Looking for the best Ella restaurants to visit?
Ella has become a very popular destination in Sri Lanka for tourists traveling from all around the world. The town is located in the foothills of Sri Lanka’s beautiful tea country and is famous for the blue train that runs from Kandy through the tea fields of Nuwara Eliya and eventually over Ella’s Nine Arches Bridge.
Ella, Sri Lanka, is a great place for hiking and enjoying the surrounding nature, but it is also home to some of the most delicious restaurants in all of Sri Lanka.
Where to find Restaurants in Ella
So, where are the best places to eat in Ella?
This article will provide you with a list of 9 of our favorite restaurants and cafes in Ella, where you can have a delicious meal at one of the many open-air restaurants!
Unfortunately, not a lot of the restaurants in Ella made it through the lack of tourism in 2020-2022. Some restaurants in Ella, however, were fortunate enough to stay in business and began to grow in popularity.
As travel became popular again, new business owners saw this as an opportunity to give starting their own restaurant in Ella a shot!
13 Best ella Restaurants
We spent 2 months traveling all around Sri Lanka. During this time, we stayed in Ella for a total of 6 days, and we were able to try several popular Ella restaurants and cafes!
Here is a list of the absolute best restaurants in Ella, Sri Lanka!
#1 – Cafe Chill
Cafe Chill is hands-down the most popular cafe/restaurant in Ella. Honestly, we were a little freaked out by how many people flooded the tables of this restaurant each night. We didn’t even know that so many tourists were staying in the town until we were trying to get a table at Cafe Chill for dinner at 6 pm.
The atmosphere at Chill Cafe is wonderful, and you can smell the aroma of deliciously prepped meals even before setting foot in the cafe. This Ella restaurant serves a variety of foods, including unique salads, yummy sandwiches, and tasty appetizers. Our favorite appetizer here is their fresh and crispy sweet potato chips with mango chutney!
#2 – Café UFO
Cafe UFO is another popular Ella restaurant located on the main street! We spent many afternoons working in this cafe! Consequently, we got to try a few different things on the menu. Cafe UFO provides a very fun atmosphere with positive vibes and good music, much like a lot of other restaurants in Ella! They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night food and drinks as well! The extensive menu boasts a variety of Western-style foods, Asian dishes, and Sri Lankan curries!
Go to the top level to enjoy open-air, bean bag seating for a chill evening of drinks and delicious dessert.
#3 – One Love Ella
One Love Ella is a 4-story restaurant/bar located on the same street as Ella train station. They have a large variety of mixed drinks on their menu and a diversified seating area on every level. One Love Ella radiates heavy hippie vibes, and many tourists love coming here for a night out with friends. Their menu includes a highly rated pizza variety, burgers, and, of course, several local food options as well.
#4 – Rainbow Cafe
Rainbow Cafe is the only self-proclaimed vegan cafe in Ella. While other cafes offer some vegan items, almost everything on the menu at Rainbow Cafe is vegan (or can be made vegan). This cafe has some of the best breakfast food in Ella, offering amazing avocado toast, coffee, and yummy smoothie bowls!
#5 – 360 Ella
We realized in Hiriketiya Beach that 360 is actually a Sri Lankan brand with locations all over the island.
Similar to Cafe Chill and Cafe UFO, this restaurant has a massive menu with items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, we found 360 Ella to be a little bit more affordable than the former.
Check out the Ceylon Tea Center for authentic Sri Lankan Tea, or head to Rotti hut at the base of the restaurant for a quick snack!
#5 – Ceylon Tea Factory Restaurant
The Ceylon Tea Museum is slightly off of the main street running through Ella, but it has been a favorite in Ella for quite some time now.
As you can gather from the name, this restaurant specializes in tea & coffee, but they also serve some delicious curries and other authentic Sri Lankan dishes.
#6- Ice Cube Bar & Restaurant
Ice Cube Bar & Restaurant is probably the most inexpensive restaurant in Ella. While many other cafes offer meals at Western prices, Ice Cube Bar & Restaurant is a much more affordable place to grab a bite to eat. We were pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes, and the food was delicious. They have a wonderful dish of grilled meat and veggies and we enjoyed some of their fresh juices as well.
#7 – Matey Hut
The Matay hut is a backpacker favorite in Ella. The restaurant is just a few minutes on foot from the train station and specializes in authentic, homestyle Sri Lankan cooking. This restaurant is very affordable, too.
(BONUS) Matey Hut offers cooking classes every evening where they show you how to make their best dishes!
#8 – MozzerElla
MozzerElla is a pizza joint (get it?). The small but vibrant homemade pizza place serves delicious stone-oven baked pizzas. You can choose from a variety of menu items or create your own pizza combo! MozzerElla has great service and would be a good place for families to grab a bite to eat.
#9 – Ravana Pool Club
Ravana Pool Club is a gorgeous place to spend the afternoon, perched on the cliffs just below Little Adam’s Peak and Ravana Zip-Lining. You can end your hiking or zip-lining experience by taking a dip in the pool for a few hours, relaxing, and hanging by the pool!
The restaurant sells delicious appetizers, and the bar serves poolside drinks all day long. Be sure to purchase a pool time package ahead of time for the best prices!
Where to Stay in Ella
Choosing a place to stay in Ella is going to be highly dependent on the kind of experience you are looking for and, of course, what you can afford.
Are you wanting to be right in town in a hotel/hostel or on the outskirts of town in a homestay with a host family? Or are you looking for a place completely isolated from the rest of the city in Ella’s nature?
The main street of Ella is actually quite small, with everything you could need to be condensed into one street. Finding a place to stay directly in town would be a great option if you are looking to be in close proximity to all of the best cafes and restaurants in Ella. However, the main strip can get quite noisy in the evenings since many restaurants and bars are open late into the night.
We prefer to stay slightly outside of Ella town.
We love how quiet and peaceful it is just slightly outside of Ella, and if we want to head into town for food, shopping, or a night out, we know that the main road is just a few minutes away. We simply rent a scooter for about $5 a day to get to and from the main strip when we need to.
Best Budget Hotel – Ella Country House
Ella Country House is a budget hotel in Ella with some of the highest ratings. The accommodation is within walking distance of all the best restaurants in Ella, but is far enough away to avoid the noise of the town in the evenings! The rooms are a great value for the price and include free breakfast for two!
Best Mid-Range Hotel – The Chillout Ella
The Chillout Ella is a highly rated mid-range hotel in Ella. The guesthouse has hundreds of 10/10 reviews and is really affordable for the value. There is a lovely view and the rooms are very clean. The Chillout Ella is located on Ella-Passara Road, which is in close proximity to Little Adam’s Peak, Ravana Zip Line, and Nine Arches Bridge!
Best Homestay – Chamathka Homestay
We booked Chamathka Homestay for 6 nights in Ella during our Sri Lanka. The place was small but very pleasant and far enough from town to avoid the noisy evening. The homestay owners were exceptionally kind and accommodating, and the price was incredible. We would not hesitate to stay here again.
5-Star Luxury Hotel – EKHO Hotel Ella
EKHO Hotel is probably the best hotel money can buy in Ella. This hotel is located very close to all of the popular things to do in town and just about 5 minutes from Ella Train Stations. Although it is close to town, the EKHO Hotel is high enough in the mountains to still have a gorgeous view of the Ella Gap. Complimentary breakfast is offered each morning out on the lawn overlooking the mountains of Ella. This would be a great hotel for couples interested in staying in Ella for a few nights.
They even have a lovely hot tub available to use where you can watch the sunset in the evening while enjoying a drink from the restaurant/bar.
Renting a Tuk-tuk For Your Trip To Ella! (discount code)
We rented a tuk-tuk for two weeks during our time in Sri Lanka and absolutely loved driving ourselves around the country! We drove ourselves to multiple cites using a rental from tuktukrental.com. They are an incredible company worth looking into if you are interested in renting a tuk-tuk for yourself!
Interested in renting a tuk-tuk? Do not hesitate to visit tuktukrental.com! Use Discount Code: PAZOOKTRAVEL for 5% off at booking!
What to Do in Ella
There are so many cool things to do in and around the nature of Ella. If you love being out in the fresh air, exploring new landscapes, and seeing natural wonders, then Ella would make a perfect addition to your Sri Lanka itinerary.
In Ella, you can explore more of Sri Lanka’s waterfalls, hike several trails to the top of the valley, and even relax at Ella’s famous cliffside pool club overlooking Ella Gap.
Our favorite things to do in Ella include:
- Explore Ella’s Waterfalls – located not far outside of Ella town are several of Sri Lanka’s beautiful waterfalls including Diyulama Falls, Ravana Falls, and Ellawalla Waterfall.
- Zip-line through Ella Gap – right below Little Adam’s Peak, is a popular zip-lining site that tourists absolutely love. Spend an afternoon zip-lining through Ella’s beautiful valley. This activity would be extra fun for families traveling through Ella.
- Hike Through Ella’s Mountains – some of the best things to do in Ella involve hiking to some of Ella Gap’s most beautiful viewpoints. The two most popular hikes include Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock.
- Take Pictures at Nine Arches Bridge – This stone bridge is a staple in Ella. Don’t forget to check the train schedule so that you can watch it go over the bridge!
Travel Insurance for Ella
You should really have travel insurance when traveling to Sri Lanka, especially if you will be hiking in Ella.
Full transparency, we did not buy travel insurance before our trip to Sri Lanka, and we very much regret it. After experiencing serious food poisoning, an infected toe, and a flight complication scare, we really wish we had looked into buying travel insurance before our trip. We ended up having to pay for two days of travel insurance at the end of our trip anyway, just to be permitted to take a layover in Thailand.
We originally assumed that travel insurance was really expensive and opted out of buying it for ourselves before our trip. However, we have recently discovered Safety Wing’s Nomad Insurance as a reliable and affordable travel insurance option. They have plans for as little as $45 a month and cover all COVID-related expenses.
Do yourself a huge favor and get yourself travel insurance ahead of your next trip to ensure that you have protection in case you get injured or sick!
Packing for Sri Lanka
What to pack for Sri Lanka will depend on which region you are planning to visit because of the varying weather patterns and terrain. Are you planning a beach vacation? Planning on going hiking in the mountains? Traveling all around the country?
For the most part, Sri Lanka will be hot and humid! However, there are parts of the hill country that actually experience some chillier weather and heavier rainfall. Ella happens to fall somewhere in between. Be sure to research your destination ahead of time to help you plan what to pack in your suitcase.
For more information: Sri Lanka Packing List: What To Wear In Sri Lanka
Thanks again for reading our list of the top 9 restaurants and cafes in Ella, Sri Lanka! We hope this guide is helpful for you during your trip! Give these places a try, and let us know how you like them! See how to reach out by visiting our CONTACT page.
Safe travels!
Caleb & Sarah