What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Dream Cafe
Review
About
Travellers' Choice
2024
Oder your creative and flavorsome dishes of the finest international and local menus. Complete your meal with tempting homemade desserts, fresh fruit drinks and ice creams. You will find the perfect taste and blend of every item. All dishes are prepared as original and authentic by our well experienced and specialized cooks. All friends and families feel welcome at our restaurant, as well as giving them every opportunity to mix and make new friends.
Features
CUISINES
Bar, Cafe, European, Sri Lankan
Meal types
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Visa
Does this restaurant have a drive-thru to order and pick up food?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 7:00 AM
Sunday
7:00 - 21:30
Monday
7:00 - 21:30
Tuesday
7:00 - 21:30
Wednesday
7:00 - 21:30
Thursday
7:00 - 21:30
Friday
7:00 - 21:30
Saturday
7:00 - 21:30
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4.3
1,810 reviews
Excellent
980
Good
565
Average
155
Poor
65
Terrible
46
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
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Jayne Barry W
45 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
Went in for happy hour cocktails and the pinacoladas were so good we took a chance on beef steaks. The cocktails had no ice, plenty of rum and were delicious. After 2 weeks of fish and curries we fancied a change. The steaks were served sizzling by our very good waiter Bravin and they were so tasty served with beans, carrots, pumpkin and potato wedges.
Written 17 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jemma M
2 contributions
Feb 2025 • couples
Came for a drink in the afternoon and loved it so much we returned later for dinner. Our waiter, Nipun, was incredibly attentive even during the busy dinner time. Nipun made sure that the chef could cater for my allergies and put the football on the tv for my husband downstairs. Outstanding service.
Written 22 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa N
Brunswick20 contributions
Sept 2023 • couples
There’s a great vibe in Ella and this is a great place to go. We ate Sri Lankan - really yum food and cheap! Wine was good and all drinks very cold. You get a great selection even ordering curry and rice (eg several curries with Dahl and Sam Al and papadams) great setvice also.
Written 13 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachit Garg
Bengaluru160 contributions
Feb 2025 • family
There were few positive aspects to this establishment, as well as some areas for improvement.
Positive Aspects
- The location was ideal, situated in the heart of the city.
The establishment itself was lovely, offering ample seating both on the ground floor and in the open-air area on the first floor.
- The menu provided a wide variety of food options. The vegetarian Sri Lanka thali, egg noodles, french fries, and beer that we ordered were all enjoyable.
Areas for Improvement
- The service was quite slow, even when the establishment was not very busy. We had to wait for a considerable amount of time for our food.
- Smoking was permitted throughout the establishment. While I can understand allowing smoking in the open-air area upstairs, it was unpleasant to have people smoking at their tables on the ground floor, particularly for those with children.
- Also noticed I had to call the servers multiple times, I wave my hand, someone notices it, they call someone else to attend, like they were uninterested in serving us which was weird.
Written 12 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Canaan V
3 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
We chose this spot as they had a pool table, and seemed like a cool vibe. We ate a meal upstairs which was nice, spent a decent amount on 2 meals, 2 beers and a coke. Then headed Downstairs to have a drink and play pool. Then was when they came to take our order I asked for a beer and my girlfriend asked for a soft drink. The waiter then told us that we had to have at least 2 beers or 2 cocktails to play, as my girlfriend doesn’t drink alcohol we were asked to leave. Really left us feeling unwelcome did and will not be returning in a hurry
Written 26 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dam123
Ljubljana479 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
Dream Cafe
We went here because of the recommendation of our driver who knew about our disappointment in neighboring restaurant on previous night.
And boy he was right about this place. We were served surprisingly fast and the food was delicious. We had pasta, burger, wrap and pizza and everything was just delicious and nicely presented. Kids loved it and us adults even more since we know how tough it is to get some decent western food for a short break from delicious Sri Lankan cuisine.
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex s
2 contributions
Feb 2023 • friends
The food in our case pizza and desserts could be perfectly like an italian place in Italy, slim and tasty the hand made desserts was first level too.
The service done by Shashi was so much better than the rest of thw other places, he brings and ashtrey by herself at see we were smoking, was very efficient and trying to make the experience even better.
A must perfect place to visit in Ella.
Written 8 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
towella69
Nerja191 contributions
Mar 2025 • couples
Very pleasant restaurant, bar and pool tables over 3 different levels. Huge screen showing sports events. After 10 days of curry and rice just fancied a burger and chips and was not disappointed. Not the cheapest for Sri Lanka but cheap by Uk standards for home made burgers. Lots of options for well priced sandwiches, pizza etc as well as local dishes. Only downside middle restaurant and bar closes about 10:30pm and you have to go either upstairs with a dj vibe or downstairs to the pool tables
Written 9 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann-Kristin H
5 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
We wanted to trade Rice and Curry for something else and chose their vegetarian burger made from chickpeas. We were completely dumb when the plates came to the table and we lifted the bread. The burger was chickpeas in tomato sauce!!! We were so surprised we didn't even comment on the food. It was the worst we had in our three weeks in Sri Lanka. We ate and walked away and I need not say that we did not come back!
Automatically translated
Written 20 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abhay
Bengaluru245 contributions
Aug 2023 • couples
We visited this cafe for lunch. Really liked the food and the portion size. Staff is good.
One thing I didn't like is not getting the exact change when paying the bill. We got 10 rs less in return and when asked the cashier he was like do you want 10 rs. Of course, I want. You can't just keep the money without customer's knowledge or confirmation.
Noticed this practice in Galle also.
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas C
Newcastle22 contributions
Aug 2023 • solo
Have been multiple times. Great coffee, great food and great service.
The food and coffee comes out very quickly and it’s a nice spot to just chill out and watch the world go by
Ramesh was my waiter he is a legend.
Written 3 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tessa dg
Ouddorp30 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
Very long waiting for our breakfast 50min. French toast was very poorly prepared. Omelet was very small. When presenting the bill, fees were higher than waiter had stated. 10% service charge but service was not good. For this reason portion of service charge not paid. Waiter was incensed by this and showed this clearly. Not professionally. Other restaurants down the street are better choice.
Automatically translated
Written 23 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda Le Noble
Liverpool49 contributions
Jan 2023 • friends
We popped in for a light lunch, of a beautiful Sri Lankan Omelette, we then had a delicious Sri Lanka dessert (sorry forgotten the name) and a perfect cup of coffee. It was so good at lunch, we returned for our evening meal, which again, was delicious. Kottu, Coconut gravy and a very yummy sambol. Hasanka our waiter was very helpful, this was all washed down with Lion Larger. Would recommend popping in if you’re ever lucky enough to be in Ella.
Written 22 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SCLLP73
Savoie235 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
Great evening with our guide who recommended this restaurant where we had a very good dinner! However, spaghetti which is not a Sri Lankan specialty, well, they were cooked al dente with a good garnish! copious and well presented dishes, what more could you ask for!?
Written 2 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex
2 contributions
Jan 2023 • solo
Today I had to reschedule my plans on the go cause raining start while I was climbing mountains on my bike so I stay in Ella. For dinner I chose Dream cafe and order beef burger with potato wedges, salad and vanilla shake. Waiter Shashi served me nicely and kindly helped to charge my phone. Place located in the very downtown of Ella, so comparing to Merida overpriced, but comparing to nearby Chill cafe it’s more reasonable. I reccomend
Written 21 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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