Smoke & Bitters

The quality of the food and drinks here is worth the hype. Although more expensive by Sri Lankan standards, our experience here was amazing and the views are stunning (we went at sunset and highly recommend). The staff were super genuine and friendly. We shared 5 of the small plates and although the portions were not huge, each meal was delicious.

Smoke & Bitter truly leaves a strong impression. The dishes are full of surprises thanks to their creativity and unique flavor combinations, unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. Each plate carries its own special touch, balancing novelty with harmony. The space is beautifully designed and thoughtfully curated, offering a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. The staff are friendly and cheerful, making the entire experience even more delightful.

Truth be told, I planned a trip to Sri Lanka to eat at Smoke & Bitters - the entire time, I kept telling myself not to have high expectations because as life would have it, everytime I’ve expected too much - I’ve left feeling disappointed - this place however, is an anomaly. I expected the world, and got more in return! The cocktail and food - all 10/10 - the staff though, made the difference. Just the happiest and most friendly people that made dining here an absolute joy. Recommend making a reservation in advance and experiencing the sunset!

Wow! I had the pleasure of being at this restaurant as they won the award for the 14th best bar in Asia! Congratulations! The experience was fantastic. Cocktails were out of this world and the food was excellent. I'd say Michelin star quality with a few tweaks.

This place is an absolute gem and it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We were staying in Matara (about 50mn away by scooter) yet we came twice in a row - that’s how good the food was! Cocktails and overall vibes are great! We probably tried the whole cocktail menu at this point ;) Cocktails were also definitely the best we had in Sri Lanka during our 2 weeks trip. Special mention to the king coconut calamari - such a brilliant, innovative and great take on elevated local food!! All the slow cooked meat were obviously amazing - our favourite being the goat in Jaffna curry. If I was being picky, we would have LOVED more curry sauce with our dishes, simply because it’s so delicious and we couldn’t get enough of it! Thank you to the chef to also always serving burning hot bread- what an overall experience! You have to try the food & cocktails at least once if you’re in the area. Make sure to book to secure a seat :)

I absolutely loved it here, I had to come back twice in 2 days! The cocktails are really nice and the staff is lovely. I didn’t reserve so I just sat at the bar and took in the stunning views.

Beautiful location for a bar restaurant, the food, cocktails and other drinks are all well presented with a degree of sophistication with a nice authentic local twist. Service is good and courteous always with plenty of help at all times. Not the best to make reservation. You feel there is a degree of arrogance in the way they do the bookings. Which is not a good look and shows a slight lack of refinement as a whole because while it’s a nice place to visit as visitor you always have so many options to spend your time, rupees and dollars. Hence my rating of 4

Had the most incredible experience at Smoke & Bitters. The drinks and food are thoughtful and well crafted. The flavours were complex and took us on a journey. Although more expensive for Sri Lankan standards, definitely worth the visit. The prawns were the size of lobsters! Thank you Smoke and Bitters 🙏🏼❤️