Girithale Lake · Polonnaruwa · Sri Lanka
A café built into the jungle canopy, on the Girithale lake front.
Hambu is a small, nature-first café and restaurant on the Girithale lake front — reclaimed shipping containers and thatched pavilions tucked among the trees, home-style Sri Lankan cooking, a hands-on pottery workshop, Ceylon tea, and quiet views over Girithale tank, just off the road between Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla.
3Signature experiences
1Tank-side deck
100%Sri Lankan kitchen
Our Story
Grown into the trees, not built over them.
Hambu started as a single container tucked under the jungle canopy in Girithale and grew upward and outward — a second-level deck, a thatched pavilion, a circular concrete nook, all threaded between the trunks of the trees that were already here.
Inside, the personality is hand-painted straight onto the walls: chalkboard puns, coffee quotes and a wood-carved Hambu sign behind the counter. Outside, string lights and the sound of the Girithale lake front take over once the sun goes down.
"Good day starts with coffee." — painted on the wall behind our counter
On the Table
Home-style Sri Lankan food, slow coffee and Ceylon tea
Everything is cooked to order and served on the deck, under the trees. Here's what to expect on the table — reach out ahead for the day's specials.
Beyond the Table
Three experiences worth planning your visit around
Best arranged ahead of time, especially for groups passing through the Cultural Triangle.
Tasting
Ceylon Tea Tasting
A curated flight of Ceylon teas, laid out with local sweets and snacks for an unhurried tasting at your table — a quiet counterpoint to the coffee counter.
- A full spread of teas, sweets and snacks
- Set up table-side, at your own pace
- Ideal for small groups and tour parties — arrange in advance
Craft
Pottery Wheel Workshop
Sit down at the wheel with a local potter and shape your own piece of clay — a hands-on craft session set right on the café grounds.
- Guided, hands-on wheel-throwing
- A favourite with visiting families and kids
- Best arranged in advance for groups
After Dark
Traditional Evening Ceremony
As the sun sets, the grounds come alive with fire dancing, live drumming and a buffet dinner served under the canopy — arranged for groups by request.
- Fire dance performance with live drumming
- Buffet dinner served under the trees
- Arranged for groups — book ahead
Around Hambu
A look around the grounds
Every corner is a little different — the canopy above, the tank below, and a lot of hand-painted personality in between.
Find Us
Girithale Lake Front, Polonnaruwa
On the Girithale lake front, along the Habarana–Polonnaruwa road, inside Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle — about 45 minutes from Sigiriya and under an hour from Dambulla.
Location
Hambu Café, 54th Mile Post, Girithale, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, on the Girithale lake front — a short stop for anyone travelling between Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa's ancient city and Minneriya / Kaudulla National Parks.
Get DirectionsGetting Here
Hambu Café sits on the Habarana–Polonnaruwa road in Girithale, a natural stop in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle:
- Polonnaruwa Ancient City — about 12 km (15 min)
- Habarana — about 25 km (30 min)
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress — about 43 km (50 min)
- Dambulla Cave Temple — about 55 km (1 hr)
- Minneriya National Park — about 15 km (20 min)
Hours
Open daily. Hours can vary with the season — message ahead to confirm, especially for tea tastings, the pottery workshop or the evening ceremony.
Contact & Bookings
Call or WhatsApp +94 77 885 6043, or email contact@hambucafe.com — best for tea tastings, the pottery workshop or the evening ceremony.
Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hambu Café located?
Hambu Café is at the 54th mile post in Girithale, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, on the edge of the Girithale tank (reservoir), within Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle.
How can I contact or book a table at Hambu Café?
Call or WhatsApp +94 77 885 6043, or email contact@hambucafe.com. Hambu Café is also on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok as @hambu_cafe.
What food does Hambu Café serve?
Home-style Sri Lankan rice and curry, wok-tossed fried rice, club sandwiches, fresh salads, breakfast bowls, specialty coffee and Ceylon tea.
What makes Hambu Café's design different?
It's built from repurposed shipping containers and thatched pavilions raised into the jungle canopy, with hand-painted signage, industrial-rustic furniture and a two-level deck overlooking the trees and the Girithale tank.
Is Hambu Café right on the Girithale lake front?
Yes. Hambu Café's two-level deck sits on the Girithale lake front, looking out over the Girithale tank (reservoir) through the surrounding jungle canopy — one of the best water views in the area.
Can I book a pottery workshop at Hambu Café?
Yes. Hambu Café offers a hands-on pottery wheel workshop guided by a local potter, popular with visiting families and children. It's best arranged in advance.
Does Hambu Café offer a Ceylon tea tasting or evening ceremony?
Yes — a curated Ceylon tea tasting and a traditional evening ceremony with fire dancing, live drumming and a buffet dinner, typically arranged in advance for groups.
Is Hambu Café suitable for tour groups?
Yes, Hambu Café regularly hosts tour groups for meals, tea tastings, pottery workshops and evening cultural ceremonies. Advance notice is recommended for larger groups.
What are Hambu Café's opening hours?
Hambu Café is open daily; hours can vary seasonally. Message ahead to confirm hours, especially for tea tastings, the pottery workshop or the evening ceremony.
Is Hambu Café close to Polonnaruwa's ancient city or the national parks?
Hambu Café sits in Girithale on the Habarana–Polonnaruwa road, about 12 km (15 minutes) from Polonnaruwa's ancient city and roughly 15 km from Minneriya National Park — a convenient stop for visitors travelling between Polonnaruwa's ancient city and Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks.
How far is Hambu Café from Sigiriya and Dambulla?
Sigiriya Rock Fortress is about 43 km (roughly 50 minutes) from Hambu Café, and Dambulla Cave Temple is about 55 km (roughly an hour) away, both reached via Habarana — making Hambu Café a convenient breakfast, lunch or coffee stop for guests touring Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle.