Colombo Social

In Enmore, the heartbeat of Sydney's Inner West, Colombo Social channels the warmth of Sri Lankan home cooking through a resolutely urban lens. Part neighbourhood hangout, part spirited dining room, it pairs Amma’s favourite recipes with contemporary flair and imaginative cocktails, all underscored by a sense of purpose that gives the room its unmistakable soul.

The menu leans into big, sunny flavours: saganaki glossed with kithul treacle and a whisper of cinnamon; crunchy katta sauce hot wings cooled by raita and coleslaw; red curry chicken perfumed with lemongrass, ginger and pandan; and fish luxuriating in spicy coconut cream with fenugreek. Tear into roti, while basmati rice arrives strewn with fried onions and curry leaves, and desserts drift between tradition and lightness, from silken wattalappam to a gently spiced mango panna cotta with kithul treacle and sorbet.

Founded by Shaun, Colombo Social is a community-driven enterprise where hospitality doubles as a platform for training and employment for asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups. Here, stories are shared over high-quality plates and playful cocktails, and every set menu ordered helps feed those in need, both in Sydney and in Sri Lanka — dining that tastes good and does good.

Drop by, pull up a chair and let the spice do the talking. Come hungry, leave happy, and know that when they feed you, you feed two.