Department of Coffee
A calm coffee shop on Colombo Street with an extensive coffee menu and a glass wall looking out over the street.
- Mid-range
- Café
- Pour-over
- Cold brew
- Single origin
The Empire Café
A café in a restored colonial building next to the Temple of the Tooth, serving rice and curry, sandwiches, juices and good coffee.
- Mid-range
- Café
- Rice and curry
- Fresh juices
- Coffee
Café Divine Street
A café in a colonial-era bungalow on Colombo Street, known for smoothie bowls and its Divine Burger.
- Mid-range
- Café
- Smoothie bowls
- Brunch
- Burgers
Natural Coffee
One of Kandy’s first proper coffee shops, near the Temple of the Tooth, serving Sri Lankan fair-trade coffee, waffles and ice cream.
- Budget
- Café
- Sri Lankan coffee
- Fair-trade coffee
- Espresso
Café Koi
A small café a short walk from the Temple of the Tooth and Kandy Lake, known for homemade cakes and good coffee.
- Budget
- Café
- Homemade cakes
- Coffee
Café Secret Alley
A hidden café at the end of an alley near Kandy City Centre, serving smoothie bowls, healthy lunches and its signature iced latte.
- Mid-range
- Café
- Cortado
- Sri Lankan coffee
- Iced latte
The Garage Café
A fun, garage-themed café on Peradeniya Road with graffiti walls, tyre seating, kottu, burgers, shakes and waffles at budget prices.
- Budget
- Café
- Kottu
- Burgers
- Milkshakes
Buono
A first-floor coffee bar in central Kandy, known for excellent espresso, avocado toast and fresh lemonades.
- Mid-range
- Café
- Espresso
- Avocado toast
- Lemonade
Soul Food
A relaxed, healthy café near Kandy Lake for wraps, bowls, fresh juices and vegan-friendly dishes.
- Mid-range
- Café
- Smoothies
- Fresh juices
- Wraps
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Our 9 favourite cafés in Kandy
We have marked 9 cafés in Kandy, each picked by locals rather than ranked by an algorithm. You will find them around the town centre, Colombo Street, Temple Street and Peradeniya Road. Prices range from budget to mid-range.
Start with Department of Coffee, The Empire Café and Café Divine Street, then use the filters to narrow it down by price.
What you’ll find: laptop-friendly, fresh juices, coffee, smoothie bowls, burgers, sri lankan coffee, espresso, vegan options, pour-over and cold brew.
Good to know
- Some cafés close one day a week, so check before you go.
- Ask whether they serve Sri Lankan-grown coffee; many now do.
- Weekend brunch gets busy; go early or mid-afternoon.
Also in Kandy: Best hotels in Kandy · Hostels & poshtels in Kandy · Best restaurants in Kandy · Things to do in Kandy. Or see the full Kandy guide.
Good to know
What are the best cafés in Kandy?
Our current picks include Department of Coffee, The Empire Café and Café Divine Street. See all 9 on this page, picked by locals.
Are there budget cafés in Kandy?
Yes. Good-value options include Natural Coffee, Café Koi and The Garage Café. Use the price filter on this page to see them all.
Where can I get a good flat white or long black in Kandy?
Try Department of Coffee, Natural Coffee, Café Secret Alley and Buono. Tap through to each one for what to order and when to go.
Where can I find pour-over or cold brew coffee in Kandy?
Try Department of Coffee. Tap through to each one for what to order and when to go.
Where is the best brunch in Kandy?
Try Café Divine Street, Café Secret Alley and Buono. Tap through to each one for what to order and when to go.
Which cafés in Kandy are good for working on a laptop?
Try Department of Coffee and Buono. Tap through to each one for what to order and when to go.
How do you choose the cafés you list in Kandy?
Every place is chosen by our team for its location, value and character. Paid placements are always labelled “Premier choice”; “Team’s pick” is never paid for.