Sri Lankan Tasting Menu in Ella: Seven-Course Culinary Journey

Seven courses of traditional Sri Lankan cooking, each one made in-house from recipes passed down through generations.

A seven-course Sri Lankan tasting menu in Ella where you eat your way through traditional dishes (coconut broth, rice and curry with three to four accompaniments, wattalappan custard, and more) all made with homemade spice mixtures and ingredients chosen for the season. The meal takes about an hour, a live English-speaking guide walks you through each course, and coffee or tea closes it out. Minimum age is 12.

The experience

The meal starts with a palate teaser and moves through an appetizer, a starter, one or two mains, a palate cleanser, and dessert: seven courses in all, though you can adjust the number beforehand if you prefer. Every dish is exclusively Sri Lankan and built from recipes the restaurant has kept alive across generations. The coconut broth opens your appetite using an ancient formula; the rice and curry lets you choose between rice, string hoppers, or coconut rotti paired with three to four curries; the wattalappan (a creamy custard made from coconut milk, jaggery, eggs, and spices) is the signature closer. What arrives on your plate changes with the season and what the market has that day.

A live guide in English walks you through each course, explaining the ingredients and the technique behind them. The whole experience runs about an hour. Coffee and tea come included. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation stops nearby, so you don't need a car to get there.

What’s included

• Seven-course tasting menu with homemade curries, rice or string hoppers, coconut broth, and wattalappan custard.
• live English-speaking guide.
• coffee and/or tea.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 95 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Traditional Sri Lankan Home cooking by Sweetvalley - Ella

Is this one for you?The restaurant sits on a public transportation route in Ella, so you can reach it without a car or a hired driver: useful if you're staying elsewhere in town or traveling without your own transport. The meal takes an hour, leaving your afternoon or evening free for the rest of your day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What exactly is wattalappan, the dessert in the tasting menu?

Wattalappan is a creamy custard made from coconut milk, jaggery, eggs, and spices: a traditional Sri Lankan dish that closes the meal. It's the signature final course.

Can I choose how many courses I want instead of the full seven?

Yes, you can pre-decide the number of courses before you book. A full seven-course meal includes a palate teaser, appetizer, starter, one or two mains, a palate cleanser, and dessert, but you're not locked into that structure.

Does the menu change, or is it the same every time?

The menu changes with the season and the availability of ingredients, so what you eat depends on when you visit and what the market has that day. Every dish uses homemade spice mixtures and traditional recipes.

Is there a guide, and what language do they speak?

A live guide in English walks you through each course, explaining the ingredients and techniques. They're included in the experience.

How do I get to Ceylon Cuisine if I don't have a car?

Public transportation options are available nearby, so you can reach the restaurant without a private vehicle. The restaurant itself is wheelchair accessible.