EAT, STAY, LOVE

The teardrop-shaped emerald island south of the Indian peninsula is breathtakingly beautiful. Lush forests, pristine beaches, sparkling lakes, majestic hills – no matter what you seek, you find it here. The loveliness of the land is matched by the warmth of its people. The ultimate detox destination is the best therapy for your soul, senses and stomach. Our list of recommendations is collated from personal, first-hand experiences of the THOT team, and we are happy to share these with you.

EAT

Sri Lanka is gastro heaven, especially for seafood lovers. Dutch, South Indian and Malay influences make the local cuisine a heady concoction of complex flavours. The taste is enhanced by fresh, local produce and the alchemic air. Ministry of Crab in Colombo is regularly featured as one of Asia’s best restaurants in magazines and web listings; diners turn into devotees after the first experience. Blindly pick from the menu: Garlic Chilli Crab, Butter Crab, Curry Crab or Pepper Crab will bring out ecstatic gluttony from the pickiest. Diya Sisila in Bentota boasts of mesmerising lobster and prawn recipes; risky business since you can’t stop eating! KaemaSutra Pvt Ltd is known for its delicious rendition of Fish Ambulthiyal.

Images: Foodcrossborderz

While it is safe to say that the local and coastal preparations will have the minimum standard of ‘great’ at any diner, that’s not all that Sri Lanka has to offer on a plate. The smorgasbord of international menus feature top quality fare. Nihonbashi, serving authentic Japanese for 20 years, is a jewel in Colombo’s culinary crown. Dolce Italia is always packed with Italians, so you know how good it is. The Gallery Café has a lovely mix of bites, including Mediterranean platters – it all tastes better with a pint of beer. Whight & Co. has the best single origin coffee brews in the country. Poonie’s Kitchen in Galle creates collages of Euro-Asian flavours using home-grown ingredients.

Images: Nihonbashi, Theurbanlist

But a true foodie knows that gormandising is never complete without going off the radar and exploring beyond Google and Zomato. Walk through market areas and savour tasty bites from street sellers: egg hoppers, wood apple juice, kottu roti, dhal curry and green jackfruit curry should be on your must-try list. There are plenty of yum vegetarian options, along with some lip-smacking, spicy meat dishes. Sit down, talk to the local cooks, absorb and appreciate. The real magic happens when you stop being a tourist.

Images: Nomnomsfoodworld, Srilankatourism

STAY

While the major hotel chains have plush properties in all the prime tourist spots, we recommend stepping outside standard-luxe and opting for something unique. Sri Lanka is dotted with heritage establishments that have been converted into premium boutique hotels or resorts. Galle Fort Hotel in picturesque beach-town Galle is a three-centuries-old Dutch mansion that is now a stunning, UNESCO awarded, luxury abode with an illustrious guest list that includes writer Alexander McCall Smith. In the heart of the Galle Fort, what was once the New Oriental Hotel, is now a retro-modern teakwood haven called Amangalla, under the Aman group. The old presidents’ house in Colombo, which became Paradise Road The Tintagel, oozes history and character from every pore, and also houses one of the best restaurants in the city. Within a 200-year-old Moorish mansion in the capital, there is the Casa Colombo hotel, offering 12 unique designer suites that combine the original architectural components with urban swank. The Villa Bentota, in sleepy little beachside town Bentota, is a favourite of the upscale traveller, noted for its modernist-infused décor and a succulent menu. Jungle Beach Resort in Trincomalee is exactly what the name suggests: holiday cabins and cosy huts amidst lush tropical vegetation, along the pristine coast.

The Villa Bentota

Amangalla

Then there is the other side of Sri Lanka, away from beach sands, shore towns and city life. Ceylon Tea Trails, a multi award-winning boutique resort in Hatton, comprises five unique restored planters’ bungalows, each with 4-6 rooms or suites, decked with period furnishings that will transport you to another era. Kahanda Kanda, on the Koggala Lake in a working tea estate near Galle, is a beautiful rejuvenating sanctuary for visitors. Hidden within the lush forests near Kandy is a four room private residence called The Weir House, with its own vegetable garden and a plunge pool overlooking the valley. The Kandy House, just off the main Kandy area, was the manor of the last chief minister of the Kandyan kingdom, built 200 years ago. In a cove of the Madhu Ganga river in Balapitiya, a quaint retreat called The River Houseawaits with four spacious suites and a honeymoon pavilion. All these spaces are perfect for temporary disappearing acts.

Ceylon Tea Trails

The Kandy House

The River House

Images: Amangalla – www.aman.com ; Bentota – www.paradiseroadhotels.com ; Ceylon Tea Trails – www.kuoni.co.uk ; The Kandy House – www.thekandyhouse.com ; The River House – www.theriverhouse.lk 

LOVE

Colombo, being the capital, has the best mix of street markets, independent stores, gallery-spaces and boutique complexes. Paradise Road is a lovely collective of cafes, art galleries and shops that display handmade pottery, artifacts and bric-a-bracs in clay, wood, stone and other local materials. Incense, aromatherapy oils, soaps and organic skincare ranges are deliciously inviting. The Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct is a great place to spend the day: numerous food stalls, small restaurants, jewellery booths and vendors offering handmade crafts to pick as souvenirs. Barefoot on Galle Road offers textiles and home linen – all locally handwoven in cotton and silk; there is a small range of garments and cloth handbags. Kandygs and Selyn are well-known handloom havens in the city, offering yardages as well as fabric crafts and accessories. Coarse, slub cotton stripes and checks in bright colours are the most widely available, followed by graphic tribal prints, geometric jacquards and batik. If you thrive on adrenalin, take to the streets of Pettah Market: while everything is available for a good bargain, we recommend scouting out the small jewellery shops for some amazing finds.

Barefoot

Galle is strewn with boutiques and shops that are attached to cafes. Pedlar’s Inn has beautiful trinkets in precious and semi precious stones, mostly set in silver. Pieces in 14k or 18k white or yellow gold can also be customized upon request. Galle Fort, a UNESCO heritage site, has a plethora of shops like Souk 58, Sithuvili, Mansion Crafts, Olanda and Ibrahim Jewellers that sell furniture, home accessories, curios, vintage accessories and fine jewellery. Like Colombo, there is a second Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct that houses several upscale stores that are laden with a variety of goods for your wardrobe and home. The Historic Mansion Museum Shop on Leyn Baan Street is a one-stop destination for souvenirs and travel memorabilia.

Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct

The Sri Lankan yellow sapphire is considered to be the best in the world, and every tourist-frequented town is speckled with gemology and jewellery stores that offer different grades of the golden stone, some in ornamental settings, while others for astrological purposes. The National Gem & Jewellery Authority has a certification process and all authorized sellers are required to carry proper documents. Any reputed jewellery house in Colombo and Galle is a good place to buy a pukhraj. Insist on natural gems – they are lighter in hue. Deep sunset tones are often a result of artificial heating to intensify the colouring, which can lead to a misbalance of their chemical composition and a reduction of their effectiveness.

Paradise Road

Images: Paradise Road – www.paradiseroad.lk ; Dutch Hospital – www.dutchhospitalgalle.com ; Barefoot – www.barefootceylon.com ; Pedlar’s Inn – www.pedlarsinn.com ; Galle Fort – www.yamu.lk

Ref:- https://www.thehouseofthings.com/journal/eat-stay-love/65/