner with proper kitchen chops.

Chambers Restaurant

Always satisfying, always busy

This Middle Eastern restaurant with its Moroccan tilework and sultry lighting delivers mezze, lamb kofta, spiced couscous and hummus platters worthy of your best holiday appetite. A nice break from rice and curry — and no less flavour-packed. The harissa is bold, the baba ganoush smoky, and the falafel crisp and hot. It’s cosy, candlelit, and consistently well-reviewed for a reason.

The Pasta Factory

Comfort food, Italian-style

Don’t let the casual look fool you — this is some of the best handmade pasta you’ll find in southern Sri Lanka. Plates of creamy mushroom tagliatelle, truffle oil rigatoni and fresh basil pesto linguine come generously portioned and perfectly cooked. Run by Italian expats, the menu is small but carefully curated and portions are hearty enough to refuel after a hot day in the Fort. @thepastafactorygalle

The Hideout, Unawatuna

A quintessential barefoot lunch spot

Just a tuk tuk ride away in Unawatuna, The Hideout is a lush little retreat for grilled seafood, spicy sambols and cool beach cocktails. A must if you’re exploring beyond the Fort – or simply want a barefoot lunch beneath the palms. The grilled prawns are smoky and perfectly charred, while the cocktails lean tropical and punchy. Good tunes and a leafy garden make it a go-to for sundowners. thehideoutunawatuna.com

Where to stay in Galle

Fort Bazaar

Set inside a restored 17th-century merchant’s house, Fort Bazaar is a serene 18-bedroom boutique hotel that delivers on every front: rich fabrics, shady courtyards, rooftop swimming pool, spa treatments with cinnamon and clove and a standout restaurant (Church Street Social) downstairs. It’s a cool oasis in the heart of the Fort and the perfect base for your Galle eating adventure. Rooms blend colonial charm with sleek modern touches, while the breakfast spread is worth waking up early for. teardrop-hotels.com/fort-bazaar