Negombo guide · Where to eat
Places to eat in Negombo, with what to order and how comfortable each is for families and older travellers.
Updated
Negombo is a fish town: the lagoon yields crab and prawns, and seafood is widely served. Rice and curry often includes fish or meat, and vegetable dishes may use dried or Maldives fish, so vegetarians must ask what goes into each curry and sambol. Local curry houses are cheap but rarely vegetarian. Koththamalli by Rohan, inside Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions, is the one place we could verify with a clear plant-based offer: the official site describes vegan and vegetarian menus, and a roadside dining room is open to non-guests. We found no Pure Veg, Jain or dedicated Indian restaurant that we could verify in Negombo, so our verified list is short on purpose. Jain and strict vegetarian diners should ask their hotel in advance for meals without meat, fish, egg, onion and garlic, and keep dry snacks for the road. Fresh king coconut is sold everywhere.
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
Porutota Road, Ethukala, Negombo
A Swiss and German restaurant on Porutota Road, listed for cheese fondue, schnitzel and grilled mullet. A change from curry for travellers who want European food.
Old Town, Negombo
A seafood restaurant in Negombo's Old Town, in a colonial-style building, known in two guides for crab, large prawns and fish ceviche. A quieter, more formal option than the beach strip.
Southern end of Jetwing Beach, Negombo
A mid-range restaurant near the southern end of Jetwing Beach that Wikivoyage lists for Sri Lankan curry and rice and, according to that page, its pizzas.
Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions, Ethukale, Porutota Road, Negombo
A restaurant inside Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions that serves vegan and vegetarian menus built around Ayurvedic ideas, with a roadside dining room open to non-guests. Rare in Negombo for being built around plant-based cooking.
Porutota Road, opposite Jetwing Blue, Negombo
A restaurant on Porutota Road, opposite Jetwing Blue, that Wikivoyage lists for Western-style food and for showing local art. A cultural show is noted for Wednesdays.
35A Poruthota Road, Ethukala, Negombo
A pub-style restaurant at 35A Poruthota Road with a large menu, vegetarian choices and cocktails. Two guides list it, and it works for a relaxed evening with a mixed group.
Porutota Road, opposite Jetwing Blue, Negombo
A casual place on Porutota Road, opposite Jetwing Blue, that Wikivoyage lists for local roti with chutney and for curry with rice. A simple, inexpensive meal in the main tourist strip.
Beach Road, Negombo
A seaside restaurant on Beach Road that guides single out for lagoon mud crab and seafood platters. A sensible choice for a seafood dinner in Negombo.
4th floor, Hotel J, 331 Lewis Place, Negombo
A bar and restaurant on the fourth floor of Hotel J at 331 Lewis Place, listed by Wikivoyage for its sunset views and evening opening hours.
Jetwing Beach, Negombo
An open-air beachfront restaurant at Jetwing Beach serving Sri Lankan and international dishes, with a focus on seafood caught fresh each day according to the hotel's dining page.
Negombo's main dining strip, Porutota Road area
A restaurant in Negombo's main dining strip that two guides recommend for a wide menu, from Sri Lankan rice and curry to pizza and cocktails. Useful when a group cannot agree on one cuisine.
