Nestled in the lush, emerald hills of the central highlands, Ella has long been a sanctuary for travelers seeking tranquility and breathtaking natural beauty. Among the winding paths and misty landscapes, Matey Hut stands as a testament to the authentic culinary spirit of Sri Lanka. Located at No.91, near the tunnel, Ella 90090, this humble establishment has become a landmark for those who value genuine hospitality and the rich, complex flavors of traditional island cooking. It is a place where the pace of life slows down, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the local culture through the universal language of food.
The philosophy at Matey Hut is rooted in simplicity and the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Rather than focusing on elaborate presentations or modern fusion techniques, the kitchen prioritizes the integrity of the produce. Every dish served is a reflection of the vibrant spices and aromatic herbs that define the region. Visitors often find that the charm of the restaurant lies not just in its menu, but in the warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes every guest feel like a long-time friend returning home. Whether you are a solo backpacker exploring the mountain trails or a traveler seeking a quiet corner to reflect on your journey, Matey Hut offers a space that feels both intimate and deeply connected to its surroundings.
Why Travelers Choose Matey Hut
Authentic Culinary Heritage: The kitchen focuses on time-honored recipes passed down through generations, ensuring that every bite provides an honest taste of Sri Lankan home cooking.
Prime Location: Situated conveniently near the iconic tunnel in Ella, the restaurant serves as a perfect resting point for those trekking between the town center and the famous nearby viewpoints.
Warm and Personal Service: The team at Matey Hut is known for their genuine kindness and attentive nature, creating a comfortable environment that encourages guests to relax and enjoy their meal at a leisurely pace.
Commitment to Freshness: By sourcing ingredients from local farmers and markets, the restaurant ensures that every dish is prepared with the freshest vegetables and spices available, supporting the local agricultural community in the process.
The experience of dining at Matey Hut is characterized by a sense of discovery. As you sit amidst the cool mountain air, the aromas of toasted spices and simmering curries create an inviting sensory backdrop. It is an opportunity to step away from the commercialized tourist hubs and engage with the heart of Ella. The restaurant does not rely on grandeur; instead, it relies on the consistency of its flavors and the sincerity of its staff. For many, a meal here becomes one of the most memorable highlights of their time in Sri Lanka, serving as a reminder that the best travel experiences are often found in the most unassuming places.
As you plan your journey through the tea plantations and mountain passes of Ella, consider making a stop at this local gem. It is more than just a place to satisfy your hunger; it is a cultural touchstone that bridges the gap between the visitor and the local way of life. By choosing to dine at Matey Hut, you are participating in a tradition of hospitality that has defined this region for years. We invite you to experience the quiet charm and flavorful depth that have made this spot a cherished destination for so many who wander through the beautiful landscapes of Ella.
Whether you are visiting for a hearty lunch after a morning hike or a relaxed dinner under the starlit mountain sky, Matey Hut remains a steadfast companion to your travels. The combination of its accessible location, the dedication to traditional preparation methods, and the welcoming spirit of its team ensures that your visit will be both nourishing and restorative. We look forward to welcoming you to our table, where the essence of Sri Lankan warmth is served with every dish, helping you create lasting memories in one of the most enchanting corners of the world.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Service options
Outdoor seating
On-site services
Takeaway
Dine-in
Delivery
Highlights
Great coffee
Great dessert
Great tea selection
Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Coffee
Healthy options
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Dining options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service
Amenities
Bar on site
Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Trendy
Crowd
Tourists
University students
Planning
Usually a wait
Accepts reservations
Payments
Cash only
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Difficult to find a space
Menus
Photos
Reviews Matey Hut Ella Sri Lanka
Karolina
18-06-2026
Highly recommended!!! During our 3 days in Ella, we visited this place four times — once even just for their amazing fresh juices. It was the best curry we had: especially the jackfruit and banana flower curry. We also truly recommend … More
Harshada Khandekar
05-06-2026
For an authentic Sri Lankan culinary experience, we highly recommend this restaurant. The cuisine is both delicious and genuinely representative of Sri Lankan flavors, offered at a reasonable price point. The staff consistently demonstrates exceptional courtesy and kindness; in particular, Mr. Upali provided outstanding service, characterized by his friendly demeanor and efficient responsiveness.
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
Rs 1–1,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Wait time
No wait
Caitlin Horrex
22-04-2026
Felt like a really authentic Sri Lanka Ella experience in a quite touristy part of Sri Lanka - great food, super helpful with the menu - Enjoyed it very much. We had the chicken curry, Dahl Curry and Samosas
Meal type
Lunch
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
jeany dellasiega
16-04-2026
Upali was our server and his recommendation was perfect. Highly recommend this place for the hilarious show from the traffic down below and the food was the best so far in Sri Lanka. I recommend the pumpkin curry and the 4 vegetarian … More
Toby Norris
09-04-2026
Best meal we had during two weeks in Sri Lanka! Recommend the samosas, crispy chicken and vegetables and chicken curries. Amazing service and value!
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Aileen Lei
04-01-2026
This place is definitely a popular spot—every time I walked past there was a massive queue, so I had to see what the hype was about. Had my last meal in Ella here and ordered the chicken and pumpkin curries. Honestly, they tasted so good. I’m definitely coming back to try their cooking class on my next trip. Worth the wait!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Jeremy Smart
02-01-2026
Totally stacks up with the reviews. This place is brilliant and they were great with my coeliac child. The jack fruit curry, banana flower curry, Dahl… everything was delicious (some of the best we’ve eaten in Sri Lanka). The drinks are fresh and delicious too. Highly recommend Matey Hut
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
Rs 2,000–3,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Seating type
Indoor dining area
Tarek Mamdouh Abdelrahim
29-12-2025
Great authentic restaurant in Ella!
We tried rice with four vegetable curries and papadam (with chicken curry), egg veg kottu with chicken and cheese, and veg samosas, everything was delicious. The place has a very authentic vibe. Easily one of the best authentic spots in Ella!
Order type
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
Rs 1,000–2,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Wait time
No wait
Lazie
22-12-2025
Honestly one of the best meals I’ve had in Ella. If I could go for each meal I would. The location is in quite a rustic set up with a view of the arch as you enter Ella.
For the meals, we went for a garlic, cheese and egg paratha which was so tasty. The garlic was sort of caramelised and curry-like inside. We then had the crispy chicken which is a must have. The batter is sort tasty and uses desiccated coconut. We then went for a chicken curry with four veggie curries- okra, pumpkin, beetroot and dahl. All extremely tasty, in particular the dahl and chicken!
On the side, we had a passionfruit juice which was also super refreshing and nice.
Definitely a must when in Ella!
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
Rs 7,000–8,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reservation
Reservations not required
Wait time
No wait
mitchelle tells a story
14-12-2025
I am a goan from India and we eat a lot of food prepared in coconut milk. But here the food is completely different even though it is made of coconut milk. We ate the rice curry plate where you have to choose your vegetables. The banaba, … More
Asha Vassiliadis
04-12-2025
Wonderful cooking class at Matey Hut! Definitely a must do in Ella! The class is run very smoothly with a warm welcome and lots of fun along the way! The food was incredible and so interesting to learn how to get milk from coconuts and make your own curries and rotti! Well and truly worth the time and money! Thank you!
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
Rs 5,000–6,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Special events
No special event
Wait time
No wait
Vegetarian options
Cooking class is all vegetarian
Jessica Aldaba
29-10-2025
Delicious food with attentive and quick service. We were super happy with our meals here; we went early around 4:30pm and were seated right away, but by the time we left, the lineup was starting! I had the veg curry (I selected the eggplant, okra, beet and jackfruit curries) - the different flavours of each were so amazing! My partner had the veg kottu; it was the first time we tried this dish anywhere (and it sets the bar high!); so creamy and packed with flavour; it’s a heavy/filling dish so be sure you are hungry for it! The fresh mango juice was also amazing; pure creamy, this mango - yum!
Highly recommend the Matey Hut; we may go back after other dining experiences have been disappointing; we want to leave Ella on a high note with fond food memories!
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Nathan M
27-10-2025
Authentic local food cooked to perfection. Would certainly visit again. Samosa starter was also great. You get a variety of curries to choose from. Arrive early as it gets booked out very quickly.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
Rs 3,000–4,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Wait time
No wait
Seating type
Bar area, Outdoor patio / terrace
Darryl Lopes
29-09-2025
Great place for authentic Sri Lankan food in Ella at a reasonable price. The ambience is decent and comfortable.
We tried Murdhabban Paratha and Rice with 4 Veg Curries—both were very tasty. Staff was polite and helpful.
We didn’t have to wait for lunch, but it got crowded soon after, so calling in advance is recommended.
Menu pictures attached for reference.
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
Rs 2,000–3,000
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Wait time
No wait
Vegetarian options
They have good vegetarian Option
Maria Ibrahim
23-08-2025
This was honestly one of the best cooking classes we have ever done! We made authentic Sri Lankan food and cooked over 10 different dishes, including curries, mains, desserts, and so much more. It was such a fun and hands-on experience from start to finish.
Everything was explained really clearly, and we got to be involved in every part of the cooking, which made it feel even more special. The food was absolutely delicious, full of flavour, and it was amazing to learn so much about Sri Lankan cooking in such a warm and welcoming environment. They even provided a recipe book at the end so we can cook all these dishes at home and follow the recipe.
Massively recommend this class to anyone visiting. It was such a memorable experience and definitely one of the highlights of our trip!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Terry Caton
09-08-2025
Superb little restaurant on the corner of the main street. It gets super busy at peak times, however it is 100% worth the wait for a table. Delicious food! More
Mafalda Aleixo
05-08-2025
This cooking class was undoubtedly one of the best experiences we've had so far in Sri Lanka! If you are in (or will go to) Ella, you definitely cannot miss this opportunity!
It was a super complete and enriching experience, where we learned a lot about the culture and typical cuisine of Sri Lanka.
The chef who taught us the cooking class was incredible, besides having a lot of experience and knowledge in the area (an authentic chef), he was super enthusiastic, funny, kind and cheerful! It was a pleasure meeting him and being able to have this cooking class with him!
We were able to learn how to cook several typical Sri Lankan dishes from scratch. We were even able to make our own coconut milk, from the moment we cracked the coconut until we made the milk itself, super fresh and tasty. Then, we cooked a coconut roti, several different types of curry and also a delicious dessert with banana. And, in the end, we ate and enjoyed the delicious meal we cooked with our classmates. It was a really fun and amazing experience in Ella!
Don’t miss it if you have the chance because it's really worth it! 😊
Price per person
Rs 4,000–5,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Elias Lageder
01-08-2025
This restaurant was an absolute highlight of our time in Ella and quite possibly the best food we had in the area. Every dish was full of flavor and beautifully prepared, but the banana fritters were truly outstanding – crispy, sweet, and simply perfect. The curries were just as impressive, rich in taste and wonderfully balanced with spices. You can really taste the quality and care that goes into the food. An amazing dining experience that we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Ella.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
Rs 2,000–3,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
Suitable for all group sizes
Wait time
No wait
Malte Bönsch
20-06-2025
A clear 11 out or 10!!!! I contacted the place through WhatsApp because I was trying to get a dish that was not on their menu and no restaurant would serve in Ella (although I contacted multiple places!) -An amazing Sri Lankan Dish: Black … More
Lauren Mander
20-06-2025
We did a cooking class with Matey Hut and it was amazing!! 6 curries, rice, papadam, coconut roti, and coconut sambal all in 2 hours. We loved the sweet and sour eggplant curry so much that we came back to have it at the restaurant before we left.
At the restaurant, we especially loved the pumpkin and eggplant curries, and recommend both! Both the class and restaurant are very reasonably priced and delicious!! It gets busy at dinner so we opted to eat early at 4pm and didn’t need to wait in line.
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
Rs 1,000–2,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Rice and Curry, Vegetable Samosa
Wait time
No wait
Reviews Matey Hut Ella Sri Lanka