Colombo food tour
COLOMBO FOOD TOUR - Colombo has been feeding travellers for centuries. Arab merchants, Portuguese colonists, Dutch traders, British rule and communities from across South Asia all left something behind, while Sri Lanka's extraordinary spice trade sent cinnamon, pepper and cloves in the opposite direction. The result is a capital where curry leaves crackle in hot oil, coconut appears in a hundred disguises and lunch rarely involves just one dish.
Over four hours and 15+ tastings, we're eating our way from Kollupitiya to the organised chaos of Pettah, travelling by train, foot and appetite.
Start among the fruit stalls of Kollupitiya Market, where we'll get acquainted with some of Sri Lanka's more exotic produce before slipping into a typically Ceylonese cafΓ© for the serious business of mid-morning snacking.
Attack ulundu vadai, crisp rice-and-lentil doughnuts with fluffy centres, followed by bonda hiding warmly spiced potato beneath a golden shell. Drag both through fiery red chutney and restore order with a cup of sweet, milky Ceylon tea.
Then we're catching the train. For a few glorious minutes, the railway squeezes between Colombo and the Indian Ocean, with waves rolling almost alongside the tracks. There can't be many commutes in the world with a better view. We'll jump off near Pettah and get straight back to eating.
Pull up a chair at a local eatery for string hoppers, delicate nests of steamed rice noodles built for soaking up curry. Alongside come earthy red pittu, creamy dhal and kukul mas curry β chicken simmered with roasted spices, aromatics and the sort of gravy that makes leaving anything on the plate seem irresponsible.
From here, plunge into Pettah. We'll weave through crowded streets beneath the candy-striped minarets of the spectacular Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque before ducking into a local institution for crisp chicken samosas. They're traditionally paired with faluda, an unapologetically sweet rose-syrup drink, and we'll pocket a few of the shop's famous sweets for later.
Next comes achcharu, Sri Lanka's riotous answer to fruit salad. Fresh tropical fruit is pickled and hit with chilli, salt, sugar and sourness until sweet, spicy, tangy and salty are all fighting for attention. Somehow, everybody wins.
Then loosen the belt. We'll swing into a local spot for a banana-leaf spread loaded with curries, including nandu kari β rich Sri Lankan crab curry made for getting thoroughly stuck into. Forget cutlery etiquette. This is food that tastes better when lunch gets messy.
Finally, we'll charge headfirst into Pettah Market. Traders shout over sacks of spices, mountains of produce and ingredients essential to Sri Lankan kitchens. Between the chaos, cool down with creamy buffalo curd drizzled with treacle and crack open a king coconut for one of the island's great natural refreshments.
There are 15+ tastings in all, but we've saved something sweet for the finish, almond barfi and sticky, nutty Sri Lankan cashew muscat.
Four hours earlier we started among the fruit stalls of Kollupitiya. We'll finish deep inside Pettah with curry on our fingers, plenty of Ceylon tea and a considerably better understanding of why this island has kept spice traders interested for centuries. Come hungry.
Why this tour is awesome
Over four hours and 15+ tastings, we'll cross Colombo from Kollupitiya to Pettah, riding the coastal train between markets, Ceylonese cafΓ©s and local eateries you'd be hard-pushed to find alone.
Expect string hoppers with fragrant chicken curry, crisp samosas and rose faluda, fiery achcharu and a banana-leaf feast with rich crab curry, before diving headfirst into the glorious chaos of Pettah Market.
Join our daily food tour and feast on 15+ Colombo tastings.
Eat at local spots you'd struggle to find on your own.
Golden ulundu vadai and spiced potato bonda with punchy red chutney.
Ride the rails from historic Kollupitiya Railway Station.
Rattle along Colombo's coastline on the short train ride to Pettah.
String hoppers and pittu with creamy dhal and fragrant kukul mas curry.
Golden chicken samosas paired with sweet, refreshing rose faluda.
A street vendor serving up colourful, punchy acharu.
Colourful acharu, Sri Lanka's sweet, sour and spicy fruit pickle.
The food heroes of Colombo.
Rich nandu kari, Sri Lanka's deeply spiced crab curry.
Plunge into the colour and chaos of Pettah Market.
Cracking into one of Sri Lanka's colourful king coconuts.
Delicate string hoppers made by hand and layered into baskets.
A local curd seller among the bustle of Pettah.
Creamy buffalo curd drizzled with sweet, sticky treacle.
Conclude with the sweet side of Sri Lanka's cuisine.
Includes
- Price US $39 per person. Children under 13 are half price
- Language English
- Small group Our small group tours have a maximum of 8 guests. Larger private groups are available on request
- Tastings The tour includes 15+ tastings. No hidden charges
- Drinks Bottled water and local drinks
- Duration The tour lasts for 3.5-4 hours
- Guide Led by one of our superb Colombo food hosts
- Cancellation Cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a full refund
- Family-friendly Families welcome on all our tours
- Transport This is a walking tour
- Instant confirmation Book now to secure your space (before we sell out!)
- Pick up / drop off Our guests come from all over the city, so to save time we have a meeting point for everyone. Your guide can help you find transport back at the end of the tour
Dietary information
- General advice Many streetside vendors specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Possible, though meat and seafood are present in 2-3 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood and dairy is used in 8-9 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pescatarian Suitable for pescatarians
- Pork Suitable for no pork diets
- Halal Unsuitable as not all stops are halal certified
- Gluten intolerance / Celiac Possible, though gluten is present in 3-4 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Lactose intolerance Unsuitable as lactose is present in 3-4 tastings (out of 15 total). Please note that ghee is used in further tastings
- Tree nut / peanut allergy Suitable for mild nut allergies. Peanuts are used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Seafood / Shellfish allergy Suitable for mild allergies. Seafood is used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Severe allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join the Colombo food tour, use the calendar to select your date and secure your tour with your card. For special requests, private bookings, or dietary requirements, please contact us. Safety of our customers is our first priority, so if you have any allergies, please contact us before booking.
What to expect
Our Colombo food tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food that locals eat. Itβs an easy-paced walking tour (with short local train ride), where the terrain flat and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way.
Meeting point
This Colombo food tour departs from outside theΒ Liberty Plaza in theΒ Kollupitiya neighbourhood. It's easy to reach by taxi from most hotels in the city. There will be more details on your booking confirmation.Β
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps