sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

The Sou

T

h

The Sou

T

h

D

R

iNK

iNG

The Sou

T

h

G

A

lle

good pizzas. The paintings on the wall give it
something of a cafe-gallery feel.

oSpoon’s Cafe SR i lANKAN $$
(%077 938 3340; 100 Pedlar St; meals from Rs 450;
h11am-9pm) Shamil Roshan Careem hails
from one of the Fort’s oldest families and he
loves to cook. Lucky us! In his new and tiny
cafe he serves up some superb curries; his
takes on old family recipes. Save room for des-
sert as his superb ‘Silk Route Toffee’ may be
the best thing to cross your lips in Sri Lanka.

oElita Restaurant S eAFOOD $$
(%077 242 3442; 75 hospital St; meals from Rs
500; h11am-9pm) Thirteen years of work as
a chef in Belgium gave Krishantha Suranjith
myriad skills in preparing seafood. His new
two-level restaurant has great views out to the
lighthouse and harbour and is a great place to
sample the local salt-water bounty. Opt for a
table out front or upstairs in the cute dining
room.

oRoyal Dutch Cafe CAFe $$
(%077 177 4949; 72 leyn Baan St; meals from Rs
450; h8am-7pm) Owner Fazal Badurdeen puts
‘storyteller’ right on his business card and
he has a million of stories. He also seems to
have almost that many teas and coffees, from
cinnamon to cardamom to ginger. There’s a
small menu of curries and good banana pan-
cakes at breakfast. Enjoy the day from the col-
onnaded porch.

Serendipity Arts Cafe iNTeRNATiONAl $$
(%224 6815; 65 leyn Baan St; meals from Rs 350;
h8am-9pm; W) This art-crammed cafe has
a fusion menu that includes Western sand-
wiches and Eastern curries, fresh juices and
shakes, bacon-and-egg hoppers and filter cof-
fee. It’s a very casual place, with a big table
outside, and is the home of Galle Fort Walks.
Ask about cooking classes.

Heritage Cafe iNTeRNATiONAl $$
(%224 6668; 53 lighthouse St; mains from Rs 800;
h8am-10pm; W) This boutique-style cafe
stands out for its array of unusual salads
and a menu that encircles half the planet, al-
though the focus is on South Asian. Choose
between eating on the sunny terrace, under
the lazy interior fans or out in the courtyard
garden. The fresh juices and shakes are tops
on a typically sultry day.

Cafe Punto SR i lANKAN $$
(42 Pedlar St; meals from Rs 500; h11am-9pm) The
praise for this rice and curry joint is far wid-
er than its narrow dining room. There’s the
usuals but also some more obscure creations

such as a very tasty cabbage and eggplant

number. They’ll make your dishes appropri-

ately spicy once you convince them you won’t

be a wimpy tourist and whinge.

Pedlar’s Inn Cafe SR i lANKAN $$

(%077 314 1477; 92 Pedlar St; meals Rs 600-1200;

h8am-10pm; W) A very popular cafe in an old

colonial house. Shakes, coffee and sandwiches

can be enjoyed at long tables that are good for

lounging. More complex meals include the

expected array of good rice and curries plus

some excellent seafood.

Mama’s Roof Café iNTeRNATiONAl $$

(%222 6415; 76 leyn Baan St; mains from Rs 400;

h11am-9pm) Eat under the twinkling star-lit

sky with views of a spinning lighthouse. The

food is fine, but note that the original ‘mama’

has moved with her recipes to another loca-

tion nearby.

oFortaleza iNTeRNATiONAl $$$

(%223 3415; 9 Church Cross St; mains from Rs 800;

h8am-10pm; W) The large courtyard at this

old spice warehouse is surrounded by deep

colonnaded porches. It’s a quiet and classy

scene and the menu matches the mood.

Elegant takes on local fare are joined by a

changing lineup of dishes such as lamb chops

and seafood. The small bar mixes some fine

drinks; breakfast is a treat.

5 Ne w Tow n

The new town, especially the canalside strip

along Havelock Place, is attracting new busi-

nesses wary of the Fort’s ever-increasing

rents.

South Ceylon Bakery SR i lANKAN $

(%223 4500; 6 Gamini Mawatha; mains Rs 100-300;

h8am-9pm) Opposite the bus station, this

highly popular lunch spot, with its impossi-

ble-to-resist sweet and savoury short eats and

tasty curries, is the most authentic place to

eat in the new town.

oOld Railway Cafe CAFe $$

(%077 626 3400; 42 havelock Pl; meals Rs 300-

800; h9am-6pm Mon-Sat) Right across the

small canal from the namesake station, this

upstairs cafe has an enticing and changing

menu of creative soups, salads and mains.

Have some good coffee or juice with wonder-

ful warm banana cake.

6 Drinking

Galle is not known for its nightlife, but you

can find a few spots for a relaxing beverage.