‘Gallery Café grabs first place for the third consecutive year
Best Themed Cuisine Restaurant in Sri Lanka.
The Gallery Café now moves into the Hall of Fame - awarded by Sri Lanka Tourism at their annual award ceremony held at Waters Edge. Opened in 1998 in a structure which was the former office of the world renowned Sri Lankan architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, this restaurant comes with his blessings.
The opening hours of the café which are 10 a.m. to midnight attracts visitors not only for meals but for that morning cuppa to be enjoyed with a slice of delicious cake and or shopping at the Café’s Gift Store or the Studio which adjoins the Café. The premises also boast an art gallery which features exhibitions regularly of both local and foreign artists. Complimentary WI-FI is also at the disposal of the guest at no cost! Some might ask why the Gallery Café does not change its’ menus – reason being, most patrons come repeatedly for the same dish that they relished on their previous visit!! Cocktails and Desserts are popular favourites with most diners.
‘Good Food’ is the frequently heard quip from patrons and is always a ‘must visit’ restaurant for those who come from afar.
The entire concept of Paradise Road Galleries and The Gallery Café is well known and continues to be a unique attraction to tourists and visiting dignitaries. This is the brainchild of none other than Shanth Fernando. The building was entrusted in the care of Shanth Fernando, Chairman of Paradise Road Group of Companies as Mr.Bawa had the confidence that he would maintain and promote his beloved building to full potential! Today, The Gallery Café is by far, the most visited Geoffrey Bawa building. The conversion of the building was done with tremendous sensitivity by Shanth with initial advice as to the placement of the main dining pavilion by Mr. Bawa himself.
The Gallery Café was the first restaurant in Sri Lanka to serve “Fusion” cuisine and also the first to serve “typical” Sri Lankan dishes such as Black Pork Curry with rice with traditional accompaniments, Prawn Curry with Rice all presented in a distinctive style known only to Shanth! Known for the consistency of the food served at the restaurant which has spanned 14 years; this has been the key ingredient to its success. The Galley Café has also maintained a world class image as mentioned in some of the travel magazines like the Conde Nast Traveller, the East Magazine, the latter which rated the restaurant as one of the top ten restaurants in Asia, while Asiaweek reported the Gallery Bar as one of the top ten Lounge Bars in Asia.
An elegant Upstairs Gallery is an airconditioned private dining space that can accommodate up to 36 guests seated, and up to 60 persons for a cocktail party. Here is an intimate room offering customized set menus for private entertaining, celebrating and also for corporate use. The Gallery Café has also been used as a venue for special events in its entirety. Due to its’ great location and being housed in a world acclaimed building in Paradise Road style, an inimitable ambience, tranquil ponds strewn with purple “nil manel” (Sri Lanka’s national flower), comfortable seating and fabulous art everywhere, the cuisine, music, original and time tested menu and the astounding array of fab- ulous desserts it is no wonder that The Gallery Café has become a firm favourite with both foreign visitors and locals. It goes without saying that the patronage of this restaurant has no doubt being the biggest contribution to the success and acknowledgement of this recognition.