Restaurant
Ministry of Crab
Dharshan Munidasa's crab restaurant in the Old Dutch Hospital, co-founded with cricketers Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara and serving wild-caught Sri Lankan mud crab.
Shang Palace
Shangri-La Colombo's Chinese restaurant, cooking Dongbei, Szechuan and Cantonese dishes, with a yum cha brunch of dim sum and barbecue on weekends and holidays.
At a glance
- Type
- Chinese
- Area
- Galle Face, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- shangri-la.com
Good to know
- Weekend yum cha brunch
- Dim sum
Why we recommend it
Shang Palace is the Chinese restaurant at Shangri-La Colombo, the hotel that opened in November 2017 overlooking Galle Face Green as part of the One Galle Face development. The restaurant draws on three regional traditions: Dongbei cooking from north-east China, Szechuan and Cantonese.
The weekend yum cha brunch is the best way to try it. It runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays and brings together dim sum, meats and seafood with the restaurant's signature barbecue dishes, which makes it a good choice for families and groups who want to share a wide spread. On other days the à la carte menu allows a more focused meal, moving between the spice of Szechuan dishes and the lighter style of Cantonese cooking. If you are unfamiliar with Dongbei food, ask the staff to suggest dishes from that part of the menu.
The hotel itself is large, with 541 rooms, suites and serviced apartments, which the hotel describes as having uninterrupted views, and direct access to One Galle Face Mall, so Shang Palace is easy to fit into a day of shopping or a stay at the hotel. Its other venues include Capital Bar and Grill, the all-day restaurant Central and bars such as Sapphyr Lounge, the Pool Bar and the Tiki Bar, so you can move on for a drink after dinner without leaving the building. The hotel stands on the site of the former Old Army Headquarters, and it also has CHI, The Spa, a Lobby Lounge, a Grab and Go counter and a pastry shop, which is handy if you want to take home some of the hotel's baking after a meal.
Booking is recommended, particularly for the weekend brunch. The hotel's main phone line handles reservations, and the hotel is about a 45-minute drive from Bandaranaike International Airport, which makes it a convenient dinner stop on an arrival or departure day.
Shangri-La Colombo's address is 1 Galle Face, Colombo 2. Galle Face Green is directly in front of the hotel for a walk by the sea, and the Lotus Tower, Beira Lake and Gangaramaya Temple are a short tuk-tuk ride inland, while the Fort district and the Old Dutch Hospital are a few minutes to the north.
Shang Palace FAQs
What cuisine does Shang Palace serve?
Dongbei, Szechuan and Cantonese Chinese cooking.
Is there a dim sum brunch?
Yes. The yum cha brunch runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Where is it?
At Shangri-La Colombo, 1 Galle Face, Colombo 2.
What is included in the brunch?
Dim sum, meats, seafood and the restaurant's signature barbecue dishes.
Do I need to book?
Yes, especially for the weekend brunch. Call +94 11 788 8288.
Is it good for families?
Yes, the shared brunch format suits families and groups.
What else is in the hotel?
Capital Bar and Grill, Central, Sapphyr Lounge, the Pool Bar and the Tiki Bar, and direct access to One Galle Face Mall.
What is nearby?
Galle Face Green, the Lotus Tower and the Fort district.