By Venessa Anthony and Dimithri Wijesinghe
‘Tis the season for joy and festive cheer but also for incredibly lucrative deals for the whole family to enjoy while gorging yourselves in delicious festive treats.
We may be in the middle of a pandemic but that hasn’t really stopped the restaurants around Colombo from choosing to spread a little holiday cheer as best they can.
With nearly everyone getting in on the fun, it can be a little overwhelming to figure out exactly who is offering what and which deals and festive celebrations are ideal for you, your family and friends, so fear not, we’ve done the work for you – a list of some of the most fun festive offerings in and around Colombo for your enjoyment.
Café Noir
Café Noir came up with their special Christmas menu this year. They launched five amazing beverages, three mouthwatering mains and two delightful sweet desserts.
We found the names of the Christmas beverages to be quite clever and full of Christmas cheer: to name a few, they have options of Christmas Breeze, Mrs. Claus Ginger Latte, Red Berry Santa, and Dark Chocolate Santa Frappe.
Of course, they have the classic Hot Chocolate with melting marshmallows because is it really Christmas if there’s no hot cocoa?
Their mains include the Turkey Burger, Turkey Pizza and the X’Mas Grilled Lamb Chops, and for dessert they have an interesting concept of Ginger Baba with Berry Compote and their special X’Mas Brownie with Strawberry and Pineapple.
Almost every item has its own unique combination of ingredients and blends all catered towards the Christmas cheer and mood. So hop on over to Café Noir and you will definitely not want to miss out on this special Christmas menu. It’s simply amazing.
Instagram: @cafenoir.srilanka
Contact: 0112 555 188
Street Burger
Street Burger recently launched their Christmas menu – Christmas Magic, with a whole new array of festive themed burgers. What really intrigued us was their new Chocolate Frosty burger which is – surprise, surprise – sweet! Featuring a chocolate mousse patty, sprinkled with crushed cherries, almonds and pistachios and topped with a generous coating of their (secret) decadent chocolate sauce and crunchy peanut dressing. Not only is this every chocoholic’s dream; it even looks like a burger, no one would be the wiser. I expect one would bite into it and be pleasantly surprised at the fact that it’s a dessert and not a savoury option.
Along with this, they have The Cheesy Grinch, Sleigh Ride, and Crunch Cracker – a vegetarian option of battered mushroom served with their special sauces.
Instagram: @streetburgersl
Contact: 077 347 7733
La Crème Ceylon
Christmas is best when spent with loved ones. So why not add that magical touch and make your Christmas more meaningful and memorable with La Crème Ceylon’s delectable hamper?
From Christmas goodies to exciting gifts, that are delicately made and filled with scrumptious seasonal treats, one can gift this hamper too to make your Christmas extra celebratory.
Priced at just Rs. 5000, the hamper features almond butter cake with almond flakes, Christmas themed brownies with cherries and cashews, a box of kisses and macaroons as well as chocolate chip cookies to leave out for Santa and marshmallows for all your hot cocoa cravings.
They also have a seasonal ice cream cake, which we feel would be the best way to end a Christmas feast!
Instagram: @lacremeceylon
Contact: 0776974825
Hilton Colombo
On Christmas Eve, Christmas day and Christmas night, Graze Kitchen and Emperor’s Wok will prepare gastronomic festive favourites to suit everyone. We even had the pleasure to experience a fine dining experience of what’s to come on Christmas Eve at the Emperor’s Wok, and let us tell you, it’s definitely not something you’d want to miss out on – a range of uniquely prepared meats and some irresistible Christmas sweets and of course, the traditional art of Chinese tea pouring that kept us entertainment all throughout dinner. What a unique way to spend the most wonderful time of the year.
The festive afternoon Tea at LAB from 20-25 December is the ultimate gastronomical pampering in between meals. Hilton’s famous Café KAI is also to offer a range of Christmas goodies; from roasts to Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, traditional mince pies, yule logs, breudher, stollen, love cake, assorted homemade chocolates in various shapes and sizes and scrumptious cookies, from 1-29 December.
The Hilton Colombo is truly a magical choice for all your celebrations and will help you decide where to spend this special time of year with family and friends.
Contact: + 94 11 2 492 492
Shangri-La Colombo
The hotel has gone all out this season, spreading some holiday cheer along the way, and has a festive offering at nearly all of their signature restaurants.
At Sapphyr Lounge, patrons can enjoy a Festive Afternoon Tea set against the calming backdrop of live classical music. While at Central there is an assortment of delicious festive sweet and savoury treats, the restaurant is offering a buffet featuring festive-inspired international and local dishes. The buffet will include a list of Christmas favourites from roast turkey and rack of lamb to traditional holiday desserts for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch and Christmas Day dinner. For those who desire a festive spin on closer-to-home Asian flavours, the hotel’s Yum Cha Lunch at Shang Palace will be available on 24 and 25 December.
A key highlight at the hotel is on Christmas Eve, when the Capital Bar and Grill will present their four-course menu that showcases a contemporary twist on traditional Christmas flavours as crafted by the restaurant’s team of chefs. However, if you are looking to welcome the New Year on 31 December, Capital Bar and Grill offers a more exclusive intimate dining experience with its six-course New Year’s Eve dinner featuring beef wellington, the finest seafood, and a refined dessert.
Contact: 0117 888 288
Harpos Cafés and Restaurants
Continuing the theme of getting together for the festive season, Harpo’s restaurants are bringing a diverse selection of menus, entertainment and retail products to enjoy at the restaurants, home catering or delivery this season.
The selection of festive menus for the season launched on 1 December, together with their annual charity now in its 16th year will be held for 50 kids at the Community Concern Centre in Dehiwala on 8 December.
- The Bayleaf
As for Harpo’s restaurants, The Bayleaf will be bringing its Italian flair with a holiday specials menu from 1-23 December and the Christmas specials available from 24-30 December. They will also be hosting a New Year’s Eve special promotion with a DJ and live music.
Contact: 0112 434 946
- Park Street Mews Restaurant
The Park Street Mews Restaurant will feature fun jazz arrangements by Jazz Q on 8 December, with a sing-along as the finale. The restaurant will also feature a seasonal holiday menu from 1-19 December, Christmas specials from 24-30 December with all the traditional favorites and a New Year’s Eve programme.
Contact: 0112 307 750
- Curve Tapas Bar
Curve Tapas Bar will be featuring tapas and happy hour deals from this Sunday (12) to next Thursday (16) with festive cocktails, a talented line up of live musicians to chill out.
Contact: 0112 300 183
- Colombo Fort Café
Colombo Fort Café at the Dutch Heritage Complex is offering a Euro Med Seasonal Christmas countdown menu from 7 December onwards and Christmas specials from 24-30 December. They will also feature a New Year’s Eve countdown dinner on 31 December.
Contact: 0112 434 946
- Commons Coffeehouse
Commons Coffeehouse boasts an absolutely packed festive calendar with its extensive range of festive hot and cold coffees, frappes, Turkey menu, kids activities, and Christmassy desserts.
- Harpo’s Pizza and Pasta Parlors
Harpo’s Pizza and Pasta Parlors – in Nugegoda, Kotte, Pepiliyana and Seeduwa are offering a special combo deal for large pizzas and a mega beverage for delivery. Perfect for the whole family to enjoy a delicious pizza dinner while enjoying some of those sweet holiday discounts.
Contact: 0114 869 000
