Pubs & Bars In Colombo: Things To Know Before Going Bar Hopping in Colombo
Bar hopping in Colombo has become extremely popular as of late due to many spots popping up all over town. Indeed, it seems as though every food blogger and Instagram influencer is reviewing new pubs and bars in Colombo every other weekend and the urge to indulge in a night out in Colombo is difficult to resist. If you’ve spent many years out and about, you would likely know the little tips and secrets to having a great time…but if you are just visiting Sri Lanka or are unfamiliar with Colombo nightlife, here are some (hopefully) useful pointers for you.
1) It does not come cheap
Apart from local bars and places that allow you to bring your own liquor, drinking in a nice place with good food, a decent crowd and possibly music, isn’t cheap. Due to heavy license fees and overheads, pubs need to charge high rates to stay afloat. There are also government taxes and a 10% service charge slapped on to the final bill so keep an eye out for hidden costs.
2) Assign a designated driver / have a plan for transport
Never drink & drive! It is an abhorrent act and will not be tolerated by local police who are very wary of vehicles on the road on weekend nights. Assigning a designated driver for the night will ensure that there is one sober lad / lass to look after the rest of the party throughout the night, and make sure everyone gets home safe. But if the group does not like to have one person who is not on the same level of happy as the rest of them, the best option is take a cab home. There are countless Taxi apps in Sri Lanka, like PickMe, Uber, YoGo etc., and if all else fails, there are still cab companies like Kangaroo which offer safe and reliable modes of transport.
3) Keep an eye out for happy hours or ladies’ nights
Colombo always has great deals on drinks, knowing just how much Lankans love their booze. Most places have great happy hour deals, like Buy 1 Get 1 Free or 50% off. Ladies Nights’ offers tend to be equally as or even more lucrative, with free flowing cocktails. Check the social media pages of the places you plan on patronizing to see what their happy hour and ladies’ nights deals are.
4) Try out local drinks
Local liquor is often far cheaper than international brands. The best part is — there is no catch! Oftentimes the local alternatives are just as good and many people prefer the local brands over the world-renowned brands. Lion beer is preferred by many locals and foreigners alike over brands like Carlsberg or Heinekein. A few other local brands to try out are Rockland rum (a personal favourite), Colombo gin, Celebration vodka (which packs a punch) and Governor’s Whiskey. Also, don’t be afraid to try arrack. Although it is not to everyone’s taste, there are countless people who swear by the stuff.
5) Keep an eye out on Facebook AND Instagram AND the websites for special offers
As mentioned above, keep track of updates from pubs and bars to stay on top of special offers. Apart from happy hours and ladies’ nights, a lot of other places have some great offers on bottles, pitchers or towers. For random special occasions or sporting events, most places are all too eager to offer a special deal to attract crowds. Oktoberfest is one of the most popular events in Colombo and a must-visit.
6) Be mindful of other people’s personal space and do not be a public nuisance or make a fool out of yourself
Public Safety Announcement: while a tipsy man or woman having a great time is always fun to look at, no one would appreciate said drunk man or woman getting too up close and personal with you. Make sure not to bump unnecessarily into others or make others uncomfortable. Do not throw up in public places or leave the washrooms like abattoirs. Don’t be afraid to let loose and have fun in your own way but don’t let it get in the way of other people having fun.
7) Go with a gang — when you pool in, you can save money
Not only is it more fun to go with a gang and feel unstoppable, it can ensure that you save a lot of money. Everyone can pool in money and buy bottles, pitchers and towers and drink to your heart’s content and end the night with your wallets not as light as you would have expected. Going with a larger group might also be safer.
8) Loyalty Cards from hotels — redeem the points
A lot of the most popular bars and pubs in Colombo are located as extensions of city hotels e.g. In on the Green is part of Galle Face Hotel, Cheers Pub is inside Cinnamon Grand, 7 degrees at Cinnamon Lakeside, Botanik Bistro at Fairway. So if you have a loyalty card at these hotels, you might be able to collect and redeem points through your (assumed) crazy nights out.
9) Have food in your systems
Eat, eat, eat! No one wants to be the person who reaches their limit 30 minutes into the night and throws up and passes out. Eat solid food and make sure to pace yourself so that you can have a long night out with (some) memories.
10) Dress for the place
If you are going to nice-ish places that are indoors, keep in mind that most establishments do not approve of shaggy, unkempt clothing. Shoes are highly recommended, which shorts and tanktops are not recommended unless you manage to style it up in such a way that it comes off looking smart and stylish.
11) Keep an eye out for excise holidays
Sri Lanka, being a conservative nation, has a lot of excise holidays which means that no alcohol will be served. A lot of establishments might even be closed not only on the day of but the day before the holiday as well because all alcohol sales need to stop by midnight. All poya days, independence days and certain other days are all excise holidays. Usually public announcements are not made so do your research beforehand.
12) BYOB! The Great Saviour!
There are some God-sent establishments that still allow you to bring your own booze, sometimes with a corkage fee, cover charge or handling fee. Regardless, it will almost always end up being cheaper for you than buying liquor from these places. There are places that do not serve alcohol at all that allow BYOB which adds more options to your list of places to add to your bar hop. Perhaps you could have budget-friendly pre-drinks at a BYOB-friendly place and then go to fancier places.
