Experience Colombo

For a more substantial seafood supper, we recommend a table at the award-winning ‘Ministry of Crab’ restaurant, over in the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, where an enclave of handsomely converted 17^th-century buildings, complete with teak beams and colonnaded courtyards, now house trendy boutiques, bars and cafés. Advance booking is essential; let us know if you’d like to eat there so we can make a reservation on your behalf.

Next on your tour is guided walk around Pettah – a bustling, predominantly Tamil market district north of Galle Face Green, where you will find hawkers and traders plying their wares in a grid of jam-packed streets, each specializing in different produce. A fascinating neighbourhood for people watching, it’s also a great introduction to the island’s tropical fruits, such as wood apple and jackfruit, which you’ll doubtless enjoy in the course of your holiday.

For an authentic Sri Lankan lunch with a colonial-era feel, a favourite spot of ours is the café on the ground floor of the Dutch Burgher Union. It serves Colombo’s best ‘lamrais’ – a delicious, Dutch-influenced dish consisting of rice, aubergine, frikkadel meatballs and shrimp served in a banana leaf – scrumptious!

You’ll have remainder of the day to discover Colombo at your own pace, with or without your guide, as desired. Consider a stroll around Beira Lake to the Seema Malaka temple, a meditation centre designed by the country’s best known architect, Geoffrey Bawa. A graceful assemblage of wood, stone and Buddha statues, the shrine juts serenely into the water. Look out for the flocks of pelicans and storks who live on the algae-filled lake, at the heart of the metropolis.

For a sundowner, we recommend the veranda of the elegant Galle Face Hotel, which boasts the best sea views in the city. Afterwards, jump in a tuk tuk the Gallery Café, housed in Geoffrey Bawa’s former office, where Colombo’s smart set tuck into refined fusion cuisine. The Sri Lankan-style ‘black pork curry’ is a perennial favourite, and the ‘chocolate nemesis’ is legendary. Again, it’s essential to book a table, so do let us know in advance if you’d like us make a reservation.