11/01/2026
About cafe
Ayubowan, and welcome to The Empire Cafe, Kandy—a foodie haven in the cultural capital of Sri Lanka.
In case you hadn't already noticed, Kandy is a hectic city and a feast for all the senses. Here, we aim to take it down a notch and slow the pace while you enjoy some of the most homely meals and refreshers in town.
The cafe is housed in the colonial Olde Empire Hotel, a designated UN-conserved building that has been around since the 1890s. If only these walls could talk! Throughout its history, the Olde Empire building has served as a coffee factory (Kopi Kade), a rollicking pub, and—since the 1970s—a tourist guesthouse and restaurant frequented by lawyers from the neighboring district court and many others. In February 2013, The Empire Cafe took over the lower floor of the building.
Only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients are used in our menu, and we aim to adapt our dishes to the seasonal produce available to us. We offer a selection of Sri Lankan, Western, Indian, American, Chinese,vegan, and vegetarian dishes, alongside our signature Empire Classics with a Lankan twist—perfect for keeping you fueled to take on the sights and sounds of Kandy. Check out our specials board for our latest seasonal dishes.
If you are looking for a little memento to remember your time at The Empire Cafe, have a peek at our retail outlet, The Kandy Store, located at the far end of the "pink room." Items on sale include Sri Lanka-inspired posters and postcards.
Keep in touch with us by "Liking" our page: The Empire Cafe
