Where to Eat in Kandy
Our personal recommendations — the places we actually send people
We're not going to give you a list of fifty restaurants. These are the places we've been, the ones we still talk about, the ones guests come back and thank us for recommending. All within reach of Hebron Gardens.
Sri Lankan food is extraordinary — and Kandy has more depth than most tourists find. The trick is knowing where to look. We'll point you in the right direction.
Our Picks
What it is:
Fusion — Sri Lankan, European, and Asian, with creative gourmet presentation.
Why we recommend it:
Kandy’s most talked-about dining experience. Perched in the Hanthana hills above the city with panoramic views over Kandy — the setting alone is worth the trip. The food is genuinely ambitious: familiar ingredients handled with real technique and beautifully plated. Go for dinner when the city lights come on below you.
Best for:
Dinner · Special occasion · Anniversary
Distance from us:
25 minutes
Price range:
Splurge — around $30–50 USD for two with drinks
Address:
Hanthana Road (via Theva Residency), Kandy
Booking:
Reservations recommended — call +94 81 738 8296
Theva Cuisine
What it is:
Upscale Sri Lankan and international cuisine in a boutique luxury hotel.
Why we recommend it:
The most formal dining experience in Kandy — elegant setting with mountain views over the Hunnasgiriya range. Well-executed Sri Lankan heritage dishes alongside international options. A step up in both presentation and service from most Kandy restaurants. Good wine and cocktail list.
Best for:
Dinner · Special occasion · Corporate dinner
Distance from us:
25 minutes
Price range:
Splurge
Address:
Kings Pavilion, Kandy
Booking:
Reservations recommended
Kings Pavilion
What it is:
Sri Lankan and Western café and restaurant in a restored colonial building.
Why we recommend it:
One of the most atmospheric spaces in Kandy. The building dates to the colonial era and sits right next to the Temple of the Tooth. The interior is full of character — eclectic art, old-world charm, and an honest menu at honest prices. Order the rice and curry for lunch or the Sri Lankan eggs at breakfast. Not fine dining in the strict sense, but one of those places you’ll remember.
Best for:
Breakfast · Lunch · Casual dinner
Distance from us:
20 minutes
Price range:
Mid-range
Address:
Temple Street (next to the Temple of the Tooth Relic), Kandy
Booking:
Walk-in (can get busy at lunch)
The Empire Café
What it is:
Sri Lankan and European cuisine in a landmark colonial building.
Why we recommend it:
One of Kandy’s oldest and most atmospheric restaurants. The colonial courtyard, upper balcony terrace, and old-school bar feel like Kandy as it used to be. The food is solid and unpretentious: good curries, decent European dishes, and one of the best selections of beer and spirits in the city. More about the setting and the drinks than cutting-edge cuisine.
Best for:
Dinner · Drinks · Evening out
Distance from us:
20 minutes
Price range:
Mid-range
Address:
No. 44, Kings Street, Kandy
Booking:
Walk-in
Royal Bar & Hotel
What it is:
Rooftop bar and restaurant — Chinese and Western with city views.
Why we recommend it:
The rooftop terrace has one of the best views in Kandy, especially at dusk when you can watch flying foxes and birds over the city. More of a long-evening drinks spot than serious dining, but the food is better than it gets credit for. Popular with expats. Good cocktails and cold beer.
Best for:
Sundowners · Casual dinner · Drinks
Distance from us:
20 minutes
Price range:
Mid-range
Address:
29a Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Kandy
Booking:
Walk-in
Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar & Restaurant
What it is:
Eccentric hotel restaurant serving Sri Lankan and international cuisine inside one of Sri Lanka’s most unusual properties.
Why we recommend it:
Less about the food and entirely about the experience. Helga’s Folly is a rambling, art-filled, gloriously strange property that has hosted everyone from Gregory Peck to Mick Jagger over the decades. Come for afternoon tea or a pre-dinner drink — the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in the country. If you’re curious about old Ceylon and enjoy places with genuine personality, you need to see this.
Best for:
Afternoon tea · Drinks · An experience
Distance from us:
20 minutes
Price range:
Mid-range to Splurge
Address:
32 Frederick E de Silva Mawatha, Kandy
Booking:
Recommended — call ahead
Helga’s Folly
A Note on Sri Lankan Food
If you haven't eaten proper Sri Lankan rice and curry before, Kandy is one of the best places in the country to start. It's not one dish — it's a spread. Rice, several curries, sambol, papadum, sometimes a soup. Eat it with your right hand if you want the full experience.

The spice level varies by establishment. Asking for 'less spicy' is perfectly normal and will be accommodated without judgment.
Street Food Worth Finding
Kandy's street food scene is worth exploring — especially around the market and the lake in the evenings. Roti with curry. Isso vadei (prawn fritters) from the lake stalls. Kottu roti — Sri Lanka's street food icon, chopped and fried at high volume.

We can point you to the right corners when you arrive.
If You Want to Cook It Yourself
Our cooking classes teach you how to make Sri Lankan rice and curry from scratch — the same dishes you'll find at the best local restaurants. See Play at the House for details.
