During our two months exploring Sri Lanka’s food scene from Trincomalee in the north to Mirissa in the south we discovered that Mirissa had some of the best restaurants on the southern coast.
Sri Lankan cuisine is vibrant, hearty, and rooted in community, whether it’s sharing rice and curry or chatting over a freshly grilled fish on the BBQ. Mirissa, despite being one of the most popular tourist towns on Sri Lanka’s south coast, stays true to that spirit. In fact, we had some of our best meals here, which is why we’re excited to share the best restaurants in Mirissa with you.
Mirissa was one of the rare places where we tried a wide variety of restaurants from local spots and budget eats to Western dishes, desserts, and more upscale dining. We had the time to explore as we visited Mirissa twice during our stay and were joined by friends the second time, which meant we visited restaurants we normally would skip.
Plus, we’ll share the exact restaurants that led us to eat incredibly well for under £5/day!
Okay, enough yapping, here’s the best restaurants in Mirissa!
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Quick Picks: Best Mirissa Restaurants
If you’re wondering where to eat in Mirissa Sri Lanka here’s our quick picks:
🍛 Dhana’s Curry Pot – All-you-can-eat Sri Lankan buffet (1500 LKR)
💰 Simple Restaurant & Cafe – Best budget curry & rice (under $2)
🥞 NO.1 Dewmini Roti Shop – Legendary homemade sweet & savory rotis
🎵 MILĀ MIRISSĀ – Live music & vibrant atmosphere for dinner
🥑 Shady Lane – Top breakfast spot with vegan & veggie options
💻 HEY MAMA – Digital nomad-friendly cafe with reliable WiFi
Sri Lanka & Mirissa Food Scene
While in Sri Lanka you have to try the famous rice & curry, a staple of every local’s diet. You’ll find it everywhere, from roadside stalls to beachfront cafés, it’s a way of life in every Sri Lankan household.
Around Mirissa there is also a large surfer and yogi scene which brings smoothie bowls, avo toast and western cuisines. This all looks delicious but comes at a higher price tag than local food, which is something to consider if you’re a budget backpacker.
We visited Mirissa twice during our 2-months in Sri Lanka and had some of the best food on the southern coast, although we preferred the food in the north, especially the kottu, which we think has more Indian influence the further north we got!
Our Overall Best Mirissa Restaurants
Dhana’s Curry Pot
- Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan
- Rating: 4.6
- Menu & Location
Located on the main road, Dhana’s Curry Pot is one of the most popular restaurants in Mirissa. Dhana’s offers an all you eat buffet for 1500 LKR per person.
We wouldn’t do this everyday as there are more budget-friendly eateries around but we loved the idea we could try a variety of local Sri Lankan dishes and find out what we loved!
We highly recommend trying the Mango Chutney, Coconut Roti and Fish Curry, the dhal was good too, basically pile your plate high!
During our visit, we tried so much yummy food, and were of course the first to dig into the dessert, a platter of fruit and little sweets wrapped individually in white paper.
MILĀ MIRISSĀ
- Opening Hours: 8am – 11:30pm
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan & Western
- Rating: 4.6
- Menu & Location
We visited MILĀ MIRISSĀ with our surf camp for dinner, a way to get to know the people we’d be spending the next five days with.
This was our first time in 8-months of travelling, we had been to a fancier restaurant (any other budget travellers here?) and we were overwhelmed by the choice.
Unsurprisingly, we ended up choosing the burger, which was lovely and had an amazing night of live music, chatter and drinks. We loved the atmosphere, it is definitely the best restaurant in Mirissa for a lively ambience!
After looking at the menu again we regret not coming back for brunch, their smoothie bowls look divine and the charcoal hummus toast sounds delicious!
No. 1 Dewmini Roti Shop Mirissa Sri Lanka
- Opening Hours: 8:30am – 10pm
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan
- Rating: 4.67
- Menu & Location
Another popular place to eat in Mirissa is No.1 Dewmini Roti Shop, a small family-run restaurant that’s been serving locals and travellers since 2009. While they offer a variety of dishes, we highly recommend trying their famous savoury and sweet rotis; it’s what made this place a Mirissa legend.
Just a 5-minute walk from the beach, you’ll find yourself tucked away from the tourist hustle, munching on some of the best rotis in Sri Lanka.
During our time in Sri Lanka, we started getting sweet rotis for dinner, they’re just so addictive! Don’t miss trying both the savory options (perfect for lunch) and the sweet varieties (our guilty pleasure dessert or main meal!).
Salt Mirissa (Burgers)
- Opening Hours: 9am – 11pm
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Burgers & Tacos
- Rating: 4
- Menu & Location
If you’re craving international cuisine in Mirissa, Salt Mirissa is our top pick for Western food with a view. This beachfront restaurant sits right on Mirissa Bay, offering the perfect combination of quality burgers, a popular taco bar, and stunning ocean views.
We also walked past Food Truck Mirissa which smelt amazing and also do burgers.
Mandara Resort Restaurant: Fine Dining In Mirissa
- Opening Hours: Lunch 1:00pm – 2:30pm & Dinner from 7:30pm
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan & International
- Rating: 4
- Menu & Location
If you’re looking for an upscale restaurant in Mirissa, Mandara Resort provides a fine dining experience in a luxury setting. Expect professional service and presentation for a mix of Sri Lankan and international cuisine.
This restaurant gets particularly busy during sunset, due to the prime views so a reservation is recommended.
🗺️ Your Ultimate Sri Lanka Map
On our way, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your adventure!
Best Seafood Restaurants In Mirissa
Nautica Mirissa
- Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Fish
- Rating: 4.8
- Menu & Location
Right on the beachfront is Nautica, one of the best restaurants in Mirissa for seafood. You can sit upstairs overlooking the ocean while enjoying mouthwatering dishes! We regret not trying their Tuna Steak but their grilled fish is amazing! We’ve also just found out they do delivery as well!
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Garlic Mirissa
- Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Fish
- Rating: 4.8
- Menu & Location
Like many destinations worldwide, Mirissa’s best restaurants aren’t always on the beachfront. That is exactly the same here, Garlic Mirissa is hidden in the backstreets and is one of the best seafood restaurants in Mirissa.
You select your own fish from the daily catch then it’s grilled to perfection. We recommend trying the grilled Mahi Mahi!
Best Cheap Eats In Mirissa
Ourworld Wifi Cafe
- Opening Hours: 7am – 7pm
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan
- Rating: 4.7
- Menu & Location
As budget travellers we often stay away from beachfront bars, but Ourworld WiFi Cafe sits right on the entrance to Mirissa Beach and has budget-friendly prices. We enjoyed cheap fried rice (better than the noodles in our opinion) for lunch and a fresh coconut prepared with a swoop of a machete!
Simple Restaurant & Cafe
- Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan & Burgers
- Rating: 4.6
- Menu & Location
The Sri Lankan Curry was so good here that we came back three times! This may have been our favourite curry & rice in the whole country. You get a hearty portion with a delicious dhal, coconut sambal plus an array of vegetable dishes, we loved the beans!
They also serve a selection of Western food, our friend ordered the chicken burger which comes with chips and looked divine!
Cinnamon Cafe Mirissa
- Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Breakfast & Brunch
- Rating: 5
- Menu & Location
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly breakfast Cinnamon Cafe is perfect. A locally-run establishment that serves fresh warm bread and juice.
Tip: If you’re on a strict budget, like we were most of the time we would get our roti breakfast at Bun Talk. You can get baked goods for as little as 100 LKR and this definitely helped us stick to our budget.
🗺️ Your Ultimate Sri Lanka Map
On our way, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your adventure!
Vegan Restaurants In Mirissa
Shady Lane, Best Vegan & Veggies Restaurant In Mirissa
- Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Breakfast & Brunch
- Rating: 4.7
- Menu & Location
Most of Sri Lankan cuisine is veggie friendly, especially their curry & rice but if you’re looking for a special restaurant in Mirissa we recommend Shady Lane.
Shady Lane offers a variety of vegan and veggie dishes in a hidden backstreet off the busy main road. This is our top breakfast restaurant in Mirissa due to the fluffy pancakes and avocado on sourdough!
As backpackers we miss sourdough and only occasionally treat ourselves! Shady Lane gets busy, it might be the most popular breakfast spot in Mirissa so we advise you arrive early to nab a table.
Squeeze Me: Best Vegan Restaurant in Mirissa
- Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Rating: 4.7
- Menu & Location
One of the top vegan restaurants in Mirissa is Squeeze me. We regret not going here ourselves after reading they do organic, plastic-free, farm fresh food. If you go leave us a comment and let us know if it is worth the hype and perhaps we will have to return to try the Zen Bowl!
Best Restaurant in Mirissa For Dessert
Milky Wave
- Opening Hours: 9am – 9:30pm
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Italian & Dessert
- Rating: 4.76
- Menu & Location
If you’re looking for a sweet treat then we recommend Milky Wave! When researching Mirissa’s best restaurants it’s hard not to come across this iconic ice cream parlor. The ice cream here is thick and rich. We recommend Pistachio!
They also serve a variety of Italian food including Paninis and Pizzas.
Best Cafe For Digital Nomads In Mirissa
HEY MAMA
- Opening Hours: 8am -9:30pm (Closed Wednesday)
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Sri Lankan & International
- Rating: 4.7
- Menu & Location
HEY MAMA provides a cosy atmosphere with reliable WiFi and plug points perfect for charging laptops. They serve super healthy smoothie bowls plus local dishes such as coconut roti. This is the perfect chill out spot for brunch and to get some work done!
How We Ate For Under $5 A Day In Mirissa
Breakfast: We visited Bun Talk for breakfast getting a selection of rotis, sausage buns and sugar rolls although we’d skip the sugar rolls (a bit tasteless) and just stock up on rotis! 300LKR (£0.74)
Lunch: Visit Ourworld Wifi cafe for lunch. We recommend the fried rice, it’s cheap, filling and delicious. They also serve fresh coconuts which are perfect in the heat. 600 LKR (£1.50)
Dinner: Head to Simple cafe for a traditional Sri Lankan curry and rice. 1000LKR (£2.50)
Wondering how much we spent on our whole trip? We break down the cost of travelling Sri Lanka here.
FAQs About The Best Restaurants in Mirissa Sri Lanka
Best Places To Stay In Mirissa
$ Budget
JJ’s Hostel
For solo traveller’s looking for a dorm room in Mirissa, the best hostel is JJ’s. Only a 5-minute walk down to the main road and beach, so you’re not far from restaurants and cafes.
$$ Mid-Range
Emerald Bay Resort
Situated right on the beach, so you can wake up to the sound of the waves. Perfect for beachfront views without breaking the bank. Restaurant and bar on site, and steps away from the action.
$$$ High-End
Mandara Resort Mirissa
The place to go if you’re after luxury in Mirissa. Located right on the beach, it offers spacious rooms, with a choice for a private plunge pool or jacuzzi.
Spacing
Top Things To Do In Mirissa Map
Best Mirissa Tours
Final Thoughts
There we have it, we hope you’ve found out where to eat in Mirissa. We’ve shared a range of restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner from our experience but we’re sure there is more to discover. If you find a hidden local restaurant in Mirissa or think we’ve missed the best one, let us know your recommendations in the comments.
