Cafe Nuwara — Restaurant in Central Province

Café Nuwara Review: A Historic Charm with a Mixed Culinary Experience

Café Nuwara, nestled in the heart of Kandy, offers a picturesque and unique dining experience. Upon entering, you're immediately welcomed by an interior rich in history and culture. The café boasts an impressive collection of paintings, including a standout portrait of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, alongside several other striking artworks. The walls are adorned with framed photographs that showcase significant historical moments of Kandy, offering guests a glimpse into the city’s vibrant past.

The tables are elegantly decorated with blue lotus flowers, enhancing the fresh and clean ambiance. Adequate lighting ensures the space feels both cozy and inviting, making it an ideal spot for a calm, relaxed meal.

The menu at Café Nuwara is designed to resemble ancient ola leaf manuscripts, adding to the historical atmosphere. The displayed prices represent single-serving portions, which was confirmed by our steward, who was particularly gentle and attentive.

The staff at Café Nuwara are exceptional—friendly, supportive, and highly professional. This level of service undoubtedly enhances the overall dining experience.

As for the food, we ordered the Devil Chicken Fried Rice and Beef Fried Rice. While the taste was average, the amount of beef in the fried rice was disappointing, especially considering its price. The Devil Chicken Fried Rice was reasonably tasty, and the portion size was adequate, but it came with only one small piece of chicken, rather than being mixed into the fried rice, which felt a bit underwhelming. Overall, the portion sizes of both fried rice dishes were quite unreasonable for the price.

On a brighter note, the Double Cheese Chicken Kottu was delicious and worth the money, though it could have included more chicken. The Spicy Cream Seafood Spaghetti was flavorful, but the seafood portion was lacking given the price. The Sausage Noodles stood out as a highlight—delicious, with a reasonable portion size, though it may not satisfy those with larger appetites. The Devil Chicken Kottu was flavorful and spicy, especially when mixed with the two gravies, providing a delightful taste experience. However, the single small piece of chicken again felt insufficient for such a flavorful dish.

It's important to note that the ongoing economic situation in Sri Lanka may be affecting the pricing. If you're looking for generous portions or are on a tight budget, this café may not fully meet your expectations. However, if you’re more focused on the ambiance, historical charm, and a cozy dining experience—perhaps for a date—Café Nuwara is definitely worth a visit.

The café offers a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) option with a separate drinking area, which is a nice touch for those who prefer to bring their own drinks. While there is upstairs seating, a notable downside is the lack of washroom facilities on the premises.

In conclusion, Café Nuwara is an ideal place for those seeking a calm, historic setting with a unique atmosphere, though the food pricing may leave larger appetites or budget-conscious diners...

The WORST experience I had from a restaurant in Kandy. Allow me to walk you through it, Ofcause I have planed what I wanted to order here just like any of you read this review. And I wanted a Kandyan Monster(mix grill platter). I went there and asked to order it and the waiter said NO, He said they are packed and it will take time to prepare so please order something elz. I said I can wait but he still asked me to pick another. So I asked him to come back because now I have to find something elz.(btw Mix grill platter was 6800, I dont know what was on that waiters mind) Then I asked for Beef Submarine.. I am a huge beef fan so It was one of the few items with beef. AGAIN waiter said it will take time to prepare so NO. Like WHAT? It takes time to assemble a SUBMARINE? I WAS FURIOUS. and asked what is availiable. He said pastas and burgers. Ok then I ordered Spaghetti Carbonara, and Cheese injected Burger for my companion. Time that took for our order to be ready was ok IF IT WAS FRESHLY MADE. But what a surprise PASTA WAS SO COLD, NOT EVEN MICROWAVED. Restaurant have ready make food I know but to my knowledge in food they make pasta batches but not entire meals pre cooked and just plate when order arived. They have to actually cook the meal on order. I have never tasted a carbonara like that and trust me I eat alot and I review alot this is my 1st 1star review. My companion told me not to be rude so I didnt say anything. Her burger was okis as it is a burger(still cold but in Sri Lanka I have seen restaurants give burgers like that so I cant blame these guys for it, would have been nice if patty was grilled and hot) and also Fries had no seasoning only thing that taste good for our entire meal was the ketchup. You may think I am being dramatic at this point because everything was horrible in my review. But here comes the best part. The table next to us also ordered the same thing... He took one bite at his Spaghetti and asked waiter is this fresh it is so cold. And waiter took it back and came backafter like 3 mins. I dont know if they know u cant cook fresh pasta in 3 mins despite of cooking a meal. Funny thing is THEY MICROWAVED HIS PLATE AS IT IS SO HE EVEN SEES HIS 1ST BITE IN THAT PLATE. he ordered the waiter to go back and make new one. Ofcause they went back, Im pretty sure they made it just like they gave me and that guy and MICROWAVED beforehand. These guys dont know what it means to give customer proper food. Pasta should be consumed warm not cold. Fries should be seasoned. Wors ever experience not recomending anyone to go there. Why should you pay for a restaurant that reject 2 of your orders because they didnt had pre cooked meals of that kind. And make you order something they have on the back and bring it cold. Wont go there and wont even let anyone I know go there. Disgusting. (If you want quality food in Kandy check my other reviews, because I review honestly and Hate to say this is my 1st 1 star review.)

Well as a side note if you want good pictures not good food this is one of the best place in kandy for that as...

Cafe Nuwara is wonderfully Kandyan — and I mean that as a high compliment. It’s beautifully designed, aesthetically very pleasing, and definitely the kind of place influencers would call Instagrammable. The staff were respectful, and the manager even came over to ask about our food and experience, which felt thoughtful. When we visited around 4 p.m., it was almost empty, which I personally liked. For ambiance, I’d give it a solid 9/10.

The menu is more of a lunch or meal type, offering a variety of burgers, rice dishes, appetizers, drinks, and desserts, though not much for light bites or snacks. The range is good overall. We ordered rice and French fries from the main menu. The rice was quite nice, plenty of protein, satisfying portion for one, and flavorful, though less “Chinese” than the server described. I’d say a 7/10 there. The fries were on the salty side, and the iced teas leaned too sweet, almost syrupy (5/10).

The service, however, felt a little uneven. The waiters seemed a bit more attentive towards the non-local-like crowds, perhaps understandable, as there’s often an eagerness to impress or extend extra hospitality. Of course, that’s also a personal choice of the server. It wasn’t rude, but enough to notice, and it slightly coloured an otherwise pleasant experience.

Prices are on the higher side, not exorbitant, but you’ll want to have over Rs. 1000 in hand for a meal.

All in all, though, it was a pleasant experience. With the company I had, the little shortcomings didn’t matter much. It’s a chill spot to hang out with friends. Not to mention it has a very photogenic place for people to take pics in front of, which is a plus for youth groups.

It is a hyped cafe, though I’d say the name and the hype around it promise a bit more than what you...