Sri Lanka accommodates different types of doers – the colonial mansion seeker, the whale watcher, the cricket fan, the tea picker, the jazz lover – many of whom helped us compile this travel list of much, much super stuff to do in Sri Lanka. You can raise your glass of arrack now. Don’t know what that is? Read on.

PS: Special thanks to Rachel Wawn, Ashok Kurien, Priyanjali Mariwala, Smita Khanna, Anubhav Kaul and Sarah Rahman.

RESERVATIONS

Walkers Tours: Tried and tested, this travel agent specialises in Sri Lanka holidays, and does group and individual tours. Visit http://www.walkerstours.com.

COLOMBO

In this largest Sri Lankan city, colonial manors become hotels, restaurants overlook cricket stadiums, tea factories offer free tours and (some) clubs stay open until 4 am. *Envy*!

Stay

Tintagel Colombo: After serving as a home for three political leaders including Sri Lanka’s first female Prime Minister, Tintagel turned into a hotel in 2005.  Now, all guests are treated like VIPs in chic suites with private courtyards. 65 Rosmead Place, +9411 4602121, http://www.paradiseroadhotels.com/tintagel.

Gangaramaya Temple Complex: In addition to a nice Buddhist shrine, they have the strangest collection of odds and ends in these museum-style rooms (apparently devotee donations from all over the world) with everything from solid gold Buddhas to pairs of hippy spectacles. 61, Sri Jinaratana Road, +94 11 2327084, http://gangaramaya.com.

Heritance Ahungalla: This lush hotel designed by architectural wizard Geoffrey Bawa is all trees and pools. Other attractions include award-winning in-house chef Dimuthu, Madu river champagne breakfast and white sand beach proximity. Ambalangoda, +9411 5555000 http://www.heritancehotels.com.

Casa Colombo: Book a room here and you’ll live in a 200-year-old mansion with super fun retro detailing like gigantic phones, mad wall art, red-lit beds and quirky showers. 231, Galle Road, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4, +9411 4520130, http://www.casacolombo.com.

Palm Village Hotel: This ones’s a lot less grand – no beach view, no private villas – but it’s neat and clean for those who are on a budget. 262 Old Colombo Road Uswetakeiyawa, Colombo.

Eat

Room Service: This cool culinary service delivers food from over 50 Colombo restaurants. Pair with hot service apartment. +94115768768, www.roomservice.lk.

Palmyrah: You will be left licking your fingers at this Sri Lankan restaurant where the hoppers are amazing, as is the garlic curry which is every bit as dangerous as it sounds. For a fancier bowl sample the local food at Curry Leaf (get the kottu roti). Palmyrah, 28 Galle Rd, Colombo 3; Curry Leaf, 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha.

Regina Margherita: The wood fired ovens at Regina Margherita sends out some of the most superior pies in the city. The recipe for affogato here comes from the Italian chef’s grandmother. 151 Park Road, 5 Colombo.

Loon Tao: This beach Asian restaurant with tables on the sand and wooden dance floor under the stars offers a yum Thai preparation of scuttle fish. 3/12 College Avenue , Mount Lavinia, +9411 2722723, http://www.loontao.com.

Lemon: Along with views of frangipani trees and cricket grounds, this swanky rooftop restaurant also offers food from all over the world, including Portuguese rice, roast lamb and dhansak-rice. 41 1/2, Maitland Crescent, Colombo, +9411 2682122, http://www.lemon.lk.

Long Feng: If it’s Singaporean food you’re craving, head to the fancy Long Feng at Cinnamon Lakeside. Cheap Chinese food options include Flower Drum and Moon River.  Long Feng, 115, Sir Chittampalam A.Gardiner Mawatha Colombo 2;  Flower Drum, 26, Thurstan Road, Colombo 03, +9411 2574216; Moon River, 140 Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo - 5.

Barefoot Gallery and Café: Afternoons at this café are lazy with relaxed outdoor lunches - get the deviled prawns and pork curry - and Sunday jazz. Dress smart for Wednesday, which is Colombo Pub Quiz Night. End with a visit to the attached bookstore, gallery and large Bombay Store-like shop where you can buy stunning hand-woven clothes and overpriced knickknacks. 706 Galle Road, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka, +9411 2589305, http://barefootceylon.com

Cricket Club Café: You should be game to get beer and finger foods at Cricket Club Café which is essentially Mumbai’s Geoffrey’s –meets-Cricket Club of India, only in a pretty bungalow. Best visited during a match. 34, Queens Road, Colombo 3, +9411 2501384, http://thecricketclubcafeceylon.com.

Pillawoos: Hit this Galle Road joint for late night hunger pangs. Kothu Rotti is yum. Galle Road.

Do

Labookellie Tea Centre: Offers free guided tours of the tea factory and serves yum chaai. 10, Gnanartha Pradeepa Mawatha, Colombo 8, http://www.mackwoods.com.

Galle Face Green: This promenade along the sea is where lovers come to hold hands and dreamers, to fly kites. Find out which group you fit into. Galle Road.

Bellagio Casino: Open 24 hours, this is where you come to double your holiday budget. Let’s be optimistic, shall we? 430 RA de Mel Mawatha Kollupitiya, Colombo 3.

Drink & Dance

White Horse: Seems pretty dodgy, but the cheap booze and young crowd will be your fountain of youth. A good place to tank up before hitting the upscale bars. 2 Nawam Mawatha Slave Island, Colombo 2.

7 Degrees North: Peace-seekers visit this pretty but pricey bar for super al fresco setting and yum arrack (local alcohol made from the sap of coconut flowers) with ginger beer. Cinnamon Lakeside, 115, Sir Chittampalam A.Gardiner Mawatha Colombo 2.

Club Amuseum and Kama: For laser nights, loud music, potent cocktails and other club staples. Galle Road, Colombo 3; Kama, 32b Sir Mohamed Macan Makar Mawatha, Colombo 3.

Fuga (full of boys) and Rhythm & Blues (full of drunks) are both pretty blah but it’s where you go post 4 am, after all the other clubs shut for the night. 19/1 Daisy Villa Avenue, Duplication Road, Colombo 4.

Read about Kandy and Bentota in Part II