Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy
Step into history at Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy, a colonial gem offering heritage charm, delicious food, and a unique atmosphere.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Dosa Fridays start at 11 AM!
Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy
Best Time
Dosa Fridays start at 11 AM!
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Step into history at Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy, a colonial gem offering heritage charm, delicious food, and a unique atmosphere.
"Experience the elegant heritage design and culinary delights at this beautiful old English-style hotel."
🎯 Don't Miss the Dosa!
A 'snack' dosa can feed two! It's incredibly tasty and filling, potentially replacing dinner plans.
✨ Explore the Picture Room
This unique room is worth a look, showcasing the hotel's interesting history and colonial past.
Quick Facts
Hours
Rating
4.3 · 835 reviews
Type
Bar
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Heritage Architecture
Throughout the hotel
Experience the elegance of old English colonial design, a rare find with a unique picture room.
Dosa Fridays
Royal Bar
Enjoy freshly made, crispy, and flavorful dosas every Friday. A weekend starter you won't want to miss!
Tandoori Saturdays
Royal Bar
Indulge in smoky, juicy, and signature tandoori dishes every Saturday. A true culinary treat!
Balcony Breakfast
Verandah dining area
Savor your breakfast on the balcony, enjoying the colonial ambiance and local newspapers.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Embrace the Colonial Charm
Savor the Flavors
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎯 Don't Miss the Dosa!
A 'snack' dosa can feed two! It's incredibly tasty and filling, potentially replacing dinner plans.
✨ Explore the Picture Room
This unique room is worth a look, showcasing the hotel's interesting history and colonial past.
☕ Coffee & Sandwiches
Excellent coffee and delicious chicken sandwiches make for a great casual meal or snack.
🍺 Draft Beer Downstairs
For draft beer, head downstairs! It's a more local vibe and offers drinks not available upstairs.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎯 Don't Miss the Dosa!
A 'snack' dosa can feed two! It's incredibly tasty and filling, potentially replacing dinner plans.
✨ Explore the Picture Room
This unique room is worth a look, showcasing the hotel's interesting history and colonial past.
☕ Coffee & Sandwiches
Excellent coffee and delicious chicken sandwiches make for a great casual meal or snack.
🍺 Draft Beer Downstairs
For draft beer, head downstairs! It's a more local vibe and offers drinks not available upstairs.
🚗 Arrange Your Driver
The hotel staff can help organize your onward driver, a convenient service for travelers.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Guests consistently praise the Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy for its stunning colonial architecture and the delicious, filling food, especially the Dosa and Tandoori specials. The friendly staff and convenient location near major attractions are also frequently highlighted positives. However, some visitors have noted issues with staff attitude towards locals and found the drinks to be expensive.
"Went in for coffee when visiting Kandy for the first time and ended up getting breakfast too. The coffee was great (had a latte and a cappuccino) and the chicken sandwich and brownie were great too. Went in the next day for coffee and another sandwich and some fish and chips and everything was excellent once again. The service was great and the location (especially when sitting outside) is quite nice. The bathrooms were immaculate and had toilet paper, hand-wash and a sanitary bin. Overall a great experience. Highly recommended!"
Mayra Tapia
"I had lunch recently at this place. The staff is nice and very welcoming. The food and beverages are excellent. There is English colonial architecture throughout the premises. The upper-level verandah and dining area feature an elegant heritage design, which is hard to find in many places. Next time, I'm going to stay here, and I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to experience old heritage architecture."
Roshan Weerasooriya
"Beautiful old English style hotel in the heart of Kandy, a short walk from the Temple of The Sacred Tooth Relic and the lake. The rooms are old fashioned and a little quirky but comfortable and the staff are terrific. Loved the breakfast on the balcony and English speaking local newspapers. We organised our onward driver through the staff here. I’d definitely stay here again."
Paul Williams
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy is conveniently located in the heart of Kandy, a short walk from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the lake. Many visitors find it easily accessible on foot from nearby attractions.
While specific parking details aren't widely shared, given its central location, it's advisable to inquire directly with the hotel about parking availability or consider using local taxi services.
From the Kandy bus or train station, a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride will bring you directly to the hotel. The central location makes it a quick journey.
The hotel features colonial architecture, which may include stairs. It's recommended to contact the hotel in advance to discuss accessibility options if needed.
Yes, the hotel is very close to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, making it an easy and pleasant walk.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
No, you do not need to purchase tickets to enter the Royal Bar & Hotel Kandy. It's a hotel and bar, open to guests and visitors.
The Royal Bar is open daily, with specific promotions like Dosa Fridays and Tandoori Saturdays running from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
The picture room is part of the hotel's heritage experience and is generally accessible to visitors without a separate entry fee.
You can absolutely visit just for drinks and food. The Royal Bar is open to the public, and many travelers enjoy the culinary offerings.
Yes, the hotel hosts themed food nights like 'Dosa Fridays' and 'Tandoori Saturdays,' offering unique culinary experiences.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
The hotel offers a diverse menu, including excellent coffee, sandwiches, fish and chips, and specialty dishes like Dosa and Tandoori.
Absolutely! Travelers rave about the Dosa, noting it's incredibly tasty and filling, often enough for two people. Tandoori dishes are also highly recommended for their smoky flavor.
Drinks can be on the expensive side, but the food, especially dishes like the Dosa, offers great value and is very filling.
While not explicitly stated in all reviews, enjoying breakfast on the balcony is a highlighted experience, suggesting it's a popular offering for guests.
The menu features a mix, with international favorites like sandwiches and fish and chips, alongside popular South Asian dishes like Dosa and Tandoori.
📸 📸 Photography
The hotel's colonial architecture, the elegant verandah, and the unique picture room offer fantastic photo opportunities. Sitting outside can also provide nice ambiance.
Yes, visitors are welcome to take photos, especially in the public areas like the bar and dining spaces, to capture the heritage atmosphere.
The ambiance is generally pleasant, and the colonial style lends itself well to atmospheric shots. The verandah area is particularly good for capturing the colonial feel.
No specific restrictions are mentioned, but it's always good practice to be mindful of other guests and staff when taking photos.
Both smartphones and dedicated cameras can capture the hotel's charm. The key is to focus on the architectural details and the vintage atmosphere.
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