Palmyrah

“I’m back at tis spot exactly after 10 years, love their curated menu and exceptional taste and personalised flavour as per patrons request. My boyfriend loved it thoroughly as his first time and we can’t resist of ensuring to comeback again for sure.”

“Food was on the expensive side. But it was tasty. Service is top notch. The place was packed, book if you can.”

Prince N★★★★★

Well, I had dinner at this highly recommended restaurant for authentic Srilankan food and I was not disappointed. By 7pm on a Sunday evening, the place filled up very quickly and the waiting staff were kept busy through the night. The customers were a mix of local ‘regulars’ tourists and business travellers who were staying at the Renuka City hotel - next door. Many Asians were there. I managed to find a Tamil speaking gentleman who was happy to serve me spicy dishes sprinkled with Lankan Tamizh . Started with the string hoppers with mutton curry and Coconut Sambol. A small bite brought the flavours alive. The portion was generous and the taste flavourful. Earlier I had some drinks and savoured the complimentary papa dams and rasam soup which combined with the chilled beer was just the right start for a good meal. Surely, I’ll return to this restaurant as the waiter recommended that I should taste the local arrack if I really want to enjoy the true Srilankan experience. Well maybe ne

Kim N★★★★★

Delicious Northern Sri Lankan food. Full of spices and flavors, with top-notch hospitality. Before going in, you see what looks like a plain hotel restaurant setup in the basement, with the whitest crockery — something that might make you hesitate at first. However, as soon as the food arrived at the table, we understood why this place was recommended. Around us, there was a mix of diners: locals and foreigners, young and older guests, families, couples, and solo diners, all enjoying their meals. The music playlist was very fun — while eating your chicken curry and dosai, you might hear Akon or Justin Bieber playing in the background. Within 30 minutes, the restaurant was full. The flavors were incredibly authentic, and you can even ask to increase the level of spiciness. We also had the chance to try a sweet-and-sour soup (rasam) as an amuse-bouche. Highly recommended for food lovers looking for intense Northern Sri Lankan flavors and warm hospitality.

Kavinda Deshan★★★★★

My first visit to Palmyrah Restaurant was actually when a friend of mine from the UK came to Sri Lanka for his electives, and this place was recommended to us as one of the best spots to try authentic Sri Lankan food, especially hoppers. I was genuinely surprised that I had never visited before because the restaurant itself is really beautiful and has such a warm atmosphere. The food was excellent from start to finish. The baked crab dish was absolutely exceptional and easily one of the highlights of the meal. The hoppers were also fantastic — both the sweet hoppers and egg hoppers were perfectly made and full of flavour. We also ordered the prawn kottu, which was very good as well and complemented the meal nicely. What really completed the experience was the service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and made us feel very welcome throughout. Definitely a place I’d happily recommend to both locals and foreigners wanting to experience great Sri Lankan cuisine.

Gee Gee★★★★★

I’m back at tis spot exactly after 10 years, love their curated menu and exceptional taste and personalised flavour as per patrons request. My boyfriend loved it thoroughly as his first time and we can’t resist of ensuring to comeback again for sure.

Lithma Tamadhi De Silva★

Dining at Palmyrah Restaurant was a big letdown. I ordered spicy chicken curry, masala dosa, rice, and an iced coffee but the only edible thing was the rice. The “spicy” chicken curry was actually sweet and lacked flavor, the masala dosa was disappointing, and the iced coffee tasted like a vanilla milkshake. Paid 8500 LKR and it was absolutely not worth it. One of the worst meals I’ve had.

Casey W★★★★★

Food was on the expensive side. But it was tasty. Service is top notch. The place was packed, book if you can.

Baba Yaga★★★★★

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Suggested by my hotel receptionist as one of the oldest & most popular restaurant in CMB. Food is extraordinary because its very rich & tasty, yet feels like homemade & light on stomach. Every single item i tried was good incl the complimentary Rasam. Their signature Beef Poriyal & Prawn Curry is a must try. And i can bet you will repeat one of your ordered items.

Nuwan Malawara Arachchi★★★

Palmyrah has a reputation for authentic Jaffna-style dishes and hoppers, so I was eager to finally check it out . Unfortunately, the experience didn’t meet expectations. We ordered hoppers, their well-known mutton dish, seeni sambol, thosa with sambal, and wattalappam. The hoppers were below average, and the mutton—while flavorful—was served cold and came in a small portion, yet cost 3,500 LKR. The sambols were the highlight—both seeni and thosa sambals were tasty and well-made. The wattalappam was disappointingly small and overpriced, with average flavor. We ended up spending close to 10,000 LKR for the meal, which felt steep for what we got. The ambience was just okay—it’s a downstairs restaurant with no view and nothing particularly atmospheric or romantic. It feels like a place to eat and go, rather than to enjoy the experience. Sadly, I won’t be returning. It seems Palmyrah has lost the charm and quality it was once known for.