Eskobar Colombo — Restaurant in Colombo

Saturday night in Colombo and I really had high expectations as it’s a capital city. I wanted to see and experience a roof top bar. So I sourced several online and was going to roof hop! First stop was Sky Lounge, awful. Next was level 4, terrible. From there to Vistas, closed! Then onto Headquarters by W15, again shockingly bad. Ok, let’s try something else, I get a tuk tuk to Jezebel and have a look around that area. Nights getting better, at least there’s people.

Then I take a gamble and go to visit Liv, more bad news. It’s karaoke aaaarrrrggggghh nnoooooo! From there determined not to be beaten I end up at Escobar. From Liv, it’s up some narrow staircase and into a chilled high end cocktail bar. It looked almost empty but by now I didn’t care. Four bar staff fight to serve me and I order a magic mushroom cocktail. I had already drank two cocktails and two lion beers at previous venues.

The staff amuse themselves by having great camaraderie and the music is pretty bland. Unlike the chic decor, ambience with low lighting and steady flow of clientele. It’s certainly not the place to be alone. Although a very well dressed woman two tables away from me is just that. She constantly scrolls on her phone and doesn’t consume one drink in one hour. Is she looking for vulnerable men? I never did go onto the rooftop afterwards.

The magic mushroom cocktail has given me an appetite so I order the Argentinian burger medium rare. It’s served to me approximately fifteen minutes later. The home cooked chips are absolutely to die for. I’ve no idea how they seasoned or prepared them but they were delicious. The burger was average. Served in a plain white roll and it didn’t have the wow factor at all. It was expensive and I can’t remember the contents of the cocktail except to say it was fantastic. I woke up fully clothed at 07:30 the next morning with the light on. I haven’t done that in over...

Very promising..exciting cocktail and snack menu and great reviews.. but to be honest ..the service was mediocre.. I got served at least 15 to 20 minutes after my companions despite ordering at the same time. The Special Long Island was a rip off at almost rs5000 for a drink tasting of coffee rather than tea plus a 5" long ice cube filling the glass and making it appear full. After pointing this out very respectfully to the "mixologist" and showing my disappointment.. he shrugged it off... No comment..not even a glimmer of an attempt to offset my obvious disappointment. The Jazz band was brilliant and deserved a bigger and more appreciative audience. They even humoured me with a very credible rendition of Dave Brubeks Take Five.. Mixing with the DJ killed the vibe and most people left. We were the only ones left.. which was a pity as the music was by far the best thing about this rather pretentious bar..that promises so much.. yet failed to deliver at a service level. I hope they remove the over (pr) iced cocktails and up the game service wise... the food tasted good and the.menu was different and ambitious. Maybe I'll try again.. but this time I'll make sure to order drinks without the...

Eskobar is easily one of the most unique spots I've visited in Colombo. You’re transported into a moody, vintage-inspired world that feels like a scene from a 1920s jazz club. The ambience is absolutely spot-on — dim lighting, plush seating, and live jazz that sets the perfect tone for the evening. It’s intimate without being cramped, stylish without trying too hard.

Speaking of drinks, the cocktail menu is phenomenal. The bartenders are true mixologists — friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. The food too was exquisite and every dish we ordered was carefully plated and full of flavor. It really encapsulates true South American flavors.

If you're looking for a classy, soul-filled night out with amazing music, gourmet bites, and top-tier service — Eskobar is it. A must-visit for jazz lovers and...