If you’re looking for the best spots to grab a cold beer in Kandy, you’re in the right place. Kandy sits up in the hills, and that altitude keeps things sitting comfortably in the mid-range all year round, none of the sticky heat like you get down on the coast. That cooler evening air is exactly the kind of weather that puts you in the mood to sit outside with a cold beer as the sun goes down. Kandy doesn’t shout about its nightlife the way Colombo does, and most places wind down by 9 or 10 PM, but if you know where to look, there’s a solid handful of bars worth your evening.
Here are 20 of the best spots to grab a cold beer in Kandy, from rooftop lounges to old colonial taverns.
Terrace Bar, Kandy City Centre
Tucked away on the top floor of Kandy City Centre, Terrace Bar is a fairly recent addition, opened just a year or two back, and it’s still one of the quieter spots on this list.
Tucked away on the top floor of Kandy City Centre, Terrace Bar is a fairly recent addition, opened just a year or two back, and it’s still one of the quieter spots on this list.
The rooftop location is the main draw, with a proper view over the city, and they pour a full range of beer, lager, stout, and the stronger stuff too. Indoor seating is limited, but the outside area under umbrellas has plenty of room, and it’s a genuinely pleasant place to sit with some bites.
Prices run a bit higher than most spots on this list, which makes sense given the KCC location, but if you’re short on time and want good food with your beer, it’s worth the stop. Worth trying their spiced beer too, a mug finished with green chillies, pepper, salt, and lime.
Location: Kandy City Centre (KCC), Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy
Phone: +94 70 443 3701
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
The Pub
I’ve been here a few times, and it’s one of my favourites on this list. The Pub sits on the top floor above Kandy Bakehouse, so take the stairs up past the bakery and you’ll find it.
What sets it apart is the tap beer; most places in Kandy serve bottles, but here you get it poured fresh into mugs. They carry a strong beer as well as a lighter 4.5% lager.
The place has a wooden floor, some seating inside, and a balcony overlooking the road that can comfortably seat around twenty people, which is where most people end up sitting. It’s a fairly quiet spot, more foreigners than locals from what I’ve seen, though the balcony does fill up sometimes.
Prices are mid-range, and the bites are genuinely good; I’d recommend the hot butter cuttlefish if you order one thing.
Location: Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy (above Kandy Bakehouse)
Phone: +94 812 234 341
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar
Also known locally as Bamboo Garden, this is one of the better-known names on the list, and for good reason.
It’s a bit of a trip out, around two to three kilometres from the city as you go around the lake, next to the Thilanka Hotel.
One thing to know before you head out: they only serve light beer and stout, no strong beer here. What they do have is a really good food menu, good music, and a genuinely nice vibe, so it works best if you’re after a relaxed evening with food rather than a heavy night of drinking.
Prices sit in the mid-to-high range, and there’s a proper parking area, so you don’t have to worry about where to leave your vehicle.
Location: 29A, Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 238 267
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
This used to be HQ Kandy Pub & Restaurant, but it’s since been rebranded as Machang, a restaurant and pub chain you’ll find in most corners of Sri Lanka, still in the same spot up in the hills of Aniwatta.
I’ve been here a lot of times, mostly with a crowd of locals rather than tourists, though foreigners do wander in now and then. Beer prices are mid-range, cheaper than a lot of places on this list, and the food is decent, though it can be a bit inconsistent; a dish that’s great one visit might taste slightly different the next.
Every Friday night they bring in a live band; other nights it’s quieter. There’s plenty of parking and a good spread of seating: an outside area with a roof, another outside area without one if you ask for it, some seating indoors, and a private room you can book ahead with a call.
If you’re ordering, the daiya pork is excellent, comes with nai miris on the side, the hot butter cuttlefish is also good, and if you’re keeping an eye on the budget, the chickpea plate goes really well with a beer.
Location: No. 30, George E. De Silva Mawatha, Kandy
Phone: +94 817 849 800
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
The Last Drop, Kandy City Hotel
Right next to Silverdale Shopping Complex, so it’s easy to find, and it’s on the main road too. It’s a fully closed, air-conditioned place; through the windows you can watch the road and people walking by outside.
The food is good. The only thing I’ll say, and this is just my personal take, I tend to prefer outdoor seating over being inside, so it’s not my first choice, but it’s still a good spot.
If you’re short on time or already in the area, it’s worth stopping in. No parking of their own, though, so you’ll need to park in the city centre or use the public parking along the road.
Location: No. 37, Yatinuwara Street, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 220 002
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Royal Bar and Hotel Restaurant
Another contender for one of the best spots to grab a cold beer in Kandy, this is a genuinely unique place, right in the middle of the city, set inside a real old colonial building that looks like it may have once belonged to someone connected to the old royal family, though I’m not entirely sure of the history there.
It’s a two-storey building, and the bar itself spans both floors, with an open courtyard in the middle where you can look straight up at the sky, with the rest of the building wrapped around it.
They serve stout and beer, prices lean a bit higher than average, but the food is good. I had the seafood platter, and it was excellent- nothing to complain about. The only thing to note is there’s no private parking, just public parking, but it’s easy enough to find a spot outside the hotel.
Location: No. 44, Raja Veediya, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 224 449
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Cafe Nuwara
Cafe Nuwara is a really, really good place, right in the middle of the city.
Unfortunately, there’s no parking of their own, though if you’re going late at night, you can use the parking at Singer Mega just in front of the cafe. Otherwise you’ll need to park in the city centre and walk down, or grab a tuk tuk.
It’s become hugely popular with the younger crowd; lots of teens and young people come here. They sell beer too.
The place is genuinely photogenic, portraits of kings, queens, and old photos of the city everywhere, so expect to end up taking a few pictures. It’s spread across two floors; you can sit up top or in the open area downstairs.
The food is really good and quite decorative, tastes great and is fair for the price. Worth trying.
Location: No 146, D.S. Senanayake Street, Kandy
Phone: +94 76 022 1222
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Flower Drum Restaurant, Upper Lake
Flower Drum is one of the best places you can go for a beer around Kandy city. Prices lean a bit higher, but it’s worth it; they’ve got really nice music playing and the food is next level.
The view is excellent too; you can see the entire city while you’re having your beer. They cover the full range: stout, strong beer, lager, and I believe arrack as well.
My favourite dishes were the fried rice, which was excellent, and the hot butter cuttlefish, also really good.
On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they have live music. It’s spread across two floors; both serve beer and food, but make sure you head up to the rooftop- that’s the best spot to enjoy the evening.
Location: Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy
Phone: +94 76 455 2569
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
The Stag’s Head Pub, Hotel Casamara
Right in the middle of the city, you can walk here from the Kandy city centre in under two minutes.
One of Kandy’s most storied pubs, set inside a building with roots as a British officers’ club, and it’s up on the rooftop, so you get a nice view over the city while you drink. It’s a genuinely quiet, relaxed spot most of the time.
They do have parking on site, but the area around it gets busy and it can fill up fast, so it’s often easier to park in the public car park nearby and just walk the couple of minutes down. Prices are fair and the food is good too.
Location: Hotel Casamara, No. 12, E.L. Senanayake Veediya, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 234 327
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Hangout Late Night
Hangout Late Night is right next to Machan Aniwatta (the one we covered earlier in this list), up on the first or second floor of the building. There’s a fair number of steps to get up there, so take it slow, and be extra careful coming back down after a few beers.
The place itself is really good, with one of the best views around, and there’s an air-conditioned indoor area too, so if you want to smoke you’ll need to step outside.
They’ve got a decent selection of beer, and honestly a lot of people come here just for the food; it’s that good. It’s been a well-known spot in Kandy for a few years now. Parking is available too, so you can just show up, park, and settle in for a beer
Location: 32D, George E. De Silva Mawatha, Kandy (next to Machan Aniwatta)
Phone: +94 812 233 454
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Dope House
If you’re still working through this list of the best spots to grab a cold beer in Kandy, Dope House is a fairly recent addition to Kandy’s bar scene, and the interior is superb, colonial style decor with some genuinely nice photo spots dotted around.
It’s not purely a pub either; there’s a proper restaurant attached, and they serve both beer and liquor. It’s right on the main road near the city centre, so if you’re already in town you can just walk over.
The one downside is parking; there isn’t any on site, so you’ll need to use public parking nearby and walk down.
The food is good; it’s got a modern restaurant feel to it. You can also bring your own beer from outside, they charge a corkage fee of around Rs. 500 for that, or you can just buy beer from them directly.
Location: No. 60, Yatinuwara Street, Kandy
Phone: +94 72 118 0180
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Willow Pub, Waterfront Hotel
This is a good spot, but it’s a bit of a trek, about five to six kilometres out from Kandy city, tucked away in a quiet area.
The restaurant is on the ground floor and the pub itself is up on the first floor, fully open air, with a separate open garden area as well. It sits next to the Mahaweli River, though you can’t actually see much of the river itself since there’s a large rock blocking the view between the pub and the water.
They do beer pitchers and beer towers, the food is good for the price, and the beer prices are fair compared to other places on this list. One thing to keep in mind if you’re coming by tuk tuk or bus, it can take a few minutes to find transport back given the distance from town, but you’ll get one eventually.
Parking isn’t an issue though, they have plenty of space. Overall it’s a nice, quiet option if you want to bring the family out for something relaxed.
Location: 241/A, Dutugemunu Street, Kandy
Phone: +94 70 682 1821
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Pavana Restaurant & Bar
This is one of the cheapest places on this whole list. It’s on Ali Mudukkuwa lane, follow the road down and it splits into two, one path going left and the other right, take the left and you’ll find Pavana.
It’s got two floors, first and second, and it’s full of locals, a lot of blue collar workers who come in after their daily wages for a drink. No music, just the sound of people getting a bit loud as the evening goes on.
The prices are genuinely cheap, they barely add any markup compared to other places, and the food is just as good value, everything from cream crackers with cheese to fried bites to rice and curry.
It’s a proper local spot and worth going for the experience, but go in knowing it’s a rough-and-ready, all-locals crowd, if you’re used to more polished places it might take some getting used to.
Location: Wadugodapitiya Lane, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 201 508
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
JB Hotel Paradise & Pub
JB Hotel is a bit of a hidden place, easy to miss if you don’t know where to look, but I used to go there with a small group of friends and it’s easy enough to find once you know it.
It’s on Upper Peradeniya Road, right next to the Fab outlet (the fast food chain that recently opened a branch in Kandy). Since Fab opened next door, JB Hotel Paradise has also renovated, both the interior and exterior look a lot better now.
It’s a small, covered place with a bar on the first floor, and they serve both beer and liquor at good prices. No music, nothing fancy, just a decent, okay spot in town. They have parking too, so you can park and head straight in. Prices are fair and the food is good as well.
Location: No. 162, Peradeniya Road, Kandy
Phone: +94 814 258 686
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
CITTA, Golden Crown Hotel
For a five-star take on the best spots to grab a cold beer in Kandy, Golden Crown is a relatively recent addition to Kandy’s hotel scene, been around maybe five or six years, and it’s a proper five star property out on Ampitiya Road.
Parking isn’t a concern here, they have plenty of space. There are actually two bars, one in each wing, both set close to the pool but in separate areas. Beer-wise it’s stout and lager only, no strong beer.
Go in the evening if you can, from the bar you can look out over the pool area and catch the paddy fields and birds flying over as the sun sets, it’s a really nice setting.
If you’re ordering food, get the buffalo wings, they were next level when I tried them. Staff are excellent too, it’s a proper five star hotel experience without having to leave the city.
You’ll see a fair number of foreigners in there in the evenings as well. Prices are on the higher side compared to most other places on this list, but worth trying at least once.
Location: 322, Udugama, Ampitiya Road, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 244 000
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Hotel Devon, Ampitiya
Hotel Devon is a fairly large three-star hotel out on Ampitiya Road. If you’re passing the Lake Round, take the Ampitiya road and after about two to four hundred metres you’ll find it.
The bar itself is on the ground floor, closed off, but it sits right next to the pool, so you can grab a beer and head out poolside to drink it.
I’ve been here a few times, it’s close to where I live. Beer prices are decent, though they only do stout and lager, no strong beer. The food is good too, I’d recommend the potato dishes.
It’s a pretty average, no-frills sort of place overall, but if you’re out in the Ampitiya area and don’t want to head all the way back into town, it’s worth a stop.
Location: No. 51, Ampitiya Road, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 235 164
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Thilanka Pool Bar
Hotel Thilanka is one of the most famous hotels in Kandy, a big three or four star property with accommodation, and it’s genuinely a nice place with a few photo-worthy spots around it too.
The pool bar sits right on the edge of a cliff, and from up there you get the whole city and the surrounding mountains laid out in front of you. Go around 6 PM and you’ll catch the sunset, honestly one of the best places I’ve been for a beer in Kandy. Plenty of seating and the service is excellent.
Beer here is on the pricier side compared to everywhere else on this list, around Rs. 2,500 a bottle, but between the setting and the service it’s worth it for at least one visit.
It’s the kind of place I’d recommend if you want more of a proper hotel experience with your drink, or if you’re taking the family out.
Location: No. 03, Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy
Phone: +94 814 475 200
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Cafe Dumbara
Cafe Dumbara is right in the middle of the city, so you don’t need to travel anywhere for this one, it’s close enough that you can just pull it up on Google Maps and walk over. It’s on the rooftop, fourth floor, and there’s no lift, so be ready for a few flights of stairs.
The food is good for the price and the beer prices are fair too. Seating is usually available, there’s a decent crowd most of the time but it rarely gets completely full, so you don’t need to book ahead.
The one thing to watch out for is parking, there isn’t any, so you’ll need to park elsewhere in town and walk over. Also worth planning around: they close at 9 PM, earlier than most other spots on this list that stay open till midnight, so time your visit accordingly.
Overall it’s a solid pick if you’re short on time or on a budget while out in town.
Location: No. 46, Yatinuwara Street, Kandy
Phone: +94 77 753 1000
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Bommu Rooftop Bar, Radisson Hotel
The Radisson Hotel is actually really close to the city. If you’re passing the Lake Ground, there’s a road heading up to the Hillwood College primary gate, take that and you’ll find the hotel. They’ve got plenty of parking too, a separate underground lot.
Bommu itself is up on the rooftop, right next to the swimming pool, with both an outside area and an inside area, though the inside part isn’t fully enclosed either, it has a roof but the rest is open. From up there you get a real nice view over most of the city.
I’ve been here once and took advantage of a beer tower offer they had running, which came with a few complimentary bites, some nice mini pieces alongside it.
Worth knowing before you go: they only serve stout and lager, no strong beer here. And if you’re ordering food, get the kottu with fish curry, it was excellent.
Location: 31, Saranankara Mawatha, Kandy
Phone: +94 812 030 700
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Cocoba
I’ve been to Cocoba and it’s genuinely a good spot, actually run by a friend of mine. It’s on Anagarika Dharmapala Road, near Dharmaraja College. Head past the college and look for a petrol station, right in front of it there’s a small side road marked with a signboard listing a few hotel names, follow that in and you’ll find Cocoba tucked away.
It’s not a big place, and parking is limited, but there’s a mix of outside and inside seating. The food is really good, I’ve tried a few of their rice dishes and chicken options and they were excellent. They do sell beer.
On weekends they run events, so the seating can fill up fast, it’s worth booking ahead. Check their Facebook page for any events on the weekends. There’s a family dog on the property too, a friendly golden retriever who I got to spend some time with, which is always a nice touch.
Location: 117/3, Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Kandy
Phone: +94 76 754 8684
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
That wraps up our list of the best spots to grab a cold beer in Kandy. Whether you’re after a quiet rooftop view, a lively local tavern, or a five-star pool bar, there’s something on this list for every evening.
A quick note before you head out: alcohol isn’t sold on Poya (full moon) days or certain religious holidays, so it’s worth checking the calendar before you plan your evening.
If none of these spots have exactly what you’re after, or you’d rather skip the markup on drinks altogether, check out our guide to the best BYOB places in Kandy, where you can bring your own bottle and just pay a small corkage fee instead.
