Ella is a tiny town, but it has much to offer travelers who are visiting Sri Lanka’s highlands.
From Nine Arches Bridge to Diyaluma Falls and Little Adam’s Peak, we were really excited about all the different sites to see in Ella. We knew it would be one of the most memorable stops on our itinerary.
But what came as a surprise was the number of quality places to eat throughout Ella!
Over a week, we tried as many different cafes and restaurants as possible to find the best place to eat in town. A few of them certainly stood out above the rest—Cafe Chill and UFO Cafe, to be specific—but there were plenty of others that served very tasty meals.
This is our complete list of the best restaurants and cafes in Ella!
90% of the restaurants are on the main street (Ella Road) between the train station and the junction of Ella—Passara Road, so it’s easy to visit a handful, no matter where you’re staying.
1. Cafe Chill
Address: Cafe Chill, Wellawaya Road, Ella
Opening Hours: 6:30 AM – 2:00 AM (Daily)
Menu
Cafe Chill is hands-down the most popular cafe/restaurant in Ella, and they’re in the process of opening a second location in Port City (Colombo).
On our first night in Ella, we were trying to find a place for dinner when we walked past Cafe Chill. Hundreds of people filled both floors of the restaurant, which was bizarre because it felt like more people were dining there than we’d seen around town all day!
We had to find out what all the hype was about, so we put our names on the waitlist.
The atmosphere at Chill Cafe was really cool. They serve a variety of foods, including unique salads, yummy sandwiches, and tasty appetizers. The sweet potato chips with mango chutney were particularly delicious.
We returned for breakfast later in the week, which was equally impressive, so it’s a great choice any time of the day.
2. Café UFO
Address: No. 57, Wellawaya Road, Ella
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM (Daily)
Menu (Instagram)
Cafe UFO is another restaurant we found in Ella that holds a special place in our hearts.
We came here a lot because it was affordable, had a great atmosphere, and had solid Wi-Fi. In the afternoons, we’d get work done over coffee, and then we’d just stay for dinner.
We tried many different dishes here, and our favorites were the Thai Red Curry, Chicken burger, and Deviled Pork!
However, you can find almost anything on the menu, from Western-style pasta and burgers to salads, pizza, Asian-fusion dishes, and Sri Lankan curries!
Cafe UFO also provides a really upbeat atmosphere and great music. The bottom level has more formal seating, while the top level has a mix of tables, chairs, and bean bags for a chill evening.
3. One Love Ella
Address: Railway Station Rd, No 10, Ella
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Daily)
Menu
One Love Ella looks unassuming from the outside, covered in vegetation except for a small entrance, but once you walk in, it opens up to a massive, four-story restaurant/bar that radiates hippie vibes.
This has been a hotspot for tourists for years, especially for a late-night hang (open 24/7).
It’s located just a few steps from Ella Train station. The menu includes mostly Western options like wood-fired pizza, burgers, appetizers, and a few local options. They also had one of the largest selections of drinks and signature cocktails anywhere in Ella.
One Love promotes a highly communal space, too.
They host live DJs on special occasions, pool tables, a dance floor, and a few super-friendly, cute pups living on-site.
4. Rainbow Cafe
Address: No. 41, Bandarawela Road, Ella
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Daily)
Menu
Rainbow Cafe is the only self-proclaimed vegan cafe in Ella. While other restaurants offer some vegan items, almost everything on the menu at Rainbow Cafe is vegan (or can be made vegan).
In our opinion, this cafe serves the best breakfast food in Ella.
We’d come here for the avocado toast, smoothie bowls, and, surprisingly enough, the crispy chicken burger.
The prices are slightly higher than other places to eat in Ella, but the quiet atmosphere and intentional plates make it feel more upscale.
5. 360 Ella
Address: No. 10, Wellawaya Road, Ella,
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
Menu (Instagram)
Like Cafe Chill and Cafe UFO, this restaurant has a bohemian theme and a huge menu with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
The difference is that 360 Ella is slightly more affordable than its competitors.
We loved the Black Mutton Curry and Black Chicken w/ Coconut Sambal, which were both phenomenal.
This restaurant also houses Ceylon Tea Center on the bottom floor and a pop-up vendor called Rotti Hut, one of Ella’s most popular late-night snack stops!
Upon leaving Ella, we traveled to the South Coast of Sri Lanka, where we realized that 360 is actually a parent company with restaurants all over the island. (Matara 360, Unawatuna 360, Hiriketiya (YUZU) and Mirissa (Ceylon Curry House).
6. Ice Cube Bar & Restaurant
Address: Wellawaya Road, Ella (across from Cafe Chill)
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
Facebook Page
Ice Cube Bar & Restaurant is probably the most inexpensive restaurant we visited in Ella.
While the other cafes and restaurants were far from Western Prices, Ice Cube was even cheaper than them, and we could both eat lunch (w/drinks) for less than $10.
You won’t see this restaurant mentioned on very many lists of the best restaurants in Ella (who knows why), but the food was delicious (we got deviled chicken & veggies), and they didn’t skimp on the portions either!
7. Matey Hut
Address: No.91, Ella Road, Ella (near the tunnel)
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
TripAdvisor
The Matay Hut is a small homestyle restaurant that has become a backpacker favorite in Ella.
It’s just a few minutes by foot from the train station and specializes in authentic Sri Lankan cooking. Most people come here just to get a plate of Sri Lankan curries, but we’ve heard great things about pumpkin soup, deviled chicken, and fresh juice.
The restaurant is also extremely affordable. You should be able to eat for less than $3 USD.
(BONUS) Matey Hut offers cooking classes in Ella every evening, showing you how to make their most popular curries and other Sri Lankan dishes!
8. MozzerElla by Nero
Address: 80/B, Ella Town, Ella
Opening Hours: 4:30 PM – 11:30 PM (Daily)
Menu
MozzerElla is a pizza joint in Ella (if you haven’t already put two and two together).
It’s right around the corner from the train station. Sarah got takeaway the night I came down with food poisoning and thought it was amazing. The restaurant is operated by the owners of Nero Kitchen, a popular wood-fired pizza restaurant in Trincomalee!
The small homemade pizza is delicious, and the menu has a pretty extensive list of options, so you will definitely be able to find the preferred toppings!
MozzerElla has great service and would be a good place for families to grab a bite to eat.
9. Ravana Pool Club
Address: 98 Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Uva Greenland Estate, Ella
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (9:00 PM on Friday)
Menu + Day Bed Rates
Ravana Pool Club is a gorgeous place to spend the afternoon. The infinity pool and daybeds overlook Ella Gap, with a view of Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak.
There is a small entrance fee ($10), but if you only plan to sit at the bar or tables, you can purchase food a la carte.
We got a few appetizers and some drinks to enjoy by the poolside and thought it was a very relaxing place to spend a few hours over lunch. Plus, the prices are really fair (especially compared to the pool clubs we visited in Canggu, Bali). The packages come with a certain amount of redeemable food and beverage coupons!
Other Travel Tips in Ella
We loved Ella, and some of our best memories of Sri Lanka are from sightseeing and eating our way through this mountain village. We also learned a lot about making the most of our time.
Here are a few of the most helpful tips we can give you for traveling through Ella!
Best Things to Do
Ella is all about getting out into nature and exploring the town’s scenery. You can;
Trek to Waterfalls: Not far from Ella are several famous waterfalls. Diyaluma Falls is the most impressive and adventurous but is a 70-minute drive from town. Some closer options would be Ravana Falls or Ellawalla Waterfall.
Zipline through Ella Gap: Right below Little Adam’s Peak is the most popular zipline in Sri Lanka, Flying Ravanna. They also have an activity called the “Mega-Jump,” a climbing wall, and ATV tours through the jungle. This activity would be very fun for families.
Hike Through Ella’s Mountains: Some of the best things to do in Ella involve hiking to viewpoints around town, specifically Little Adam’s Peak (2.8 km) and Ella Rock (5.3 km).
Visit Nine Arches Bridge: This stone bridge is the most iconic part of Ella. Don’t forget to check the train schedule so that you can watch the train go over the bridge!
Transportation Options
Ella is one of the few walkable cities in Sri Lanka, so if you’re okay with walking 2-3 kilometers a day, then all you need is your two feet. Then, you can just hire a tuk-tuk taxi whenever you want to go somewhere on the outskirts of town!
We rented a scooter in Ella to get around. It was less than $10/day and felt like our most convenient option. We planned to see multiple attractions each day and wanted to take a day trip to Diyaluma Falls.
Vendors rent scooters all over town, or you can ask the host of your guesthouse or homestay to prepare a scooter to be ready upon arrival.
The final option (and arguably the coolest way to get around) is renting your own tuk-tuk. We did this for the first two weeks in Sri Lanka and absolutely loved it!
We used this company and had a great experience! You can read more about our route (AND get a discount code) in this article.
Where to Stay
If you’re staying in Ella for a few days, you should book a hotel within walking distance of the main streets (Ella Road and Ella–Passara Road).
This is where all the restaurants, shops, coffee shops, and taxis will be located, and staying here will make life much more convenient.
Luckily, this is also where most of the hotels are located. There are plenty of great options.
Best Homestay – Chamathka Homestay
Best Budget Hotel – Ella Country House
Best Mid-Range Hotel – The Chillout Ella
5-Star Luxury Hotel – EKHO Hotel Ella
Final Thoughts
Out of all the reasons to visit Ella, the restaurants and cafes are not mentioned often enough, despite being one of our favorite aspects of staying there for the week!
I hope you found something on this list that will hit the spot. If you really just want someone to tell you which one to choose, you can’t go wrong with Cafe Chill or UFO Cafe.
Both of these spots have just about every type of cuisine and are all really tasty!
Also, if you are taking the blue train from Kandy to Ella, be sure to check out our favorite places to get a meal in Kandy!
If your favorite restaurant didn’t make the list, message us and let us know why it should!
