Quick answer
In Kandy, eat rice and curry at lunchtime shops around the town centre and Dalada Veediya, short eats from bakeries for breakfast or before the match, and dinner at hotel restaurants around the lake or in the hills. Many restaurants close by around 9 to 10 pm, so after a day-night match at Pallekele, eat at the ground, arrange a late meal at your hotel or look for a kottu stall still open.
Key takeaways
- Kandy's rice-and-curry shops are busiest and best at lunchtime.
- Bakeries sell short eats such as fish buns and patties.
- Many restaurants close by around 9 to 10 pm.
- After a day-night match, arrange a late meal at your hotel.
- Hotel restaurants in the hills offer views and quieter dinners.
Lunch in town
Kandy's town centre, around Dalada Veediya and the streets near the Temple of the Tooth, has rice-and-curry shops serving local office workers and families. Lunch is the main meal, with several curries, dhal, sambols and papadam, and the food is fresh and good value.
The central market, near the lake, has fruit, spices and snacks, and is worth a wander before lunch. Some shops sell Kandyan sweets and kavum.
Choose busy places with high turnover, and ask for less chilli if needed.
- →Rice and curry around Dalada Veediya.
- →The central market for fruit and snacks.
- →Busy places are best.
Bakeries and short eats
Kandy's bakeries sell short eats, such as fish buns, vegetable rolls, patties and cutlets, ideal for breakfast or a snack before driving to Pallekele. Many open early and stay busy all day.
A bag of short eats and a few bottles of water makes a good supply for a match day, though check the ground's rules on outside food.
Lankan Stays & Trails drivers usually know the best bakery on the way out of town towards the ground.
- →Fish buns, rolls, patties and cutlets.
- →Open early.
- →A match-day supply.
Dinner
For dinner, Kandy's hotel restaurants, around the lake and in the hills above town, are the most reliable. Many serve Sri Lankan and international dishes, and some have terraces with views over the lake and the hills, especially lovely at sunset.
A few independent restaurants in town serve Sri Lankan, Chinese and Indian food, and some have bars. Kandy is quieter at night than Colombo or Galle, with few late-night options.
Book ahead for hotel restaurants during busy periods, such as the Esala Perahera or a big match.
For a special evening, some hotels in the hills above Kandy have terraces looking over the valley, where a slow dinner after a match day is a real treat. Ask your driver for one that suits your budget.
- →Hotel restaurants around the lake and hills.
- →A few independent restaurants in town.
- →Book ahead in busy periods.
After a day-night match
Day-night matches at Pallekele can finish late, and with the drive back to Kandy, you may arrive after many restaurants have closed, which is often around 9 to 10 pm. Plan ahead: eat at the ground, ask your hotel to keep a late meal, or arrange room service.
Kottu stalls and some small eateries stay open later, and the clatter of the kottu blades is a welcome sound after a late match.
Drink plenty of water during the match, as the food options at the ground may be limited.
- →Many restaurants close by around 9 to 10 pm.
- →Ask your hotel for a late meal.
- →Kottu stalls stay open later.
Kandyan dishes
Kandy's food shares much with the rest of the island, but some dishes are local favourites, such as Kandyan-style curries with jackfruit, kos, and sweets like kavum and kokis, especially around festivals. Curd with kitul treacle is a classic dessert.
Ask your hotel or driver for a restaurant serving traditional Kandyan rice and curry.
Kandy also has a long-established Muslim community, and its eateries serve biryani, rotis and sweet milky tea, often open from early morning. They are a good, filling option before a long day at Pallekele.
- →Jackfruit curry.
- →Kavum and kokis.
- →Curd and treacle.
Frequently asked questions
Where should cricket fans eat in Kandy?
Eat rice and curry at lunchtime shops in the town centre, short eats from bakeries for breakfast and before the match, and dinner at hotel restaurants around the lake or in the hills. Kandy is quieter at night than Colombo or Galle, with fewer late options.
What time do restaurants close in Kandy?
Many restaurants in Kandy close by around 9 to 10 pm, earlier than in Colombo or Galle. After a day-night match at Pallekele, you may arrive back after they close, so plan to eat at the ground or ask your hotel for a late meal.
Is there food at Pallekele stadium?
Food stalls at Pallekele sell snacks, short eats and drinks, with more choice for big matches. Options can be limited, so many fans eat in Kandy before the match and bring water. Check the ground's rules on outside food and drink.
What is a short eat?
Short eats are Sri Lankan savoury snacks, such as fish buns, vegetable rolls, patties and cutlets, sold at bakeries and cafes. They are ideal for breakfast or a snack before a match, and good value for a group.
Where can you get food late at night in Kandy?
Kottu stalls and some small eateries stay open later than most restaurants, and hotel room service is reliable. After a day-night match at Pallekele, ask your hotel to keep a late meal, as many restaurants close by around 9 to 10 pm.
What Kandyan dishes should you try?
Try jackfruit curry, known as kos, and Kandyan-style rice and curry, along with sweets such as kavum and kokis, especially around festivals. Curd with kitul treacle is a classic dessert. Ask your hotel or driver for a traditional restaurant.
Should you book restaurants in Kandy?
Book hotel restaurants ahead during busy periods, such as the Esala Perahera or a big match at Pallekele. At other times, walk-ins are usually fine. Rice-and-curry shops at lunchtime do not take bookings.
Is Kandy good for vegetarians?
Yes, Kandy's rice-and-curry shops always have several vegetable curries, dhal and sambols, and many dishes are naturally plant-based. Ask whether Maldive fish flakes are used if you avoid fish entirely. Hotel restaurants also offer vegetarian Sri Lankan and international dishes.