Dining & Drinks
Terminal restaurants, lounge buffets and quick bites for transit travellers.
Sri Lankan Local Flavours
CMB offers transit travellers a genuine taste of Sri Lankan cuisine, with rice and curry dishes, hoppers, and spiced kottu roti available at several terminal eateries. The island's culinary tradition blends Sinhalese, Tamil, and Dutch Burgher influences, resulting in bold coconut-based curries and aromatic sambols. Look out for authentic short eats — bite-sized pastries and fritters that make perfect pre-flight snacks.
Ceylon Tea & Coffee
Sri Lanka is world-renowned for its Ceylon tea, and Bandaranaike International Airport is one of the best places to experience it fresh before departure. Several cafés and kiosks throughout the terminal serve hot milk tea brewed in the traditional Sri Lankan style, strong and often sweetened. Travellers can also pick up premium loose-leaf tea gifts alongside their cup to take home.
Quick Transit Bites
For passengers on tight layovers at CMB, a range of fast-casual counters and grab-and-go kiosks offer everything from sandwiches and wraps to local short eats and packaged snacks. The airport serves as a major transit hub between Europe and Asia, so options cater to a wide range of dietary preferences and time constraints. Most outlets near the departure gates are open around the clock to accommodate the airport's many overnight flights.
Noodle & Soup Bowls
Reflecting Colombo's diverse culinary scene, CMB's dining outlets include warm noodle soups and broths suited to the many Asian transit passengers passing through the airport. Options range from Chinese-style noodle soups to locally inspired kiri hodi — a mild coconut milk broth often served alongside string hoppers. These comforting hot dishes are especially popular during late-night and early-morning layovers.