A Foodie’s Guide to Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Ever since my first trip to Sri Lanka, I have been back a few times if only to eat my way through all the restaurants in Galle. Sri Lankan classics and fresh seafood are on the menu in addition to some international fare. 

Then Covid hit and everything changed. Honestly, if you are looking for up-to-date Galle restaurants you will be sorely disappointed – many of what you can find online is less than up-to-date. So I made it my mission to once again eat my way through Galle on your behalf and send some tried & tested recommendations your way. 

Where to start? If you can’t wait for my favorite places to eat in Galle go right ahead. Below you will find some tips for your trip to Galle in more detail if it is your first time in Sri Lanka. JUMP AHEAD!

My Favorite Restaurants in Galle

Elita

When I asked where I should eat seafood in Galle the most often mentioned place was Elita. The seafood restaurant is located between Middle and Lighthouse Street and you can enter from both streets. 

The evening I arrived the mood was somber as Sri Lanka had just lost to India in the cricket game. That didn’t deter the lovely waiter from organizing a table for me, bringing me the menu, and an Arrack Attack in lightspeed. The Arrack unfortunately was nothing compared to the one at Church Street Social so I recommend you go for something simple like a G&T instead. 

I ordered grilled prawns that came as a surprise already de-shelled and in a creamy garlic sauce. But they were absolutely delicious (and there was no question about their freshness) and the portion size was generous. 

Best of all and good to know: they do accept credit cards!

The Bungalow Galle Fort

The Bungalow Galle Fort is both a restaurant and a boutique hotel, located in an old colonial building. You will eat in their beautiful, shaded courtyard or at a covered veranda. The setting is lush and cozy, and they get busy. 

The menu is a bit hard to describe, but you will find a bit of everything, including some nice vegetarian options as well as decadent oysters and seafood platters. I also really liked their drinks menu with international and local spirits, cocktails, mocktails, and wines.

I opted for the tuna tartare, which was nice and fresh, albeit a bit too sweet with lots of mango and avocado. After, I ordered the Sri Lankan crab curry, which was very reasonably priced. I realized too late that I was going to get a whole crab and would have to do some work. 

In the end, I was just served a few claws, and they supplied a crab cracker and leg picks as well as a bib – it wasn’t too bad. I am not sure if I got my money’s worth, but since crab de-shelling is a lengthy activity, I definitely didn’t leave hungry. 

The Arch

The Arch is an elegant, classic seafood restaurant in Galle Fort. Perfect setting for a somewhat romantic evening, though they don’t mind solo diners or families either. 

The staff is very attentive but never annoying, and on the menu, you will find refined Sri Lankan dining. However, if you are not a fan of seafood, I wouldn’t recommend the Arch. They do have some beef and chicken dishes as well as burgers, but the focus is definitely on fish and seafood. And do not come as a vegetarian, as the only veggie options are sides like mushrooms or potato wedges. 

If you don’t mind those restrictions, I can recommend the Arch. I started with a grilled octopus that could have used a bit more sauce, but was incredibly tender. After I went for the Sri Lankan prawn curry with toasted paang, bread, the perfect accompaniment if you don’t want anymore rice.

Tip: The prawns are big and juicy, but come as a whole, so you will need to peel them. While nobody minds if you use your hands, you may end up with curried fingers despite a bowl that is provided. 

They also have a whole fish, a couple of pasta dishes, and options like a whole crab on the menu, as well as a great cocktail and wine list. 

Bastille

I first noticed Bastille because of their funny signs outside that made me giggle while walking past. So I decided one night to give it a go. To be honest, it was a rainy evening so it wasn’t very lively but I didn’t mind. 

On the menu are some good curry options as well as whole grilled fish – obviously all as fresh as it gets. I ordered a prawn curry with all the fixings and a nice cold beer – the perfect combo on a rainy night. 

I guess just as well for a prawn curry it wasn’t too spicy and luckily the prawns were peeled (didn’t get so lucky with my curry in Ahangama). Overall it wasn’t the most exciting curry I ever had but a perfectly nice dish with plenty of tender prawns especially at the price. 

Church Street Social

The Church Street Social is the restaurant of the Fort Bazaar Hotel, one of my favorite hotels in Galle Fort. To be honest, I usually can’t afford to stay longer than a night or two but whenever I am in town this is my preferred breakfast and work spot. The veranda outside is cozy and not too busy while you can still do some people-watching, and I usually find a neighborhood cat to cuddle with. 

This is also the place where I first fell in love with hoppers. And yes, there are probably places that are more authentic and definitely cheaper but I love their hoppers with spicy chicken curry not only for nostalgic reasons!

BREAKFAST TIME – INTRODUCING THE SRI LANKAN HOPPER.

Their menu mainly offers international dishes including some nice salads or some wonderfully mundane things like fish ‘n chips. 

After many sober years they also finally have a liquor license – hurrah! They do a great happy hour and the staff is usually nice enough to clock in another cocktail for you just before it ends. Try their Arrack Attack – one of the best cocktails I have had in a while (may have had a few too many). Some other places have them on the menu as well but none come close to the one at Church Street Social. 

Chambers

Chambers considers itself a Moroccan restaurant in Galle though technically it offers a colorful mix of dishes from Morocco to the Middle East. Yes, there are tagines but then there is also a huge selection of hot and cold mezze and skewers. Let’s not get hung up on semantics – if you want hummus or kebab, pita or Arabic bread and wash it all down with a Moroccan mint tea, Chambers is your place!

I went for lunch and had a Turkish version of moussaka as well as a type of sumac spiced chicken spring rolls with pinenuts apparently from Palestine. Both were delicious and two plates were plenty even coming from the mezze menu. That said, the dishes are definitely on the pricier side. 

If you come, I recommend you plan a visit in the evening – Chambers is very dark inside but from what I have seen looks cozy after dark when they turn on the lights. 

Maru Poke & Cafe

Looking for something fresh and healthy after stuffing your face with Sri Lankan curry? I recommend you head to Maru for a nice poke bowl. They share a terrace with another cafe next door but don’t seem to mind if you sit wherever you want – perfect if you need to keep your distance from a screaming child. 

They have different bowls with tuna, salmon, or tofu as well as some kind of open sushi burrito/taco version. And of course, there are kombucha and juices to round up a healthy meal. 

While it probably wasn’t the best poke bowl I have ever had it was a great option instead of a boring salad when I needed some vitamins and greens. 

Aqua Forte

I guess you could consider Aqua Forte the fine dining restaurant in Galle, though I am not sure it would deserve the title if there were more competition. That said, if you are in the mood for some high-end Italian food, it is the place to be.

The setting is typical for Galle restaurants with classic, elegant Sri Lankan interior. If you can, snatch the one table outside on the veranda. 

You can eat à la carte or have a multi-course menu, though this seems to be just courses you could order individually with an optional wine pairing. Let’s get it out of the way: prices are steep (only surpassed by the Amangalla and Tuna & the Crab in Galle). However, they use high-quality ingredients, and the food is very good. 

I went for the beef tartare with hazlenut mayonnaise and roasted hazelnuts that was served with a generous bread basket. After I was in the mood for pasta, and while I was keen to try the homemade thick spaghetti with fresh lobster, I couldn’t justify the price tag. So I went for spaghetti with Parma ham, Parmesan cheese fondue, and truffle oil. Luckily, the truffle oil was quite subtle, and the whole dish resembled a fancy carbonara – I am not complaining. 

All in all, if you are in the mood for some revamped Italian classics, Aqua Forte is a great choice. Do get a Negroni too!

Aqua Pizza

The Aqua group has made it to Galle with not only a pizzeria but aforementioned, Aqua Forte, and a lunch spot with focaccias and sandwiches. 

Aqua Pizza offers original Neapolitan pizza. I should add as a disclaimer that I am not the biggest fan of Neapolitan pizza as it seems a bit too doughy for my liking and the sauce-cheese ratio is usually off. As in there is not enough cheese on it.

I ordered the pizza with mozzarella, salciccia, and kankun, a type of water spinach. With that, the problem of the sauce-cheese ratio was solved. I’d give the pizza a solid 7/10. Personally, I am a salciccia coneusiur and this was not the best I have had but the combination was lovely as was the dough. 

They only have a couple of tables outside on the stoop but there are more on the back patio. Service is lovely and quick, prices will most likely remind you of home – so this is not the place for a cheap meal in Galle but rather a night out. 

Pasta Factory

Pasta Factory is an institution and one of those restaurants in Galle that survived the pandemic. It looks like it is located in an old barn, rustic, and riggedy is the vibe.

On the menu as the name implies various pastas. Some vegan, some not, some homemade, some Barilla with a variety of sauces as well as some specials like ravioli.

I ordered a pasta similar to a pici since it was mentioned as the perfect choice for pasta al dente fans and in that it did not disappoint. I asked before whether the seafood would be fresh and was assured that it was, alas it wasn’t. With that, I was a bit irritated because I don’t like frozen seafood or rather I don’t want to pay fresh seafood prices, especially in a place where the fish market is just around the corner. 

Overall the pasta was good, next time I will just go for a simple tomato sauce and call it a day!

Unfortunately, you can’t have a glass of red with your pasta as they don’t have a liquor license. Still overall a good place for a comfy Sunday pasta meal. 

KiXi

It is a bit hard to find a coworking cafe in Galle. As far as I know, there are none in the fort. When I searched I came around KiXi and it was mentioned that you can usually work there in peace as long as you order a beverage every so often. 

I went to try it out one morning and was not disappointed. The downstairs has aircon but is rather tiny so maybe don’t come over lunch if you want to work. There is also an upstairs terrace alas no aircon. 

They have a small menu with cakes, breakfast bowls, and some burgers. I ordered a tuna burger which, to be honest, wasn’t anything to write home about. But the passionfruit soda was nice and it is a good spot to get some work done, power outlets and wifi included. 

WIJAYA BEACH

Wijaya Beach is probably one of my favorite restaurants in the Galle area. While not directly in the city, you can take a quick tuk-tuk to Unawatuna beach and it is well worth the trip. 

This stretch of the coast is a little bit wild and makes for some dramatic wave watching. Wijaya has some loungers which will give you a front-row seat while you sip on a passionfruit mojito. Or two. 

What to eat? What not to eat! Start with some fresh, inexpensive tuna sashimi followed by a tuna steak with salad and fries, prawn curry, or a pizza. Actually don’t have the pizza, go for the fresh fish and seafood instead.

Mind you, the place gets busy especially on the weekends, and people myself included like to stay for a long time, chill, and have more mojitos. Come early or even better, book a room with the owners across the street so you are within walking vicinity. 

FORT Printers

The Fort Printers is another boutique hotel in town housed in a beautiful 18th-century mansion and a great option for fine dining in Galle. The menu at 39 Bistro & Wine Bar offers a nice mix of international dishes with lots of fish and seafood as well as curries and some Moroccan influenced plates. 

I had the lobster tacos because as you know I am obsessed with tacos. They weren’t quite comparable to their Mexican counterparts mainly because of the tacos not being corn but overall it was a nice meal and there was plenty of lobster to go around. 

When I am going back to Galle, I want to eat here again and try their Coconut Bread Pudding which sounds like a good enough reason to head to Sri Lanka! 

Ropewalk

The number of good happy hour bars in Galle has, unfortunately, dwindled. So I usually end up at Church Street Social for their well-priced Arrack Attacks and delicious cassava chips. But if you wanted a tiny change in scenery, hop next door to the Galle Fort Hotel. 

The hotel is now home to Ropewalk, allegedly one of Sri Lanka’s top 20 bars (though I am not sure how many there even are). That said, the cocktail menu looks nice, the service is lovely, and the setting is a vibe. 

Food tour in Galle

If you are not in the mood for a regular meal, you now have the option to do a food tour in Galle. Devi’s tours are highly praised, and I reckon they are a great introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine. Unfortunately for me, she only runs them on Saturdays and with a minimum of 4 people. If you come in high season and are in town on a Saturday, make sure to book!

Book: Devi’s Walking Food & Cultural Tour in Galle Fort

Practical tips for your stay in Galle

After you arrive in Sri Lanka, you first have to get to Galle. How you get there will depend a bit on whether you are planning to spend some time in Colombo or are heading south straight from the airport. You can either take the train, the express bus, or a private transfer, depending on your budget and how fancy you are feeling. Your choices will also depend on your departure time, as trains are a bit limited. 

Taking a train to Galle

While train travel in Sri Lanka is one of the things to do, especially on the route from Kandy to Ella, it is not for the faint-hearted. The system especially compared to neighboring India is a bit chaotic, to say the least, but the incredibly cheap first-class tickets make it worth it. 

If the train times align with your schedule, I recommend you buy your ticket from 12go, as the website of the Sri Lankan Railway is in shambles. Trains from Colombo leave from Colombo Fort station, and it takes about 2 hours to get to Galle.

Once you get your ticket you have to exchange it for a boarding pass at the train station – go straight to this window in Colombo:

Signs will announce your platform though from there it gets a bit complicated. Because, unlike trains in India, there is no way to figure out where your car will stop on the platform. 

Luckily Sri Lankans are helpful and kind and will usually push you a through a very full train until I find your seat. Chances are, the conductor will make sure you know your stop, but Galle is hard to miss. 

From the station in Galle to the fort, you can just catch a tuk-tuk – it should not cost more than 300 LKR! If you are in no mood to negotiate, download Uber and PickMe before, which will give you a set price. 

Taking a taxi to Galle

A more convenient option, especially if you are coming straight from the airport, is to take a private transfer or taxi from Colombo to Galle. It is very reasonably priced, especially if you can share the costs with a fellow traveler. 

You can either get a taxi for a set price at the airport, use my favorite – Welcome Pickups – or even get an Uber. The latter is the most economical option, and you will just need to pay a bit extra for the expressway toll. 

However, if you don’t want any hassle whatsoever, I would recommend you book a Welcome Pickups. They are slightly more expensive but still reasonable, and your driver will be in touch with you via WhatsApp and also monitor your flight. 

Book a transfer with Welcome Pickups

Where to stay in Galle

If you wanted to splurge, I can recommend a few nights at Fort Bazaar, home to the Church Street Social and the last happy hour in Galle. However, I will say that it has gotten super expensive, and I am not sure if it is worth it. 

Book Fort Bazaar on Booking.com / Agoda

A better option I recently stayed at is the Charleston, a lovely, new boutique hotel in Galle right by the ramparts and the lighthouse. The rooms are immaculate and cozy with lots of thoughtful touches, the staff is incredible, and the breakfast, of course, included, is so good. They also have a great spot for a sundowner on their rooftop pool terrace. 

Book the Charleston on Booking.com / Agoda

If you are looking for a guesthouse in Galle, I recommend Villa Yehinsa. I stayed with them years ago and loved it, though they closed for a while, but have now reopened. They have renovated most of the rooms, and it is just lovely now, plus really affordable. Their staff is very kind, and the breakfast is very good and generous. 

Book Villa Yehinsa Booking.com / Agoda

General practical tips

• Most travelers need a visa/ ETA for Sri Lanka. You can get it upon arrival, but I recommend getting it prior to arrival (this is the official website). For many nationalities, a 30-day visa with double entry is currently $50. Once it has been approved, it will be linked to your passport, so you will just need to show this at immigration – the process took less than 30 seconds for me.
• Wifi in Sri Lanka can be a hit or miss. I recommend getting a local SIM card at the airport or, even easier, an eSIM from Airalo. You can get this before your trip, install it, and start surfing as soon as you arrive.
  Buy an Airalo eSIM and get 12% off with code MBE or by using this link 
• How to get around? You will have a hard time walking through the fort without having tuk-tuk drivers offering a ride. If you don’t want to negotiate, you can use the PickMe App or Uber, which also works for tuk-tuks. That said, Galle Fort is tiny so walking will be just fine. 
• Cash is still king in Sri Lanka, and many places allow you to pay in US$ or Sri Lankan Rupees. That said, I found that more and more restaurants and hotels do take credit cards, most without any extra fees, unlike many other Asian countries. 
• If you need to get cash, there are a few ATMs around Galle.

Keen for more? Check this 7 Day Sri Lanka Itinerary in the south!

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