Cafe By Arena

Beautiful place on the river where you can relax close to nature and enjoy your coffee, juice and food. Excellent service! Really fresh juice of very good variety, fresh food. The atmosphere is something that you will not find in any other place near by. Highly recommended!

I have travelled the world extensively over 40 years. I ate at all restaurants ranging from pop & mom’s to Michelin three stars. This is my honest review of the spot Cafe by Arena on east coast of Sri Lanka. I had a wonderful experience at this charming café by the river. I started with a passion fruit juice with ginger, which was perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious. Alongside, I was kindly offered ginger cookies—a thoughtful touch. The espresso I had afterward was state-of-the-art, truly one of the best I’ve tasted. The highlight of my visit was the hospitality of the owner, who graciously brought me up to the 4th-floor rooftop. The views were breathtaking, with stunning sights in every direction, including a majestic golden Buddha and the serene adjacent rivers. I even spotted some wildlife, adding to the magic of the experience. This café is a hidden gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone staying nearby or just passing through the area. A perfect mix of great flavors, warm hospitality, and unforgettable scenery!

We chose to only order drinks. however, The cafe offers a full food menu. The staff were very friendly and helpful, going out of their way to provide excellent service, even though we only got beverages. The location is super cozy and relaxing, overlooking a beautiful river - a great spot to sit back and sip your drink. Overall, a pleasant recommended experience.

We had a great coffee break during the relaxing day by the beach and the river. Double espresso coffee was fabulous as well as the fresh juices, handmade by Ravindu. He is so friendly and smiling. And the cozy atmosphere with the sights of the river Bentota.

Nice place. We went to work there. And also to drink coffee in the morning. It was great to sit in front of the river and get some vitamin C from the sun. They are very kind, so it is a good service.

The best restaurant in a radius of 1 km. Amazing staff, I fainted and they immediately helped me to come to my senses. The food is delicious and a very good view from the second floor!

Had an amazing coffee at Cafe by Arena - one of the best in Sri Lanka! The flavors were rich and perfectly balanced. Mr. Ruwan provided excellent service, making the experience even better. Highly recommend it!

And excellent spot to enjoy your coffee and food. Seating under the canopy of mangroves and watching over the Waterbody gives you one of the unique experiences. Do visit