For a bay this small, Hiriketiya punches far above its weight on food. Almost everything is within a ten minute walk of the beach.
Breakfast & coffee
Expect smoothie bowls, sourdough, eggs every way and genuinely good coffee along the bay road. Go early in peak season, because the post surf rush starts around 9am.
Sri Lankan food
Don’t leave without a proper rice & curry: a mound of rice with five or six small curries, sambols and papadums. Local places a few minutes up from the beach serve it at lunch for a fraction of café prices. Also look out for kottu in the evening and hoppers (crispy bowl shaped pancakes) at breakfast.
Seafood & dinner
Fresh fish from the Dikwella boats: grilled whole, in a curry or as sashimi at the more upmarket spots. Wood fired pizza has become a Hiriketiya staple too.
Sunset drinks
Grab a spot facing the bay at golden hour. Things are relaxed rather than rowdy; the bay gets livelier at weekends in peak season.
Tips
- Many places close or cut hours in the monsoon (May to September).
- Cash is useful for smaller local spots.
- Most of the best food is on or near the bay. Stay close and you’ll never need a tuk tuk for dinner.
See all the restaurants on the Hiriketiya map (turn on “Restaurants”).
Frequently asked questions
Is food expensive in Hiriketiya?
Western style cafés on the bay are priced closer to Europe than to the rest of Sri Lanka. Local rice & curry spots a few minutes inland are much cheaper.
Are there vegan options in Hiriketiya?
Yes. Smoothie bowls, plant based cafés and Sri Lankan vegetable curries mean vegans and vegetarians eat very well here.