King of the Mambo

The Restaurant

King of the Mambo takes its theme from a piece of the hotel’s own history: Che Guevara stayed at the Galle Face Hotel in 1959, and the venue builds a 1950s mambo-era mood around that visit, with bold Cuban-influenced decor and music in both the bar and dining room. It opened on 19 October 2018 as the first Sri Lankan venue of Dubai-based Infini Concepts. The setting is the seafront, with air-conditioned and open-air sections, sunset views over the Indian Ocean, a wine cellar for tastings and a small dining room for fourteen.

The Daily FT describes a Mediterranean-Cuban menu from an Italian chef, with shareable dishes such as beef rib tacos and Cuban-style rice with a fried egg, plus a live barbecue area for grilled fish and a Tomahawk steak sized for six.

The Verdict at Launch

A review at the October 2018 preview in The Morning found the evening largely enjoyable, praised the calamari in a light batter, a bold beef taco, and a quinoa and beetroot salad, and picked a beef meatball in Mediterranean curry as the standout main. The rum baba was refreshing and the cheesecake good; the crème brûlée fell short. The reviewer treated the shortcomings as normal for a preview.

Both sources date from the opening, so check the current menu and hours with the hotel. The venue is part of Galle Face Hotel.

Sources: Daily FT: Galle Face Hotel debuts King of the Mambo; The Morning: King of the Mambo. Check the official websites for current information.