Calypso singers serenade nightly at the Ceylon Intercontinental’s Pearl Seafood Restaurant. Photo By: Thilak Seneviratne.
There’s plenty going on about town this and every month. There is day-time recreation on the golf course, the tennis courts and many possibilities in and on the ocean. Art galleries and museums are good rainy day destinations and when it clears, an afternoon at the zoo and aquarium will introduce you to some of the island’s wildlife. For a good work-out, several of the major hotels have the latest in weighttraining equipment, squash courts, swimming pools and more.
Evenings in Colombo are hardly time to call it a day. A stroll along Galle Face Green is a favorite past-time among locals and any sea-lover. The hotels feature various dinner fests and some, entertainment: soft piano, lively bands and dancing at the disco. The casinos are open till early morning hours for another kind of excitement.
Here’s a listing of recreational, dining and entertainment opportunities for the month. If you’ve something you’d like to list, please contact the Explore Sri Lanka office six weeks in advance.
Recreation and Cultural Activities
-The Royal .Colombo Golf Club on Model Farm Road is an eighteen hole course open to the public. Tel: 595431.
-Tennis anyone? Several private clubs have courts: Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club (tel: 91419), Orient Club (595068), and The Women’s International Club (595072), as well as the Hotels Lanka Oberoi, Taj Samudra and Ceylon Inter-Continental.
The zoo and aquarium, located on the southern skirts of Colombo, are well worth a visit. A popular attraction is watching them feed the elephants, at 5: 15 p.m. everyday. The zoo is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The Vihara Maha Devi Park is a pleasant place to walk or sit in the shade of large flowering trees.
-Two museums, besides those featured in our article are: the Ratnapura Gem Museum at 1 o Anderson Road and one on Buddhism on Beira Lake. There are several art galleries about town as well.
Colombo cinemas often feature English movies. Watch for the signboards.
Dining, Entertainment and Special Promotions
Hotel Ceylon Inter-Continental’s Palm Avenue One restaurant at rooftop serves a businessman’s buffet on weekdays (12 to 2:30 p.m.), international a la carte dinner (7:30 to 11 p.m.) with live music by the Cosmic Rays from 8:30 on Monday through Saturday, and a Sunday Brunch (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) to Country music.
In the Pearl Seafood Restaurant, dinner is served on the terrace from 7 to 11 p.m. nightly, serenaded by the Sri Lankans, a Calypso band, Monday night presents a Cultural Dance show and Wednesday is Lobster night. The Emerald Tea and Coffee Shop serves a popular daily lunchtime curry buffet(12 to 2:30 p.m., except Sunday) and a la carte menu 24 hours. Evening special menus feature: Monday and Thursday “Hoppers and String Hoppers,” or Kandyan night; Tuesday and Friday “Flaming Flambes Fare”; and Wednesday and Saturday Mediterranean Cruise specialities, all from 7 to 10 p.m.
The Aquamarine Bar offers a cavery and sandwich lunch ( 12 to 2: 30 p. m.) and evening cocktails ( 5: 30 p.m. on) to the piano tunes of Beverly Rodrigo (except Wednesday and Sunday). Live music is performed from 8:30 p.m. (except Wednesday). The Pizzaria serves pizza and pasta al fresco day and night-time, and this month will feature a Pizza Promotion. The100 Pipers Pub plays lively music nightly in the setting of a British pub.
Hotel Galadari Meridien’s Palme D’Or (fourteenth floor rooftop restaurant) serves a businessman’s lunch (12 to 3 p.m.) weekdays and a la carte French and Continental cuisine (7:30 to 11 p.m.).
The Marco Polo Restaurant offers Sri Lankan and Oriental food a la carte from 7 to 11 p.m. the lobby-site Brasserie coffee shop is open 24 hours, serving a 1 uncheon buffet, and lunch and dinner a la carte. Nearby, Le Rendezvous Bar presents Happy Hour (5:30 to 7:30);lunchtime drinks are30% off. Live music in the evenings.
The Colombo 2000 Night Club and Disco plays live dancing music from 9:30 p.m. on. The Dolphin Pool Bar serves snacks from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This month the Galadari presents a French Food Festival from the 17th to the 26th in the Brasserie, accompanied by a French vocalist and piano music every evening from 7 p.m. on. A special concert featuring the Best Bands in Sri Lanka will be held on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ball Room (Rs 100, 150, 200).
Hotel Taj Samudra’s Golden Dragon Restaurant serves Szechuan food nightly. The east-west Coffee Shop features a Monday through Friday lunch time buffet of Sri Lankan specialities ( 12 :00 to 2 :30 p.m.) and 24 hour service a la carte. A Midnight Buffet serves the late nighter from 10:30 to 12 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A Drive-in Tandoori Ba.r-B-Que prepares Indian Tandoori cooking in an outdoor setting or to take out (8:00 to 11:00 p.m. daily).
Mr. Suriya Kumar plays the key board nightly from 7 p.m. in the Lobby Bar. An Indian Rajasthan Festival with authentic food specialities and classic dancing will be held this month. Please watch for banners announcing this event.
The Ramada Renaissance Hotel Summerfield’s Coffee Shop will hold a Seer Fish Promotion in May. The Noblesse, serving a revised menu of Continental andFrench cuisine from 12noon to3:00p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to midnight to live music will hold a Cheese Promotion all month and are hoping for a New Zealand Meat Special (May 15 to 30). The Ibn Batuta will feature a new Sri Lankan menu along with Oriental specialities and this month will present a Monday night SteamboatDinner(7 to 11:00 p.m.). From midMay on, Vegetarian Dishes will be highlighted in the Ibn Batuta.
The Long-Feng Chinese Restaurant’s businessman’s lunch will this month feature a daily changing set menu for sixteen consecutive days (May 1 to 16) and a Special Chinese Poya Buffet on the 14th in addition to its regular a la carte dinners. A Lobster Fest is planned, date not yet fixed. Happy Hour in the Beira Lounge and Terrace will offer discounted drinks and complimentary snacks to live entertainment nightly from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In the Library Executive Lounge and Music Room a Pool Tournament will be held for members on May 30.
A Champagne Brunch is put on every Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Sports Complex. In the Roots Restaurant a Fresh Juice Promotion will go month-long. All eateries will feature a “cocktail of the month” -the Emerald, in recognition of May’s birthstone.
Hotel Lanka Oberoi’s London Grill serves a la carte specialities from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. nightly. For late night dining, Pearls Supper Club is open from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (except Wednesday).
The Pan Malu Restaurant serves an Oriental buffet lunch weekdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Happy Hour (5:30 to 7:00 p.m._) in the Lobby Bar features discounted beverages. Symphony Music is played nightly from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Lounge Atrium.
Holiday Inn’s Alhambra Restaurant serves a Moghul Buffet every Friday evening from 7:30 onward with live music. The Oasis Bar serves in a cool poolside setting from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Gardenia Tea and Coffee Shop features cake and pastry specialities in addition to 24 hour meal service.
Hotel Taprobane serves a la carte western fare in the Harbour Room over-looking the Colombo port, and an Eastern Buffet lunch in the Coffee Shop from 12:30 (except weekends). The Tap Bar is open from 10 a.m. t.o 11 p.m. weekdays, Saturday t.o 6 p.m. (closed Sunday). The Night Club is open nightly.
Colombo’s casinos are internationally reputed and a favorite spot for locals and visitors. Black Jack, Baccarat, Roulette, Pontoon, Rummy, Poker, Flush and Casino are some of the games played. The clubs are: Atlantic, Capricorn, Casanova Galle, Caesar’s Palace, Colombia Club, Golden Topaz (Gaylords), Golden Nugget, Palm Beach and Star Dust. Some offer jackpot prizes, bonus drawings, complimentary drinks, entertainment and free transportation.
The Colombo Golf Course.
