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the resturants is inside an old steam-train
carriage, which still has its whistle and kind
of trundles along the line.
The family rooms, playground, pony rides
and babysitting service make it a good bet for
those travelling with children.
The Heritance is a 30-minute drive north-
east of Nuwara Eliya.Langdale HOmESTAY $$$
(%492 4959; http://www.amayaresorts.com; Radetta,
Nanu Oya; s/d incl breakfast US$162/172; Ws) For
the ultimate in luxury ‘homestay’ try this of-
fering from the Amaya chain. It’s a converted
old colonial building set, of course, in a tea es-
tate. It all feels like a very posh homestay and
the service is first rate, but considering the
price we feel it does somewhat lack that ‘wow’
factor you’d expect. It’s 9km west of town on
the road to Hatton.5 Eating
For lunch there are plenty of good, cheap op-
tions in town, but for dinner you’ll probably
want to eat at your guesthouse or at one of
the ritzier hotel eateries.Milano Restaurant SR i lANKAN $
(94 New Bazaar St; mains Rs 180-380; h7.30am-
10pm) With friendly service and a reliable
menu of Sri Lankan, Western and Chinese
dishes, this is a decent place for a cheap
meal in the town centre. After a curry
treat yourself to some of their sweet, baked
goodies.Restaurant Two SR i lANKAN $
(grand Hotel Rd; mains Rs 200-500) Cheap, sim-
ple, semi-open-air place with a quiet setting
next to the golf course. The food here can be
fiery – you’ve been warned!De Silva Food Centre SR i lANKAN $
(90 New Bazaar St; mains Rs 200-350; h7am-
10pm) This inexpensive eatery located alonga busy main street serves Sri Lankan and
Chinese fare as well as what it claims are the
‘town’s best burgers’. A few vegetarian rotti
make a good lunchtime snack.oGrand Indian iNDiAN $$
(grand Hotel Rd; mains Rs 600-700; h11am-11pm)
Far and away the town’s favourite restau-
rant, so much so that in the evenings you
often have to wait for a table. The food here
is the rich, delicious fare of northern India.
The service is fast and efficient, and there’s
an energetic buzz about the place.King Prawn Restaurant CHiNESE $$
(Hotel glendower, 5 grand Hotel Rd; mains Rs 500-
800; hnoon-2pm & 6-10pm) Chinese is the
overriding culinary influence here, all de-
livered in a dining room transplanted from
1930s England. Thai flavours also linger in
some of the dishes, and there’s a good array
of seafood on offer. While the food isn’t that
memorable, it does make a nice change from
rice and curry.
The menu prices don’t include the raft of
different taxes.Hill Club iNTERNATiONAl $$$
(%222 2653; 29 grand Hotel Rd; set menu US$24;
h7-10.30pm) Dinner at the Hill Club is an
event in itself. The five-course set menu
focuses on traditional English meals such
as roast beef with all the trimmings. The
whole thing is carried off with faded coloni-
al panache. Men must wear a tie and jacket;
there’s a small selection on hand. Women
must also dress in a formal manner.
The food doesn’t live up to everyone’s ex-
pectations, especially with such a relatively
high price tag, but it’s still a great experience.
Come along an hour or so before dinner for
a drink in the Hill Club’s bars. It was only a
few years ago that the ‘Casual Bar’ was res-
olutely enforced as ‘men only’. Now all gen-
der variations are welcome, provided you are
smartly dressed, but we have heard reports
that Sri Lankans of a certain ‘class’ are not
always allowed. If you’re not staying the night
here, you’ll have to pay a Rs 100 temporary
joining fee.Grand Hotel iNTERNATiONAl $$$
(%222 2881; grand Hotel Rd; dinner Rs 2900) Ver y
high-quality, five-course Asian and Western
dinners are dished up by spiffy waiters ser-
enaded by a grand piano. Although the res-
taurant is open to nonguests, during very
busy periods hotel guests get priority. Smart,
formal dress only.SOMERSET STRAWBERRIES
Eight kilometres out of Nuwara Eliya
town, on the road to Hatton, is the
village of Radella. Here you’ll find the
Somerset Farm (%567 5550; Somerset
Radella; h7.30am-5.30pm) shop and
cafe where those in the know buy fresh-
from-the-farm strawberries, as well as
jam and tea. There are some outdoor
tables at which to eat and enjoy them at.