The 6 Best Restaurants in Negombo, Sri Lanka

This blog post is all about the best restaurants in Negombo, Sri Lanka.

Negombo was one of our first destinations when we spent one month in Sri Lanka, and it was also our very last as we had to come back.

The sleepy town outside of Colombo is the perfect location to visit when you first arrive in Sri Lanka to recharge and get ready to experience the rest of what Sri Lanka has to offer.

We had spent one night in Colombo (Sri Lanka’s capital), before heading to the beach destination of Negombo for four nights to plan the rest of our trip.

And we were so glad we chose to spend a long time in Negombo as we quickly fell in love with the area (so much so that we made sure to end our time in Sri Lanka here too!).

From our total of 8 nights spent in Negombo, you can be sure that we ate very well during our time here and tried quite a few restaurants before solidifying our favourites.

This guide covers the best restaurants in Negombo that we loved and revisited time and time again.

RELATED Best Restaurants in Negombo blog posts to read:

• Ultimate Negombo Travel Guide: How to Spend 2 Days Here
• Sujeewani Villa Hotel Review: Where to Stay in Negombo
• The 11 Best Hikkaduwa Restaurants in Sri Lanka
• Ultimate 1 Month Sri Lanka Itinerary and Travel Route
• Amazing 10-Day South Sri Lanka Travel Route & Itinerary

I vlogged our full month in Sri Lanka, and you can see everything we got up to in Negombo, as well as the best restaurants in Negombo in this dedicated Negombo travel vlog on YouTube of our 8 days in Negombo, Sri Lanka.

---

A Quick Guide to Local Food in Sri Lanka

Before diving into the best restaurants in Negombo, it’s worth talking a little bit about local Sri Lankan food, because it’s genuinely one of the highlights of travelling here.

The cuisine is bold, spicy, coconut-heavy, and incredibly flavourful. Even the simplest meals are layered with spices and herbs that make everything taste vibrant and comforting at the same time.

When you start browsing the best restaurants in Negombo, you’ll notice a few dishes appearing again and again.

Here are some of the most common ones you’ll find in these best restaurants in Negombo:

1. Rice and Curry

If there is one meal that defines Sri Lanka, it’s rice and curry. Don’t let the name fool you though, because this isn’t just one curry.

A typical Sri Lankan rice and curry plate comes with:

• A large serving of rice
• Several vegetable curries
• A meat or fish curry
• Sambols (spicy coconut relishes)
• Papadam

Each curry is cooked separately with different spices and ingredients. Some are creamy with coconut milk, others are spicy and tangy.

No two rice and curry meals taste exactly the same, and trying rice and curry around the whole country was honestly one of my highlights of the trip.

2. Kottu Roti

Kottu is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic street foods.

It’s made by chopping up flatbread (called godamba roti) and stir-frying it on a hot griddle with vegetables, egg, spices, and usually chicken or seafood.

The sound of the metal blades chopping the roti is actually part of the experience. If you walk past a street stall at night, you’ll hear that rhythmic clanging before you even see the food.

---

3. Hoppers (Appa)

Hoppers are bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk.

They’re crispy around the edges and soft in the centre. Sometimes they come plain, sometimes with an egg cooked in the middle.

They’re usually eaten for breakfast with spicy sambols and curries.

4. Seafood

It’s key to know that Negombo is a fishing town, so you’ll find amazing seafood in all of these best restaurants in Negombo.

You’ll find:

• grilled prawns
• jumbo lagoon crab
• fresh tuna
• calamari
• lobster

Many of the best restaurants in Negombo display the day’s catch so you can choose what you want before it’s cooked.

If you love seafood, Negombo is a fantastic place to indulge, and one of the best things to do in Negombo is to visit the fish market early in the morning.

RELATED Best Restaurants in Negombo blog post to read: Ultimate Negombo Travel Guide: How to Spend 2 Days Here

---

The Best Restaurants in Negombo, Sri Lanka

If you’re planning a stay in Negombo and wondering where to eat, here are the best restaurants in Negombo we personally loved the most, along with a few other popular spots worth knowing about.

1. BOHO Negombo

Boho Cafe was one of the first places we discovered in Negombo, and it quickly became a favourite.

The space itself is bright, relaxed, and exactly what the name suggests. Think natural wood furniture, plants, light colours and a laid-back beachy vibe that makes you want to linger for a while.

It’s the kind of place that works equally well for breakfast, brunch, or a casual lunch.

The menu leans more towards Western café food with a Sri Lankan twist. You’ll find things like smoothie bowls, fresh juices, avocado toast, sandwiches, and light rice dishes.

After a few days of travelling in Sri Lanka, it can actually feel really nice to have a slightly lighter meal, and BOHO Negombo is perfect for that.

We stopped here many times for breakfast and loved the fresh fruit bowls and coffee. It’s also a great place to bring your laptop for an hour or two if you’re doing a bit of trip planning.

It has that easy, relaxed energy that makes you feel like you’ve found a little local hangout rather than a tourist spot.

---

2. Jude Restaurant Upstairs

If you ask locals or long-time visitors where to eat in Negombo, Jude Restaurant Upstairs almost always comes up.

Jude Restaurant sits above a small shop and opens out into a breezy rooftop terrace overlooking the street below. It’s casual, friendly, and has that classic Sri Lankan seaside restaurant atmosphere.

But the real reason people come here is the seafood.

The menu is packed with fresh fish, prawns, calamari, and crab dishes that are prepared with bold Sri Lankan spices. Everything tastes incredibly fresh, which makes sense given Negombo’s strong fishing culture.

We ate here almost every single evening and it was easily one of the most memorable restaurants we tried in town and tops the list of the best restaurants in Negombo for evening meals.

I tried their rice and curry, devilled chicken, kottu and more. Each dish was incredible which is why we kept returning each night.

The portions are generous and the staff are incredibly welcoming, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed rather than formal.

If you’re looking for a classic Negombo seafood dinner, this is a great choice as it’s right by the beach.

---

3. Zen Cafe

Zen Cafe is another spot that we ended up returning to more than once.

It’s tucked away just off the main road and has a calm, leafy courtyard that feels like a little oasis away from the busier parts of town.

The atmosphere is peaceful, the service is warm, and the menu offers a mix of Sri Lankan and international dishes.

What we loved about Zen Cafe is that it strikes a really nice balance between casual and polished.

It’s relaxed enough to drop into for breakfast, but also feels like a nice place for dinner if you want something a bit more atmospheric.

Their breakfast is lovely and you’ll also find cats and dogs lazing around in the sun and joining you for your meal.

It’s the kind of place where you can sit for a long meal without feeling rushed, and get chatting to other backpackers.

---

4. Jhony Food Restaurant

Jhony Food might not look fancy from the outside, but this is exactly the kind of place that makes travelling in Sri Lanka so fun.

It’s a small, local spot that serves incredibly tasty Sri Lankan food at very reasonable prices (so cheap!).

This is where you go if you want authentic local flavours rather than a polished restaurant experience.

Their kottu roti is especially good, and you’ll often hear the chefs chopping it up on the hot griddle before you even walk inside.

Meals here are simple, filling, and packed with flavour.

It’s the kind of place where you’ll probably find a mix of locals and travellers who’ve been tipped off by someone else.

---

5. Ocean 14

If you’re craving a sunset dinner by the beach, Ocean 14 is a fantastic choice.

Located right on Negombo beach, Ocean 14 has a beautiful open-air setting where you can watch the sun dip into the Indian Ocean while you eat.

The menu focuses heavily on seafood and grilled dishes. You’ll find things like:

• grilled lobster
• garlic butter prawns
• seafood pasta
• fresh fish straight from the day’s catch

The portions are generous and the presentation is simple but satisfying.

It’s definitely one of those places where the location adds a lot to the experience. Sitting by the ocean with a cold drink after a long day of exploring Negombo is hard to beat!

---

6. Lords Restaurant Complex

Lords Restaurant Complex is one of the most well-known dining spots in Negombo, and for good reason.

It’s actually a collection of restaurants and bars all in one complex, which gives it a lively and slightly more upscale feel compared to some of the smaller local eateries around town.

The space is colourful, atmospheric, and often has live music or entertainment in the evenings.

The menu is huge and covers everything from Sri Lankan curries to international dishes like pasta, burgers, and seafood platters.

It’s a great option if you’re travelling in a group and everyone wants something slightly different.

The cocktails are also surprisingly good, which makes it a fun place to start or end an evening.

Just note that Lords Restaurant Complex isn’t as cheap as the other more local options on this list, so we only ate here once. However, the live music and atmosphere was definitely one of the best.

---

More Restaurants in Negombo to Consider

While the restaurants above were our personal favourites, there are a few other places that are frequently recommended by travellers and locals.

• Yaaga Backyard Dining: A charming garden restaurant known for its relaxed atmosphere and delicious Sri Lankan dishes.
• The Coffee Stories: Great coffee, breakfast options, and brunch dishes.
• Prego Italian Restaurant: A good option if you’re craving pizza or pasta after lots of Sri Lankan food.