The Best of the Best of Weligama Restaurants

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Weligama is a laid-back, surf town located on the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. In my experience, It is one of those magical places in South Asia where it is so easy to ‘get stuck’ and not want to leave. Everything from the warm people, the incredible waves, and the tropical vibes make Weligama a really special place.

On top of this, the incredible range of restaurants, cafes, local food-joints, and finer-dining spots adds to the magic of Weligama. Whether you are stopping in Weligama for the day, or joining one of the many very popular surf-camps offered here, I highly recommend checking out this charming little beach town.

I’ve added 5 of my favourite restaurants and cafes, spanning delightful local cuisine, more western-style cafes, and even Japanese food! I can guarantee that you will be treated to great coffee and great food feasts in Weligama with these recommendations.

Nomad Cafe

The famous Nomad Café was the first place I dined at in Weligama. After a long day of travel, we asked our local host for his recommendation for where we should eat. Surely enough, he insisted that we should eat here! That was the first of many, many pre-surf coffees, post-surf brunches, and lazy lunches that I enjoyed at this well-loved joint.

The menu at Nomad offers a large variety of vegan and healthier food options. For breakfast, I especially loved the avo toast (I’m Australian, sue me!) and the decadently tropical pancakes. The barista coffee was also a standout, and the service impeccable.

After an awesome surf sesh in the Indian Ocean, lunch at Nomad was often a must. I absolutely loved the Barramundi (!!) Fish Tacos, the hand-cut fries and the hummus dish. Actually, we ate through most of the menu, and I can’t fault any of the dishes – you’re guaranteed a good meal no matter what you order!

Every staff member always had a smile on their face, and were genuinely excited to connect with people from all around the world. I must note that the prices of each dish were on the more expensive side 5000INR/$57US (average 2000LKR/$6-8US).

The café’s interior is gorgeous and welcoming, so there are lots of areas to enjoy long meals and spaces to work. We absolutely demolished each and every meal at this Weligama institution, and always left with happy hearts and tummies.

Hangten Restaurant

The epic Hangten Rooftop Café is on the top floor of the Hangtime Hostel, a multi-story complex offering surf-friendly rooms, rooftop yoga, and the restaurant. Just steps from this beach, this restaurant-come- hangout area offers western classics with delightful Sri Lankan twists.

Hangten is partially run by Australians, meaning that all the baristas understand a good cup of coffee (if you know you know!) The prices are lower compared to a lot of other touristic cafés, with each meal averaging 1700LKR/$5-6US.

It feels hard to pick favourites, but for argument’s sake I will try to pick a few. I loved the shakshuka dish (1600LKR/$4.50US) for breakfast – it is so flavourful and heartier for a more filling choice. For a more refreshing choice, I must recommend the mango magic shake. I must have ordered it close to 10 times!

As this café is open until late, we often enjoyed dinner here as well. The loaded fries were insanely good, as was the sushi menu and all of the burgers.

I must add that this restaurant offered the cutest initiative where you could purchase a locally designed post-card, and write to home. The lovely staff would then send the postcard to the provided address – and cost free! I can confirm that my family in Australia received theirs within a week and were thrilled to get a tiny slice of Sri Lankan beauty.

KAIYŌ

KAIYŌ is an Asian-inspired modern restaurant and bar, with a focus on the vibrant character of Sri Lankan cuisine. Off the bat, the interior of this place is absolutely stunning, creating a really cosy and intimate atmosphere.

The menu here is definitely more selective and refined. I must say that there were not a whole lot of vegetarian options, so keep that in mind – and equally, if you don’t like fish and seafood. All the food was incredibly light, fresh, good quality and healthy. I loved the fusion of more traditional Japanese cuisine blended with unique Sri Lankan flavours.

We enjoyed everything that we ordered, starting with the smashed cucumbers and tuna sashimi for entree. We also ordered a few good rolls of tuna nigiri, smoked tuna roll, and the fried tofu. The sushi was decadent and full of flavour and freshness. For main, the vegetarian miso ramen was very tasty and filling.

As expected, the prices at KAIYŌ were some of the steepest we saw in Weligama. However, we dined here on our last night, and it was all totally worth it. To top off this fine-dining experience, we were served lovely mango/papaya mochi for dessert. A great cocktail and wine selection is also on offer.

I totally recommend eating here as a unique dining experience, with Sri Lankan tastes weaved into all the meals.

Plan B

Toward the end of my time in Weligama, I decided to finally check out Plan B Coffeehouse. My friend had recommend it to me many times for their great matcha, and this joint did not disappoint.

The matcha really was delicious, and the whole vibe at this place was fabulous. Their food and drinks menu are both extensive, and everyone is guaranteed to find something here that they enjoy and that fits in with their dietaries and budget.

I enjoyed the açai bowl for breakfast, but honestly there are many dishes that I would have loved the opportunity to try as well. I had a taste of the rustic salmon toast, and it was heavenly. They also serve a whole selection of local curries and specialties.

Attached to the cafe itself is an awesome working space, that offers full day and shorter passes for purchase. Half of the price of the pass is also redeemable in food and drink credits, so spending a few hours at this work space is worth the price in my opinion.

Mama’s Cafe

This hidden gem quickly became our favourite restaurant when we wanted a quiet and authentic meal away from all the crowds. Mama’s Cafe is run by a lovely family who go above and beyond to ensure that you enjoy your experience there. It is tucked away behind all the hustle and bustle of the main town, yet it is only a small walking distance away.

The café is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I was eating here at all hours. The avocado toast for breakfast was really yummy and so fresh-tasting. The prices were also significantly cheaper than most of the other cafés catered towards tourists.

Our absolute stand-out from this restaurant, and honestly from Weligama in general, was the fresh tuna and avocado salad. I really didn’t know that tuna could be this tasty! It could be because it was caught just down the road and is abundant in Weligama. We kept coming back for this dish, it was really outstanding!

The vegetable curry meal was also delightful, as it is in most restaurants in Weligama. We received unlimited helpings of all the daily and freshly-made vegetable curries, coconut sambol, vegetables, dhal, rice and even fruit for dessert. Overall, this restaurant was one of my favourites and always promised a great feed with lovely service and good prices.

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