The veranda tables next to the Barefoot art gallery.
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Barefoot Garden Cafe

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A vibrant garden cafe, art gallery, bookshop, and boutique offering a unique cultural and culinary experience in Colombo.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
The veranda tables next to the Barefoot art gallery.

Barefoot Garden Cafe

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A vibrant garden cafe, art gallery, bookshop, and boutique offering a unique cultural and culinary experience in Colombo.

"A serene garden oasis with art, books, and delicious food – a must-visit Colombo gem!"

TIP

Sunday Jazz Sessions

Visit on Sundays for live jazz. Try the prawn dishes or sandwiches.

Book Ahead

Tables can get crowded during lunch hours; reservations are recommended.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 7PM

Cuisine

Cafe

Price

Mid-range

Phone

+94 112 589 305

Address

704 Galle Rd, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Garden Ambiance & Art

Garden Ambiance & Art

A serene garden oasis with vibrant flowers, tall trees, and an adjoining art gallery offering a unique cultural escape.

Colombo Cafe Culture: The Top Cafes To Try when in Colombo Sri LankaThe Best Cafés in Colombo, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka Travel Blog
Live Jazz Sundays

Live Jazz Sundays

Enjoy live jazz performances every Sunday while savoring delicious food and drinks in a lively atmosphere.

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Creative Culinary Delights

Creative Culinary Delights

Savor flavorful salads, mouthwatering desserts, and signature dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

Google Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Barefoot Garden Cafe, Colombo, Sri Lanka . . . #travel #cafe #explore #food
@icarus_wept
31 likes • 2.6K views

Sunday Jazz Sessions

Visit on Sundays for live jazz. Try the prawn dishes or sandwiches.

Book Ahead

Tables can get crowded during lunch hours; reservations are recommended.

A fun date full of cake at Barefoot 💚 #Cake #Foodie #CakeDate #SriLanka #Colombo
@shenki15
363 likes • 12.3K views
Barefoot Garden Cafe #vlog #barefootgardencafe #cafe #coffee #coffeedate #besties #fyp #foryou #foryourpages #mood #edit #audio #viral #trending #cafe #date #srilanka #colombo
@oopswediditagain20
42 likes • 401 views

Explore the Boutique

Don't miss the fashion boutique with hand-woven textiles and unique souvenirs.

Savor Local Flavors

Enjoy salads and desserts made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

24 :) 📍 @Kaapi Colombo | barefoot garden cafe| akhenaten sky lounge #fypシ #birthday #allsmileshere☻ #srilankatiktok #fyp #birthdaytiktok #colombo🇱🇰
@loha.girl
87 likes • 1.4K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Sunday Jazz Sessions

Visit on Sundays for live jazz. Try the prawn dishes or sandwiches.

Book Ahead

Tables can get crowded during lunch hours; reservations are recommended.

Explore the Boutique

Don't miss the fashion boutique with hand-woven textiles and unique souvenirs.

Savor Local Flavors

Enjoy salads and desserts made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Barefoot Garden Cafe is lauded for its serene garden ambiance, making it a delightful escape from the city bustle. Diners praise the fresh, tasty food, the excellent coffee, and the unique multi-faceted experience that includes a gallery, bookshop, and boutique. While some find the prices slightly high, the overall atmosphere and quality of offerings generally justify the cost.

"This was such a serene and wonderful place to visit! Barefoot Garden Cafe had some delicious vegan options and a lovely area to sit and eat. I always say this about Sri Lanka - the hospitality and kindness there is amazing and nothing compares to it! Servers are so helpful and friendly! They also had a beautiful art gallery to visit, a cute book store that I bought a few great books from. I live in Canada and I saw on their website that you can arrange for international shipping so I will be buying more books, I love reading Sri Lankan literature. They also had a clothing, souvenir and fabrics store. Barefoot has my heart and I will be visiting there again when I come back to Sri Lanka."

Anuki K

"What a charming cafe, conveniently located just a stone's throw from the beach! You'll find a wonderful array of handmade and local treasures to explore here, which are beautiful even just to admire. The cafe itself is expertly designed, feeling like a private tropical escape. And the food? Comforting and incredibly tasty!"

C

"This place has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with a strong cultural vibe. The food from the kitchen is tasty, and the overall ambiance is pleasant. The staff is friendly, the service is good, and the menu offers something for everyone at a fair price. If you're interested in art, you can also visit the Barefoot Gallery nearby. The place has a nice mix of classic and authentic charm. It's a good spot for anyone who appreciates art and a relaxed setting."

Sajith Rangama

What People Like

Tranquil garden setting
Fresh and flavorful food
Unique cultural experience (art, books, shopping)

What People Dislike

Slightly overpriced food

Frequently Asked Questions

It's known for its beautiful garden ambiance, delicious food, coffee, live jazz on Sundays, and its integrated art gallery, bookshop, and boutique.

Colombo's 10 Best Brunch And Late Breakfast SpotsColombo Cafe Culture: The Top Cafes To Try when in Colombo Sri LankaThe best cafes in Colombo+1

Yes, they often have live jazz performances on Sundays. It's best to call ahead to confirm.

Colombo's 10 Best Brunch And Late Breakfast Spots48 Hours in ColomboColombo, Sri Lanka places to eat: Six of the best cafes+1

Some diners mention that the food is on the more expensive side, but generally consider it warranted for the quality and experience.

Google Review

Yes, Barefoot has a renowned boutique selling hand-woven textiles, clothing, and unique souvenirs.

Colombo Cafe Culture: The Top Cafes To Try when in Colombo Sri LankaColombo, Sri Lanka places to eat: Six of the best cafes

Yes, the cafe offers delicious vegan options.

Absolutely! It's a great spot for brunch, lunch, or a relaxing coffee break in a beautiful setting.

Google Review

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Barefoot Garden Cafe is one of the favourite brunch spots and hang-out places among tourists and locals alike, situated in a stone-paved open courtyard, surrounded by a lush and leafy frangipani garden. This spot offers more than just food: diners will find an excellent bookshop with a surprisingly wide selection of Sri Lankan authors and books on Sri Lanka; an exquisite fashion boutique, showcasing hand-woven textiles; and a spectacular art gallery, where cultural events such as film screenings, art and photography exhibitions, concerts and poetry readings take place on a regular basis. On Sundays, guests can enjoy jazz whilst feasting on tasty sandwiches and great falafel bites, or more hefty prawn dishes and pork curries.

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Barefoot Garden Coffee shop is among the favourite brunch spots and hang-out places among locals and travellers alike, located in a stone-paved open courtyard, surrounded by an affluent and leafy frangipani garden. This area provides more than just food: restaurants will find an excellent bookshop with a surprisingly broad selection of Sri Lankan authors and books on Sri Lanka; an exquisite fashion store is showcasing hand-woven fabrics; and a magnificent art gallery, where cultural occasions such as film screenings, art and photography exhibits, shows and poetry readings occur regularly. On Sundays, visitors can enjoy jazz whilst feasting on tasty sandwiches and terrific falafel bites or more large prawn meals and pork curries.

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Situated in the heart of cosmopolitan Colombo and within a hop, step and jump from Marine Drive is the charming setting of Barefoot Garden Café. Replete with tasteful décor that makes excellent use of vibrant hues across its entirety, the Café is a ‘must’ should you wish to unwind and bask in the glory of a laidback setting that will begin to grow on you the longer you remain. Considered an ideal hangout to meet friends, spend quality time with family or simply while away the hours all by yourself, the Café is known for its live music gigs, tasty bar food and serene environment.

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Hidden away in Colombo 03 is the very special Barefoot Garden Cafe. It’s been around since the 90s and over time has grown to become a watering hole for admirers of the arts. The property consists of the retail shop in front, which houses all things handloom from the famous Barefoot brand itself, the outdoor cafe area where you can sip on a cold glass of wine while munching on some yummy food, and the art gallery which showcases some stunning pieces done by local artists.

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A Colombo institution, Barefoot’s joyous garden cafe is a sprawling oasis hidden under the canopies of various tropical and bird-filled trees. Once happily refreshed on Thambili (king coconut water) or Ceylon mandarin juice, and satiated on delicious dishes (we like the Sri Lankan breakfast), there’s a gorgeous little gallery space to meander through and a fab bookshop selling an interesting selection of top reads by brilliant Sri Lankan authors. Address: 704 Galle Road

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Exploring our city can cook up a mean appetite and if the hunger pangs call, take a short tuk-tuk ride to the Barefoot Garden Cafe. A quiet getaway carefully tucked amidst the hustle and bustle that is Colombo, you could spend a few hours catching up some reading, exploring the oldest contemporary art gallery adjoining the space, sip into a cool glass of wine accompanied by their legendary black pork curry at lunchtime. A live jazz band performs on Sundays.

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For a taste of Sri Lanka’s unique culture, head to Barefoot Café. Established by artist Barbara Sansoni, this iconic institution has been promoting handloom textiles, books, art, and music since 1964. After going through the gorgeous displays of silk rugs, quilts and other textiles, you’ll find a beautiful hidden garden in the back, filled with rustic tables and tropical flowers where you can sit down and enjoy a lovely cappuccino.

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