For a small beach town, Hiriketiya has a lot going on when it comes to food. Start with a smoothie bowl, stop for Sri Lankan food at lunch, and finish with sundowners overlooking the sea. There’s plenty worth heading out for, whether you’re after a leisurely brunch or a special dinner. This guide brings together the best places to eat in Hiriketiya.
Tried, tested and recommended by The Nest Sri Lanka, this guide brings together the best places to eat in Hiriketiya. There’s a favourite on the Dickwella side, too, alongside an experience that’s a highlight of staying at The Nest: dining with your own private chef.
Best Places To Eat In Hiriketiya
Salt for smoothie bowls and a leisurely brunch
Salt is one of The Nest’s favourites for a slow, relaxed brunch. The smoothie bowls and avocado toast are delicious, and the leafy setting has a super-chilled feel, with monkeys often spotted in nearby trees.
There’s also a pool that brunch guests can use; just check with the team before jumping in, and a small boutique selling swimwear.
Bunch for good vegetarian food
Hidden down a little side street, Bunch is easy to miss but well worth seeking out. Its leafy setting makes it a lovely spot for a leisurely breakfast or lunch, and it’s one of The Nest’s recommendations for good vegetarian food in Hiriketiya.
Try the avocado and scrambled tofu toast with pesto or the smoked tempeh sandwich, two tasty options from a menu with plenty for plant-based eaters. Settle in with a coffee and enjoy a little time away from the beach bustle.
Garlic Café for Sri Lankan food
Garlic Café is one of The Nest’s recommendations for sampling local Sri Lankan cooking. The courtyard garden is a lovely setting for a relaxed meal, with a seasonal buffet that lets you try a little of everything and discover a few new favourites.
In our opinion it is one of the best places to eat in Hiriketiya, especially if your are look to experience proper authentik Sri Lankan food.
During the low season, dining switches to an à la carte menu. Whichever time of year you visit, it’s a great spot to explore Sri Lankan flavours; ask the team what they recommend that day.
Dazzling Moon for great food and generous hospitality
Dazzling Moon is a tiny restaurant run by a husband-and-wife team, and a lovely recommendation from The Nest for a welcoming, generous meal. The food is delicious, and they’re always topping up your plate and making sure you’ve had enough. Arrive hungry; it’s the sort of place where being looked after is as much a part of the experience as the food.
Raa for sundowners
Tucked down at the southern end of Hiriketiya Beach, Raa has a gorgeous view across the bay, with plenty of surfers to watch while you settle in. It’s one of The Nest’s favourites for sundowners, but worth leaving time for food, too.
The cocktails celebrate local ingredients, including toddy, made from fermented coconut flower sap. Drinks have included a colourful dragon-fruit-and-toddy creation, while the food brings together Sri Lankan flavours through dishes such as dhal, prawns, coconut rice and sambals. It’s a lovely opportunity to explore local food and drinks in a beautiful beachside setting.
Our tip: arrive before sunset, take your time and make an evening of it. Book ahead if you have a particular night in mind.
Betaz for a cliffside evening
Up on the hill between Dickwella and Hiriketiya, Betaz has a setting made for photographs. Giant concrete steps, softened with cushions, are built into the cliffside facing the ocean. Settle in with a drink, and you’ll quickly see why it keeps appearing on Instagram.
Food worth looking out for includes the prawn curry and vegetable curry, both praised by diners, while a recent reviewer also singled out the cuttlefish. On the drinks side, travel writers recommend the Gin Verde cocktail. Reviews highlight the ocean views, cocktails and friendly service, plenty of reasons to allow time for more than a quick photo.
The Nest’s tip: arrive before sunset to enjoy the view in daylight, then stay as the colours change over the water.
Smoke & Bitters for a treat on the Dickwella side
For a special evening, make room for Smoke & Bitters over on the Dickwella side. Plan ahead, book your table before you go, rather than leaving it to chance on the night. It always books up in advance. It’s one of the few places in the area with a sunset view. Not to mention, it is also one of Asia’s Top 50 bars!
The cocktails are a big part of the experience, and we recommend making it a proper dinner outing. You can find the menus and reservation details on the Smoke & Bitters website. It gets a deserving spot on our list of the best places to eat in Hiriketiya.
If you’d like an evening out as a couple, we can arrange babysitting at The Nest upon request. Speak to our team in advance so you can plan ahead.
Private chef dining at The Nest Sri Lanka
Some of the nicest meals of your holiday can happen without leaving the villa. At The Nest Sri Lanka, private chef dining is part of what makes a family stay feel like a proper break.
At The Nest, you can plan meals around your stay. Discuss your preferences with the chef in advance, share any dietary requirements and let the team know what the children enjoy. Whether you’re looking forward to Sri Lankan flavours or familiar family favourites, talk to the team about the menu and what they can prepare during your stay.
It also gives you the freedom to mix things up. Go out for brunch one day, book a special dinner another evening and leave time for meals at the villa. Exploring the local food scene is part of the fun, and so is having a private chef come home to you.
For younger guests who enjoy getting involved, complimentary cookie-making with the chef adds something extra to their stay. And for parents, lingering over dinner once the children have settled is a pleasure in itself.
Explore dining at The Nest or enquire about a family stay.
A few tips for eating out in Hiriketiya
Leave some room in your itinerary to try different places. Salt for brunch, Bunch for a vegetarian meal, Garlic Café for Sri Lankan food and Raa for sundowners give you plenty of variety without needing a long list for every day.
Most of all, balance your meals out with time to enjoy where you’re staying. Some days you’ll want to explore; on others, dinner at your own villa will be exactly what you’re after.
Stay at The Nest and enjoy Hiriketiya’s food scene
A stay at The Nest Sri Lanka gives you a base for all of this, with your own private pool, a helpful team and a chef to take care of meals back at the villa. Spend your days exploring Hiriketiya and nearby Dickwella, then come home and settle in.
Enquire about dates and rates at The Nest Sri Lanka. Let us know who’s coming, your preferred dates and any dietary requirements, and we’ll help you plan your stay.