The short answer
Upali's by Nawaloka: what visitors should know first
Worth a lunch for a proper Sri Lankan rice and curry in a house setting. Vegetarians can ask about the vegetable curries, but the menu leans on fish and meat, so confirm before ordering.
History and context
The story behind Upali's by Nawaloka
Time Out says the restaurant occupies a former family residence. We found no founding date, so none is given here.
Useful facts
Upali's by Nawaloka facts at a glance
- Location
- Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens)
- Dining style
- Set-menu Sri Lankan in a converted house
- Price signal
- Moderate; one guide marks $$
- Signature order
- Try: hathmaluwa seven-vegetable curry, fish head curry
- Good for
- A proper rice and curry lunch
Why it matters
Why Upali's by Nawaloka is worth your time
Rice and curry is the everyday meal of Sri Lanka, and a house setting makes it feel less like a hotel dining room and more like a family table. The two guides that name Upali's agree on this local, set-menu style.
For older relatives, the useful part is the unhurried pace and the seating in a house rather than a crowded cafe. The less comfortable part is the lack of published details on steps and accessibility, so phone ahead and ask.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Clay-pot curries
Time Out says curries come in clay pots on banana leaves.
- 02
Hathmaluwa
A seven-vegetable curry named by one guide.
- 03
House setting
Described as a former family residence.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Time Out describes Upali's by Nawaloka as a local cuisine restaurant in a former family residence, with meals on banana leaves and curries in clay pots. Another guide says it serves lunch and dinner on set menus, names fish head curry and hathmaluwa, a seven-vegetable curry, and mentions roast paan.
The set-menu format can suit a first-time visitor who does not know the dishes. Tell staff your diet when you book. The vegetable curries are the natural choice for vegetarians, but the fish head curry shows that the kitchen cooks fish, and we did not find evidence on whether vegetable dishes are cooked separately.
Allow time for the meal, and eat the main curries with rice while they are hot. Keep the afternoon free afterwards, since the Colombo 7 sights are close by.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Phone for the exact address and hours
- Tell staff your diet when booking
- Ask about entrance steps
- Plan lunch around the museum or park visit
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens); get the exact address from the restaurant
- Time needed
- About 1.5 hours
- Best time
- Lunch; one guide says lunch and dinner are served
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Housed in a converted home, so check for steps at the entrance and ask for a ground-floor table. Taxi to the door is simplest.
- Tickets and access
- We found no booking details. Call ahead for lunch, especially for a group, and confirm the set menu and price.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Upali's by Nawaloka
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Housed in a converted home, so check for steps at the entrance and ask for a ground-floor table. Taxi to the door is simplest.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Upali's vegetarian?
No. It serves fish head curry among other dishes. Ask which vegetable curries are meat-free; there is no diet tag.
What is the setting?
Time Out describes a former family residence.
Is the address confirmed?
Both pages place it in Colombo 7; neither gave a street number we could cross-check, so confirm by phone.
Sources and further reading
- Sri Lankan food in Colombo (Time Out)
- Best places for Sri Lankan food in Colombo (Epic Sri Lanka Holidays)
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
