A must-read if you’re searching for the best cafes in Colombo, or are keen to get the best brews from the world famous (and rightly so) tea estates of Sri Lanka. It was back in the 1800s that the British first brought tea plants from China to Ceylon. They were planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens, in Peradeniya, Kandy. Over time, more saplings were brought in, and experimentations with growing tea on the island-nation began. It was years later, closer to the end of the 19th century that the first tea factory was born in Ceylon. The robust flavours were approved of, even in Britain. Soon enough, tea estates began to boom across Kandy.

Even today, the image of women working the estates, in colourful attire, with wicker baskets on their heads, is one that you will glimpse often in rural Sri Lanka. And while that is not a sight you are likely to see in Colombo, you can definitely taste it, at one of many local cafes dotting the city. Here are 5 must-visit cafes in Colombo: