Where to eat
The Sharon Inn
The nightly buffet dinner, served at 7.30pm sharp in the starlit rooftop restaurant, is a tasty shortcut to falling in love with Sri Lankan cuisine. It's a true feast of veggie curry – jackfruit, banana leaf, aubergine and others are all lovingly prepared. Get here for sunset and the views are remarkable. The Sharon Inn is 2 km south of Kandy city centre.
The Kandy Muslim Hotel
No, it’s not a hotel, but this bustling eatery offers Kandy’s best samosas, authentically spiced curries and heaving plates of frisbee-sized, but gossamer-light, flat breads. However, what people really come for are the kotthu (rotti chopped and fried with meat and vegetables), which come in a variety of styles, flavours and prices.
The Empire Cafe
This flamboyantly styled, very inviting restaurant, in historical colonial-era premises, has a selection of vibrantly painted (pink and turquoise) dining rooms that make for a great place to take a break from sightseeing. Tuck into tasty breakfasts, rice and curries, pastas, wraps, salads, juices and milkshakes.
Cafe Walk
This open-sided cafe is where many of Kandy's bright young things like to hang out, with tables facing busy Dalada Vidiya. It's great for breakfast (with good almond pancakes) as well as sandwiches, paninis and salads. All your favourite espresso coffee options are also available.
Cafe Divine Street
Run by an industrious local, this tiny, inexpensive cafe offers great burgers, kebabs, subs and fried rice dishes; all are well seasoned and attractively presented. There are more tables upstairs, with good street views.
Bake House
Old-timer Bake House now has a smart (air-conditioned) dining room as well as the ground-floor cafe. On the dependable, but not wildly exciting, menu you'll find baked goodies, curries, sandwiches and Chinese and Indian dishes. Pop in just after 3pm, when the second bake of the day comes out and the short eats are still warm.
Devon Restaurant
This large and busy restaurant and bakery has a long menu of Sri Lankan and Chinese staples, a biryani or two and a few lacklustre Western offerings. Rice and curry is a winner and includes four side dishes. The main dining hall is a smart canteen-like affair.
Title Image Credit: Shehal Joseph (Image Cropped)