Positive Times / Travel notebook

Sri Lanka, down south.

From Hiriketiya to Hikkaduwa

Pizza after the beach, a curry to discover, a room to choose without rushing. A first selection of places to build your trip around, from Hiriketiya, in the Dikwella area, to Hikkaduwa, with a detour to Tangalle.

Sources consulted on

Sri Lanka / 01
  1. Hiriketiya
  2. Tangalle
  3. Mirissa
  4. Weligama
  5. Ahangama
  6. Unawatuna
  7. Galle
  8. Hikkaduwa
16places5ways to explore

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16 places in this selection

Hiriketiya

La Luna Hiriketiya

  • Italian food
  • Pizza

An Italian stop in Hiriketiya: the website describes wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta. Ask for the branch’s current menu before choosing dishes and prices.

Before you go. Ask for the current menu and the branch’s exact location.

Weligama

La Luna Weligama

  • Italian food
  • Pizza

The Weligama branch is at KAI Beach Pool Club. Its official page highlights wood-fired pizza alongside a menu drawing on Mediterranean and other influences.

KAI Beach Pool Club, Weligama

Before you go. Confirm opening hours: the group’s pages are not consistent.

Hikkaduwa

Natura Italian Restaurant

  • Italian food

An Italian restaurant in Wewala, Hikkaduwa, with an official table-enquiry link. Request its current menu: this card does not assign unverified dishes, prices or tasting scores.

412/A, Galle Road, Wewala, Hikkaduwa

Before you go. Italian refers to the stated cuisine, not the owner’s nationality. Confirm the menu.

Galle

AQUA Pizza Galle Fort

  • Italian food
  • Pizza

Inside Galle Fort, a pizzeria whose official menu includes Marinara and Margherita. Two pages disagree on the street number: confirm the map pin before setting off.

Leyn Baan Street, Galle Fort

Before you go. Street number needs clarification: 65 on the main site, 56 on the menu page.

Tangalle

AQUA Pizza Tangalle

  • Italian food
  • Pizza

The branch at Hotel Eva Lanka in Unakuruwa offers a pizza stop near Tangalle. Its menu lists Marinara at USD 6 and Margherita at USD 9; confirm the total including any extra charges.

Hotel Eva Lanka, Unakuruwa, 82200 Tangalle

Published prices

  • Marinara6 USD
  • Margherita9 USD

Before you go. Prices from the menu consulted; tax and service inclusion are unspecified.

Unawatuna

Giovanni’s Unawatuna

  • Italian food
  • Pizza

Wood-fired pizza on Matara Road in Unawatuna. The website links to menus, orders and reservations: check the chosen branch, as the same site also covers Colombo.

78/4 Matara Road, Unawatuna 80600

Before you go. Ask the Unawatuna branch to confirm hours and availability.

Hiriketiya

La Playa Hiriketiya

  • Pizza
  • Cocktails
  • Where to sleep

Long-fermented pizza dough and cocktails at the beach club. For stays, the website distinguishes seafront rooms from separate two-bedroom villas with a kitchen and private pool, about 1 km from the beach.

Hiriketiya Road, Hiriketiya, Dikwella 81200

Before you go. Beach club rooms and villas are different properties. Ask about music hours.

Ahangama

The Sandhya — Dining Room

  • Rice & curry

The restaurant on Kabalana Beach describes Sri Lankan rice and curry and related cooking classes. Before planning a visit, ask whether non-residents are welcome and what is served that day.

Kabalana Beach, Baranige Watha, Walhengoda, Ahangama

Before you go. Confirm non-resident dining and prices.

Ahangama

Coco Kitchen

  • Rice & curry
  • Cocktails

In Ahangama, the menu offers Jaffna-style prawn curry with rice or bread and drinks such as Ginger Arrack Mule. This is curry served with rice; the source does not describe a multi-curry spread.

59 Matara Road, Ahangama

Published prices

  • Jaffna Prawn Curry Spicy3,400 LKR + 10% service
  • Ginger Arrack Mule2,300 LKR + 10% service

Before you go. The menu adds 10% service. Ask for a total including any other taxes.

Hiriketiya

Dots Bay House

  • Rice & curry
  • Where to sleep

Dots combines dining with stays ranging from dorms to private bungalows. The site advertises Curry Club on Mondays and Thursdays at 18:30; confirm the particular date before planning an evening around it.

Alahena, Belikatuwella, Nilwella, Dickwella

Before you go. Advertised event, not confirmed for a specific date. Ask about music hours too.

Hikkaduwa

Kalla Bongo Lake Resort

  • Rice & curry
  • Where to sleep

An alternative to staying directly on the beach: the website describes lagoon-facing rooms with balconies and a restaurant serving Sri Lankan rice and curry. Request the current menu, prices and availability.

Lane 3, Baddegama Road, Nalagasdeniya, Hikkaduwa

Before you go. Description based on the homepage; request the current menu and room rate.

Mirissa

MiRA Mirissa

  • Where to sleep

Compare shared living with privacy: four private rooms, a six-bed female dorm and a ten-bed mixed dorm. The site states that access is by stairs and breakfast is not included.

Matara Road, Mirissa

Before you go. Access by stairs; breakfast excluded according to the property.

Mirissa

Lily Mirissa

  • Where to sleep

Double and triple rooms with garden-facing terraces. The official October 2026 tariff lists USD 55 per double room per night including breakfast: a published rate, not confirmed availability for your dates.

2nd Lane from Harbour Road, Mirissa 81740

Published prices

  • Double / night, breakfast included55 USD

Before you go. Published tariff for 1–31 October 2026; confirm occupancy, taxes and availability.

Galle

Fort Bazaar

  • Where to sleep

A base inside Galle Fort. Among its room types, the Upper Family Suite has twin beds on a mezzanine: a practical detail to compare with your family’s needs before requesting a quote.

26 Church Street, Galle Fort

Before you go. Check whether the mezzanine suits your group and its accessibility needs.

Weligama

Cape Weligama

  • Where to sleep

Family suites and villas provide different layouts to compare. Pool arrangements depend on category: some villas share a pool with a few units, while Cape Residence with Pool Pavilion includes a private pool.

Abimanagama Road, Weligama

Before you go. A private pool belongs to specific categories, not every villa.

Hikkaduwa

Riff Hikkaduwa

  • Where to sleep

A hotel with rooms and suites in Hikkaduwa. Its website describes ocean views and several room categories; the reservation button leads to Booking.com, where the final terms and total should be checked.

No. 870 Galle Road, Hikkaduwa 80244

Before you go. The hotel’s chosen link leads to Booking.com, an external platform.

Where to sleep

A bed, a room or a villa?

Where you stay changes the rhythm of a trip. Compare space and conditions before price labels.

Share the space

Dots and MiRA describe dorm beds; MiRA distinguishes female and mixed dorms.

Sources: Dots Bay House · MiRA Mirissa

Have your own room

Lily offers doubles and triples. Kalla Bongo describes lagoon-facing rooms, rather than a stay directly on the beach.

Sources: Lily Mirissa · Kalla Bongo Lake Resort