Looking for a BYOB places in Kandy? Kandy has BYOB places covering every corner of the city and the outer areas, and in this guide, I’m running through the best BYOB restaurants in Kandy where you can hang out with friends and family without paying restaurant markup on your drinks.
After moving back to Kandy from Colombo, I had to hunt down places to meet friends and have a chilled evening over a drink on the weekends. So over the past few years, chasing the vibe and the bites, I’ve visited most of the BYOB places Kandy has to offer. Here’s the full list, based on my own visits, with locations and contact details for each one.
Hotel Thilanka Kandy
Hotel Thilanka is one of the best places in Kandy where you can chill with BYOB. It’s very close to Kandy city centre, and it’s the calmest spot you can hang out at. They have a pool bar with a huge garden area and separate tables. The most important thing is the view, so I recommend going in the evening before sunset to catch the amazing view from the hill. They charge a Rs. 3,000 corkage fee per bottle, and the great thing is they serve large bite portions by weight; you can order a 1kg or 500g portion, and it’s good value for the food quality. Note that you can only bring your own liquor here, since they already sell beer at the pool bar.
Location: No: 3 Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 81 447 5200
The Urban Keg
I’ve been here a few times. The place is great, with an absolutely stunning view of the Peradeniya side of Kandy. From the Kandy-Peradeniya road, you need to take Heerassagala Road or Vihara Mawatha to get to the location. The road is steep since you’re heading up a hill. It’s an open-type restaurant with no windows, and they have really good seating with modern furniture. We tried beef with kangkung, fried chicken, and an omelette, all good. Prices won’t break the bank, and I’d recommend visiting in the evening to enjoy the city view while you chill.
Location: No: 143, 73 Vihara Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 76 129 1290
Hangout Late Night
This is a family restaurant plus BYOB, located on Dodanwala Road, next to Thalappakatti and Machan Restaurant. It’s on the 2nd floor with a rooftop section. Roof access isn’t a common thing to boast about, but they have it, and the vibe up there is really nice; the interior is genuinely good too. The service is solid. This isn’t purely a drinking spot either, plenty of people come just for dinner with family, so it works whether you’re there for a few drinks or just a meal. Only thing is, if you smoke, you’ll need to step outside since smoking isn’t allowed inside the restaurant.
Location: No: 32D George E De Silva Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 81 223 3454
Chill Kandy Restaurant
This is one of my go-to places in Kandy, almost every Friday. It’s located in Asgiriya, right next to Gateway College. To get there, take the road toward Asgiriya, and near the junction, there’s a small road that leads directly to Gateway College. The restaurant is right opposite the college. You climb a set of steps to reach it on the 2nd floor, and the building actually has three-plus levels above ground, so there’s more seating one flight up again. It’s an open-air restaurant with no roof over the main seating, though there’s a covered area if it starts raining. Good lighting, good vibe. Some Fridays, they have a live band playing, though I’ve only caught it a couple of times; it’s occasional rather than a regular thing.
The best part is the food, which comes out fast compared to most other places I’ve been. My favourite from the menu is kangkung with beef, and the onion rings are genuinely some of the best I’ve had anywhere. The fried rice is good too. For BYOB, they don’t charge a corkage fee at all, and prices overall are budget-friendly. Keep in mind they don’t sell any bottles, beer, or cigarettes, so you have to bring everything you need.
Location: No: 78/1/A Sri Wariyapola Sumangala Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 71 223 3911
Waterfront Hotel Kandy
Waterfront isn’t actually in Kandy city; it’s out near Polgolla. You take the road that runs along the Mahaweli River, past the riverside viewing bench area, and the restaurant is right there next to the river. It’s a well-known spot and was popular even back in my school days, but they only started allowing BYOB fairly recently. I’ve been about three or four times.
It’s a really good place. The only downside is that if you’re staying late, getting a three-wheeler or tuk-tuk back can be a bit of a hassle since it’s outside the main city. If you’re driving yourself, it’s a great option. Prices are very reasonable, and you get a partial view of the Mahaweli River from the seating area. The good thing here is that they also sell beer themselves, including bottles, mugs, towers, and jugs, so you’re not limited to just what you bring. Food-wise, I’ve tried a good variety, and it’s all been solid.
Location: No: 241A, Dutugamunu Street, Dutugamunu Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 70 682 1821
Outpost Lounge
Outpost Lounge opened recently, and it’s right in the middle of Kandy city, so it’s easy to get to. It’s on the rooftop of a building that also houses a private university, which works in your favour because there’s proper parking, an underground car park, plus space in front of the building, so you won’t struggle to park. The place doesn’t feel packed or rushed, and it has both outdoor and indoor seating, with the outdoor seating being the better option. Most Fridays, they have a live music group performing.
I tried one of their specialty dishes, and it was excellent, and the rest of the menu held up well too. They don’t charge anything for BYOB; you can bring your own liquor, beer, or cigarettes. Just note they don’t sell any of those themselves, so come prepared.
Location: No: 269 DS Senanayake Veediya, Kandy
Contact: +94 77 734 4606
Level 4 Restaurant
Level 4 is opposite Kandy City Centre, on the 4th floor of that building, as the name suggests. Good place, but it gets very crowded since it’s right in the middle of the city; the after-office crowd tends to head there once 4 pm hits, so seating can be genuinely hard to find at times. Location and food are both strong points. There’s no dedicated parking, so you’ll need to park elsewhere and walk over, though it’s within easy walking distance of most of Kandy city centre. A common move is to grab your bottle from a nearby supermarket like Keells and walk straight across. The restaurant itself spans a couple of floors.
I’ve tried a few dishes there, and one of their specialties stood out as a highlight. The only real drawback is how packed it gets; there isn’t a lot of spare space, so it’s best suited for a quick chill rather than a long, relaxed evening.
Location: No: 36 A9, Kandy
Sky Lounge by Delight
Sky Lounge is right next to Level 4 Restaurant and works pretty similarly. It’s opposite Kandy City Centre, so the routine is the same: grab your drink from Keells and head over, then take the lift up to the restaurant floor. They don’t charge for BYOB either, and you can bring beer or liquor at no cost. They don’t sell any alcohol themselves. Like Level 4, it gets busy, and seating can be tight at peak times.
One thing worth flagging: on one visit, they didn’t allow us to bring in a cheaper local arrack. If you’re planning to bring a budget bottle, it might be worth calling ahead to check, especially if you’re a first-time visitor.
Location: No: 30 Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy
Contact: +94 81 495 4541
Oak Ray Flower Drum
This is a genuinely excellent restaurant on Kandy’s Upper Lake Road, right next to the Kandy viewpoint. Because of that location, the view from the restaurant is stunning, and most of the time, you’ll find a live band or at least a guitarist playing. There are two floors, and often each one has its own live music going on.
They sell liquor themselves here too, and the food is excellent across the board; the fried rice in particular is next level. Prices run a bit higher than most places on this list. For BYOB, the corkage fee is around Rs. 4,000 per bottle, and if you’d rather just have a beer, that’s around Rs. 2,200 to 2,300. It’s worth every rupee. This is a great option if you’re going with family, or honestly even just for a beer with friends. You’ll thank me for this one.
Location: Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 76 455 2569
Cafe Nuwara
Cafe Nuwara is right in the middle of Kandy city. It’s a great spot with a dedicated area for having a drink, and I believe you can also have beer or liquor in the main restaurant area. The food is good, and the vibe is a big part of the appeal too, with a lot of great photo spots throughout. It’s more of an indoor experience, so you won’t get much of a view of the surroundings, but the interior more than makes up for it: nice furniture, thoughtful design, and photos everywhere. Worth a visit if you want good pictures alongside good food. They’ve also recently started selling beer, so it’s not strictly BYOB only anymore.
Location: No: 146 DS Senanayake Veediya, Kandy
Contact: +94 76 022 1222
Cafe Dumbara
Cafe Dumbara is located near the Kachcheri area (the district secretariat office) in Kandy. It’s a solid option with both a restaurant and accommodation on site; the restaurant itself is on the rooftop. Prices are fair, and they don’t charge anything for BYOB. One thing to note: since they run their own bar, you can’t bring your own beer, only spirits from outside. We tried the fried chicken and fried beef, both decent, though the food overall is more average than some of the higher-end places on this list. Still good value for the price. The one real catch is that the restaurant closes around 9:30 pm, so go early if you want time to actually enjoy it.
Location: No: 46 Yatinuwara St, Kandy
Contact: +94 77 753 1000
The Dope House
The Dope House is right next to Cafe Dumbara and opened fairly recently, also in the middle of Kandy city. The interior is genuinely impressive. They sell liquor themselves as well, but you can still bring your own for BYOB: roughly Rs. 500 for beer and somewhere around Rs. 1,000 to 1,500 for spirits (worth calling to confirm exact pricing). Food is good, and the space feels well put together. If you smoke, you’ll need to step out to the balcony. A solid choice if you’re already near Kandy town centre.
Location: No: 60 Yatinuwara St, Kandy 20000
Contact: +94 72 118 0180
Fishing Hut
Fishing Hut is one of my favourite BYOB places in Kandy, though it is a bit further out from the city, about 6 to 7km along the Peradeniya road. What makes it worth the trip is the incredible view of the Mahaweli River right next to the restaurant; you can’t get into the water, but you can enjoy it from your table. It’s been around for years and comes highly recommended by a lot of people, and the food holds up well too.
Location: Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha, Kandy
Contact: +94 77 440 4416
Frequently Asked Questions About BYOB in Kandy
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does BYOB mean? | BYOB stands for “bring your own bottle.” It means you can bring your own alcohol, usually liquor or beer, to a restaurant instead of buying drinks from their bar, and either pay no fee or a small corkage charge per bottle. |
| Is BYOB legal at restaurants in Sri Lanka? | Yes, restaurants without a liquor license can legally allow customers to bring their own alcohol for personal consumption. This is why BYOB culture is so common in Kandy and across Sri Lanka, especially at restaurants that haven’t gone through the process of getting a full bar license. |
| Do BYOB restaurants in Kandy charge a corkage fee? | It varies by restaurant. Some, like Chill Kandy Restaurant, Outpost Lounge, and Level 4, don’t charge anything at all. Others, like Hotel Thilanka and Oak Ray Flower Drum, charge a corkage fee per bottle, usually somewhere between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000, depending on the restaurant and how upscale it is. |
| Which is the best BYOB restaurant in Kandy for a view? | For the best views, Hotel Thilanka, The Urban Keg, and Oak Ray Flower Drum are top picks; all three have stunning hillside or lake views, especially around sunset. |
| Which BYOB restaurant in Kandy is best for families? | Hangout Late Night and Oak Ray Flower Drum both work well for families; they’re not purely drinking spots and get a good mix of people just there for dinner. |
BYOB spots are great for a chilled evening with drinks, but they’re only part of the picture when it comes to eating out in Kandy. If you’re after a wider list covering everything from local favourites to hidden gems around the city, check out my full guide to the best food spots in Kandy, where I cover the places I keep going back to, drinks or no drinks.
