Nestled in the misty hills of Sri Lanka’s central highlands, Ella has become a must-visit destination for travelers seeking breathtaking landscapes, hiking adventures, and surprisingly outstanding culinary experiences. After spending time down south Sri Lanka exploring beaches and coastal towns, the cool mountain air of Ella offers a refreshing change of pace and a whole new world of flavors to discover.
Table of Contents
Ella Isn’t Just About Nature
As someone who included Ella in my 2 weeks itinerary in Sri Lanka, I can tell you that this small mountain town punches well above its weight when it comes to food. Whether you’re female solo traveling through this friendly country or looking for budget traveling options, Ella’s restaurant scene caters to all types of visitors with its blend of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and international favorites.
Let me guide you through the 11 best restaurants in Ella that will make your highland culinary journey unforgettable.
1. Café Chill
Best for: All-day dining, social atmosphere, and variety
Café Chill isn’t just a restaurant; it’s practically an institution in Ella. This three-story establishment offers a relaxed vibe with cushioned floor seating, regular tables, and a rooftop area with stunning views of Ella Gap.
The menu is extensive, featuring everything from traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry to wood-fired pizzas, juicy burgers, and fresh salads. Their breakfast options are particularly popular, with the fruit platters and smoothie bowls being perfect fuel before hiking Little Adam’s Peak or Ella Rock.
What makes Café Chill special is its social atmosphere—it’s where many travelers connect, share stories, and even plan joint activities. For female solo traveling enthusiasts, this is a safe, welcoming spot to meet fellow adventurers or simply enjoy a meal while watching the world go by.
Must-try dishes: Sri Lankan breakfast platter, kottu roti, and their famous chocolate rotti dessert
2. AK Ristoro
Best for: Italian cuisine with a view
If you’re craving authentic Italian food during your Sri Lankan adventure, AK Ristoro stands out as Ella’s premier Italian restaurant. Located just off the main street, this charming spot offers a menu crafted by Italian owners who bring genuine Mediterranean flavors to the highlands of Sri Lanka.
The restaurant features a cozy interior and a small but lovely outdoor seating area where you can enjoy your meal with views of the surrounding hills. The wood-fired pizzas here are the real deal—thin, crispy crusts topped with high-quality ingredients. Their homemade pasta dishes and tiramisu have also earned rave reviews from travelers.
For those mapping out a 2 weeks itinerary in Sri Lanka, AK Ristoro provides a welcome break from local cuisine while maintaining the same quality you’d expect from much pricier establishments back home.
Must-try dishes: Margherita pizza, seafood linguine, and the homemade tiramisu
3. Matey Hut
Best for: Authentic Sri Lankan cuisine on a budget
When it comes to budget traveling in Ella without sacrificing culinary quality, Matey Hut takes the crown. This small, family-run restaurant might not look impressive from the outside, but locals and in-the-know travelers flock here for some of the most authentic Sri Lankan food in town.
The restaurant specializes in traditional rice and curry—a staple in Sri Lankan cuisine that typically includes red or white rice served with several vegetable curries, dhal (lentil curry), and either meat or fish curry if desired. The flavors are bold, the portions generous, and the prices remarkably affordable.
What makes Matey Hut special is the warmth of its owners, who often take time to explain the various dishes and even offer impromptu cooking demonstrations if you express interest. It’s this kind of personal touch that makes a meal here not just about food, but about cultural exchange.
Must-try dishes: Mixed rice and curry lunch, string hoppers for breakfast, and their exceptional coconut roti
4. Café ONE Love
Best for: Relaxed vibes and international cuisine
After exploring the tea plantations that Ella is famous for, Café ONE Love offers a laid-back atmosphere to unwind and refuel. This reggae-themed café draws inspiration from Bob Marley’s philosophy of unity, creating a space where travelers from all corners of the world can come together.
The menu is diverse, featuring both Sri Lankan specialties and Western comfort food. Their smoothie bowls and fresh juices are perfect for health-conscious travelers, while their wraps and sandwiches make for convenient takeaway options if you’re heading out for a day of hiking.
The café also doubles as a small art gallery, showcasing works by local artists that are available for purchase—perfect souvenirs that support the local community.
Must-try dishes: Avocado toast, fruit and yogurt bowls, and their special ONE Love burger
5. Ella Village Restaurant
Best for: Traditional Sri Lankan food with a view
For an authentic taste of Sri Lankan cuisine served with panoramic views of Ella Gap, Village Restaurant is hard to beat. Located slightly away from the main street hustle, this restaurant offers a peaceful dining experience on its open-air terrace.
The menu focuses primarily on Sri Lankan dishes, with specialties from various regions of the island. Their kottu roti—a popular Sri Lankan street food made by chopping flatbread with spices, vegetables, and your choice of protein—is particularly good here, prepared fresh on a hot griddle with a rhythmic chopping sound that’s almost as enjoyable as the dish itself.
If you’re curious about Sri Lankan cooking techniques, the friendly staff are often happy to share insights about the local ingredients and cooking methods used in their dishes.
Must-try dishes: Vegetable kottu roti, deviled chicken, and coconut pancakes for dessert
6. Adam’s Breeze
Best for: Panoramic views and fusion cuisine
Named after the nearby Little Adam’s Peak hiking trail, Adam’s Breeze offers some of the most spectacular dining views in Ella. The restaurant is strategically positioned to capture sweeping vistas of Ella Gap and the distant plains below, making it an ideal spot for sunset dining.
The menu here ventures into fusion territory, blending Sri Lankan ingredients with international cooking techniques. The result is innovative dishes that might include coconut-crusted fish with tropical salsa or lemongrass-infused risotto with local seafood.
For those putting together a 2 weeks itinerary in Sri Lanka that includes Ella, making a reservation at Adam’s Breeze for at least one sunset dinner is highly recommended. The combination of breathtaking views and creative cuisine makes for a memorable evening that captures the magic of Sri Lanka’s hill country.
Must-try dishes: Grilled jumbo prawns with garlic butter, pumpkin curry risotto, and passion fruit cheesecake
7. Jade Green Tea Centre and Restaurant
Best for: Tea experiences and hill country cuisine
No visit to Ella would be complete without exploring Sri Lanka’s famous tea culture, and Jade Green offers both a tea education and excellent food in one location. This combination tea center and restaurant is surrounded by working tea plantations, providing an immersive experience into Sri Lanka’s most famous export.
The restaurant specializes in dishes that complement tea, including delicate finger sandwiches and pastries that wouldn’t be out of place at a British high tea service—a nod to Sri Lanka’s colonial past. However, they also offer heartier Sri Lankan meals featuring fresh vegetables and herbs grown in their own garden.
What makes Jade Green special is the opportunity to enjoy a guided tea tasting before or after your meal, where knowledgeable staff explain the different grades and types of Ceylon tea and the proper brewing techniques.
Must-try dishes: English-style afternoon tea set, tea-infused desserts, and their signature tea leaf salad
8. Cafe Guru
Best for: Quick bites and budget options
For those committed to budget traveling through Sri Lanka without missing out on good food, Cafe Guru offers excellent value in a casual setting. This small cafe on Ella’s main street serves up simple, flavorful meals at prices that won’t strain your travel funds.
The menu includes both Sri Lankan staples and familiar Western options, with a focus on quick, satisfying meals. Their rotti wraps—thin pancake-like bread wrapped around various fillings—are perfect for a handheld meal on the go, while their fresh fruit smoothies provide welcome refreshment after hiking in the warm Sri Lankan sun.
The cafe’s central location makes it convenient for picking up breakfast before an early morning train journey on the famous Ella to Kandy railway line, often described as one of the world’s most scenic train routes.
Must-try dishes: Chocolate and banana rotti, vegetable kottu, and fresh fruit smoothies
9. Ella Spice Garden Restaurant & Cooking Class
Best for: Learning about Sri Lankan cuisine
For travelers interested in taking home more than just memories of Sri Lankan food, Ella Spice Garden offers both excellent meals and the knowledge to recreate them yourself. This combination restaurant and cooking school provides an immersive experience into the aromatic world of Sri Lankan spices and cooking techniques.
The restaurant serves authentic, home-style Sri Lankan dishes with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Many of the herbs and spices used in their cooking come from their own garden, which you can tour as part of a cooking class.
The cooking classes are hands-on affairs where you’ll learn to prepare several Sri Lankan dishes from scratch, including making coconut milk from fresh coconuts and grinding your own spice blends. It’s a perfect activity for those interested in cultural experiences beyond sightseeing, and you’ll leave with recipes to recreate the flavors of Sri Lanka back home.
Must-try dishes: Traditional Sri Lankan curry feast with multiple varieties and homemade coconut sambol
10. Downtown Rotti Hut
Best for: Street food experience and late-night dining
When night falls in Ella, Downtown Rotti Hut comes alive as both locals and tourists queue up for what many consider the best kottu roti in town. This unpretentious spot focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well—serving up Sri Lanka’s beloved chopped rotti dish with various fillings and spice levels.
The open kitchen allows you to watch the theatrical preparation of kottu, with chefs rhythmically chopping and mixing ingredients on a large metal griddle using two metal cleavers that create the distinctive “tak-a-tak” sound that has become synonymous with this dish.
For female solo traveling adventurers, this well-lit and popular spot offers a safe environment to enjoy authentic street food even in the evening hours. The vibrant atmosphere and communal seating make it easy to strike up conversations with fellow travelers or locals.
Must-try dishes: Cheese kottu, chicken kottu, and egg rotti
11. Chill Cafe Garden
Best for: Vegetarian and vegan options
After exploring down south Sri Lanka’s beaches and making your way to the hills, Chill Cafe Garden offers a peaceful retreat with an emphasis on plant-based cuisine. Set in a lush garden with scattered seating among the greenery, this cafe specializes in nutritious, vegetarian-friendly options that showcase local produce.
The menu features creative salads, grain bowls, and plant-based versions of Sri Lankan classics. Their smoothie bowls topped with tropical fruits and homemade granola are particularly popular for breakfast, while their jackfruit curry gives meat-free diners a chance to experience this versatile fruit prepared in traditional Sri Lankan style.
The garden setting creates a tranquil atmosphere that’s perfect for journaling, reading, or planning the next leg of your Sri Lankan adventure.
Must-try dishes: Jackfruit curry, avocado and mango salad, and coconut milk pancakes
A Culinary Highland Adventure
Ella may be small in size, but its restaurant scene offers a remarkable diversity of dining experiences that deserve a prominent place in any itinerary in Sri Lanka. From budget-friendly local eateries to more upscale fusion restaurants with breathtaking views, Ella’s culinary landscape caters to all tastes and budgets.
What makes dining in Ella special is not just the quality of the food but the stunning settings in which you enjoy it—whether that’s overlooking mist-shrouded mountains, surrounded by tea plantations, or in the social atmosphere of the town’s vibrant cafes.
For travelers coming from the beaches down south Sri Lanka, Ella provides a refreshing change of pace and flavors, adding another dimension to your understanding of Sri Lankan cuisine. And for those on female solo traveling adventures or budget traveling journeys, the town’s safe, welcoming atmosphere and range of affordable options make it an accessible foodie destination.
So as you plan your Sri Lankan highland adventure, be sure to come to Ella with an appetite—your taste buds are in for a treat as memorable as the views.
Have you visited any of these restaurants in Ella? Share your favorite dishes and experiences in the comments below!
