You’ve spent the day sightseeing in the picuresque Hill Country, traversing its emerald tea plantations, hopping off on a cycling tour and exploring one of its many stunning nature attractions. You’ll need plenty of food to make up for the calories lost, so venture to one of the restaurants on our Hill Country foodie guide to fuel up with a fine feast:
Restaurants
Grand Indian, Nuwara Eliya
Unlike some other restaurants in the Hill Country, Grand Indian boasts a lively buzz, and attracts a busy crowd each night. Here is the place to head to when you crave for tasty North Indian fare. If you arrive in the evening for dinner, order a portion of kadai chicken, a dry chicken curry prepared in a wok, as well as the kheema naan. Vacation makers hungry for a bite in the late afternoon can stave off their hunger pangs with the crispy samosas and tandoori sandwiches.
Hill Club Restaurant, Nuwara Eliya
Expect nothing less than a fine and fancy experience when you dine at the Hill Club Restaurant. Diners are expected to dress up (there are a selection of jackets and ties on hand for male customers) for a meal in a classy, colonial-style setting. To match up with formal dress code, the wait staff are immaculately attired, donning starched jackets and white gloves. Enjoy a round of pre-dinner drinks at the bar, before tucking into an English multi-course meal or Sri Lankan fare in the dining area.
Rawana Holiday Resort Restaurant, Ella
Curry lovers will be pleased with a spicy feast at this restaurant. Avid cooks may arrive early to join in the culinary classes offered by the chefs. If whipping up a storm of curries and local fare is not quite your cup of tea, just show up at a later time to tuck into a spread of appetising items, like the sweet-and-sour aubergine and spicy potato curry. Rawana’s signature garlic curry, made with whole garlic cloves, is an absolute must-try.
King Prawn Restaurant, Nuwara Eliya
Curried out? You may want to opt for Chinese fare with a dash of Thai flavours at King Prawn Restaurant. You will also find a good variety of seafood dishes on the menu.
Cafes
Cafe Chill, Ella
Just as its name suggests, Cafe Chill makes for a great spot to chill out. Well decorated interiors, cool tunes and refreshing mojitos keeps the atmosphere cheery and relaxed. Eat as the locals do by savouring the lamprais, a dish of meat, vegetables and rice wrapped in banana leaves and baked. If you are not hungry for a bite, venture to the roof top terrace for a drink under the starry night sky.
Dream Cafe Ella
Wrapped around by a pretty courtyard area, Dream Cafe charms diners with its variety of Sri Lankan and Western fare. The local breakfasts are tasty, but if you feel like you have had one too many curries during your travel, go for the burgers, wraps and salads. Dream Cafe’s pizzas have quite a reputation too, so order one to share with your fellow travellers.
Coffee Bar, Nuwara Eliya
Craving for an aromatic brew? You will find a perfect, well-roasted cuppa at Coffee Bar. Have some cakes to go along with your coffee – the cafe offers a selection of irresistible treats, like the butter cake, battenberg cake and berry muffin. If savoury nibbles are what you are after, give the sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas a go.
Apart from its mouthwatering fare, the delightful service and captivating views of the surrounding garden makes Coffee Bar a spot that warrants repeated visits.
Drinks
Lake View Pub Nuwara Eliya
Dark timber interiors, billiards, darts, terrace and a mesmerising view of the lake makes Lake View Pub an excellent pre-dinner or post-dinner spot to head to for a round of ice-cold beers.
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