Best Restaurants & Cafés Arugam Bay {Sri Lanka} 2025
- Kate Colliety
- May 19
- 5 min read
Updated: May 22
If you’re wondering where to eat in Arugam Bay, you’ve come to the right place. This laid-back surf town on Sri Lanka’s east coast is bursting with flavours, both local and western. From the legendary $1 rice & curry buffets to beachside BBQs and picturesque cafés serving up smoothie bowls with lattes. Whether you’re after the best restaurants in Arugam Bay for fresh seafood, local eats or somewhere to grab brunch and good Wi-Fi, there’s no shortage of options.
This blog is a quick and concise, no nonsense guide about our favourite Arugam Bay restaurants, street food spots and cafés. Including where you’ll find authentic Sri Lankan dishes, healthy eats and the best restaurants in Arugam Bay for sunset views. After spending just over two weeks in the lazy surf town, we fell in love with it and the food! Read Here for a full list of Arugam Bay's Top Things To Do.
Flavours of Sri Lanka: Best Local Restaurants
While in Sri Lanka you have to try the famous rice & curry, a staple of every locals diet. You’ll find it everywhere, from roadside stalls to beachfront cafés, it's a way of life in every Sri Lankan household.
The best restaurants in Arugam Bay that serve rice & curry will be the local plastic chair places, all cooked by a local mum. Don't expect just one curry, Sri Lankan rice & curry is completely different to the usual curries we’re used to back in England, it’s a buffet of mostly vegetable dishes packed with flavour. Dhal (lentil curry), spicy jackfruit, beetroot curry, green beans, mango chutney and crispy papadums, served up with a hefty portion of rice.
Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!
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Top Tip: Put your rice in the center of the plate, and dish up the curries around it!
Mothers Kitchen: Sri Lankan home cooking, we recommend the veg curry.
Samanthi’s: No frills, big portions and a legendary roti - a local hotspot.
Buffet Arugam Bay: All you can eat curry buffet for under $2, a budget backpackers dream.
Mama’s: Another dirt cheap rice and curry buffet. Dhal, jackfruit, pumpkin and loads more curries that they change daily.
Tandoori Hut: An indian curry house with unlimited rice and bread served with each curry so you can stock up! We had the chicken tikka masala and it was gooood!
Ever fancied learning how to cook Sri Lankan cuisine?
Arugam Bay's Best Fresh Seafood & BBQ Restaurants
If you’re a seafood lover, you’re in for a treat. Some of the best restaurants in Arugam Bay serve up the freshest catch caught that day on the fishing boats lined up at Arugam Bay Beachfront. Whether it's tuna, snapper, prawns or calamari, the seafood here is as fresh as it gets. Many Arugam Bay restaurants offer nightly BBQs where you can choose your fish and have it cooked over the open fire. We did this multiple times during our stay and loved it. It’s often served with spicy sambols, grilled veggies and rice or chips.
Top Tip: Make sure to agree on a price before cooking the fish!
Mr Fisherman: Grilled catch of the day, fresh everyday
Surf’n’Sun: Beachfront spot with fresh seafood and a great sunset atmosphere
Perera: Fresh rice & curry in the day, seafood BBQ at night
The Sketch: Grilled fish whipped up by a local fisherman, multiple people said this is the best place they ate in Arugam Bay (ours was the local hidden gem below!)
Arugam Bay is the best place to surf in Sri Lanka, we took some lessons there and found it a great spot to learn
Healthy Eats & Cafés: Best Restaurants Arugam Bay
Where there are surfers, there are smoothie bowls, and Arugam Bay cafés do not disappoint. Whether you’re after a plant based brunch or a picture perfect iced latte, this town has become a hub of digital nomads so it's got it all. Many of the best restaurants in Arugam Bay double as stylish cafés with great Wi-Fi in the day. From colourful vegan bowls at Shady Lane, to fresh Mediterranean-style dishes at Emily’s, if you’re wondering where to eat in Arugam Bay for western style flavours, then look no further!
Salty Swamis: Surf café on the beachfront with a great fish taco and smoothie bowl
Shady Lane: Tucked away in the backstreets, serving veggie specials
Meori’s: Bit more fancy vibes but a great dinner treat
Emilys: This was also closed when we visited but people raved about Emily’s!
East Falafel: This does what it says!
Squeeze Me: Big smoothie bowls, sandwiches and good Wifi, a great spot
Rolling Pin: Arugam Bay’s very own bakery, think fresh croissants and iced lattes post surf. Hell yeah!
A Local Hidden Gem
Ssssshhhhh! Don't tell too many people about this spot!
Family Delight: Because we had our own tuktuk we drove over to Pottuvil to Family Delight for some amazing Kotthu at half the price of Arugam Bay. Keep this place quiet!
Pottuvil is the much more local town just next door to Arugam Bay, why not try the amazing Pottuvil Lagoon Safari to see crocs, elephants and more!
Renting a Tuktuk made our trip unforgettable, use code KandM for 5% off your trip
Pizza
Sometimes, post surfing you just fancy a pizza! Here’s what we think is the best pizza restaurant Arugam Bay:
Pizza Hub: Super popular spot with a wood-fired oven, great atmosphere!
Hidden Cafés & Coffee Spots: Arugam Bay For Digital Nomads
If you’re looking for charm and character while sipping a coffee then these spots are for you. These Arugam Bay cafés are ideal for escaping the chaos, a slow morning, travel journaling or escaping the midday heat.
Kaffi: Amazing chocolate brownies and coffee. This nordic-style café has got aircon and indoor seating.
Hideaway Blue Café: Super fast Wi-Fi and a bit of a fancy spot in Arugam Bay as its located in the Hideaway resort.
Nami Café: A vegan café perfect for brunch, the smoothie bowls here stand out from the rest.
The Kumana National Park is home to leopards and much less busy than Yala
So that’s all of our Best Arugam Bay Restaurants recommendations! We spent over two weeks there and absolutely loved every minute. For more resources on Arugam Bay, head over to:
Best Arugam Bay Tours
Arugam Bay Travel Tips
For cheaper local food, head over to the neighbouring town of Pottuvil.
To get to Arugam Bay & Pottuvil’s Best Surf Spots, rent a Tuktuk (use code “KandM” for 5% off) and put the boards on top, you’ll have the freedom to go wherever.
The Pottuvil Lagoon Safari is epic, but if you don’t have the budget, there's free elephant and crocodile watching places just outside the town. If you really want a safari then Kumana National Park is the quietest as everyone is too busy queueing to get into Yala.
Embrace The Chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
Stay in Homestays - Staying in local homestays meant we experienced authentic food and the local way of life. Everyone was extremely friendly and happy to help.
Heading To Sigiriya Next?
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
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