• Night Bazaar from 1 Dec. every Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
• Cinnamon Grand gears up for grand Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations

The Cinnamon Grand’s iconic ‘village in the city,’ Nuga Gama was relaunched in grand style recently, with the unveiling of a whole new look and new spaces.

Bad weather is no longer a pressing concern at Nuga Gama, which now features The Green Room, Salawa, Soldore, and Sithala Walawwa, each offering a unique aspect of the Nuga Gama experience while shielding guests from sudden downpours.

The biggest draw is certain to be the Nuga Gama Night Bazaar, which will kick off from 1 December and be held every Friday and Saturday from 10.30 p.m. to 3 a.m., enabling guests to dig into Sri Lankan street favourites late at night amid a village-style ambience.

An immersive cultural experience

Nuga Gama serves up close to 50 authentic dishes from a variety of regions in Sri Lanka, ensuring that the dining experience not only impresses the palate but also stands out in the memory, but it’s not just food here at Nuga Gama. 

Three daily cultural performances also take place near the 200-year-old banyan tree, which is the heart of Nuga Gama, keeping Sri Lanka’s long-held traditions alive.

The space itself showcases village living, with its wattle-and-daub structures, clay floors, and open-air kitchens, offering an immersive cultural experience.

From the moment you step in, you will be transported into a traditional Sri Lankan village, with the layout showcasing a typical village set-up of house (‘gami gedara’), garden (‘gami gewaththa’), tank (‘wewa’), paddy field, vegetable and fruit gardens, a medicinal and herb garden, a shop (‘kadé’), and a tavern.

All these elements blend together effortlessly in the shadow of the nuga tree, transporting diners to a village setting while remaining in the heart of the city.

This relaunch is Nuga Gama’s second full refurbishment. It was earlier restored to brand spanking new status following a full refurbishment in 2022, with an extended menu and expanded capacity. The current refurbishment ensures that the space is far better suited to take on the vagaries of the weather and further enhances its emphasis on sustainability.

A Sri Lankan food lover’s paradise

The Sri Lankan cuisine served up at Nuga Gama has always been excellent and is served in the form of a buffet.

The spread ranges from the widely-popular kottu, steaming hot pittu, irresistible short eats, a variety of breads, spicy crab, succulent prawns, beef, pork, mutton, and crispy deep-fried lake fish, to divine desserts from Avurudu sweetmeats, including just-fried succulent kevum, to caramel and watalappam, to name a few.

There is just about everything a Sri Lankan food lover would want and there are many options for vegetarians too. The hopper and dessert stations will definitely keep drawing diners back for more.

The food is served up in traditional style in clay pots and women from rural villages cook the delectable array of dishes for Nuga Gama, partnered by a team of chefs from the hotel’s five-star kitchens. All food items are prepared on open hearths with wood fires in clay pots to ensure an authentic culinary experience and by around 6 p.m. each evening, the aromas mingle and fill the air.

Entertainment is offered daily in the form of music and traditional dances, while the tavern serves up local spirits and local spirit-infused cocktails. 

Focus on authenticity and sustainability: GM

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Cinnamon Grand Colombo General Manager Nazoomi Azhar said the purpose behind the refurbishment of Nuga Gama was to create an area that was weatherproof, starting right from the entrance to the restaurant, and to also offer guests an air-conditioned dining option.

The entire refurbishment had been completed in the space of just 58 days by the Cinnamon team, with sustainability at the fore. 

“Our top priority was sustainability and preserving the 200-year-old tree, which shelters the entire restaurant. I must congratulate our team for this. They managed the entire project and worked day and night to complete the refurbishment before the season began,” said Azhar.

“Showcasing authenticity and true village style was important and I wanted to do it the right way. We have also worked on the menus and updated them,” he added.

Now in his third month as GM at the Cinnamon Grand, this is Azhar’s first work position in Sri Lanka, having returned from England after 25 years.

Commenting on why he chose Cinnamon, he said: “This is my very first senior role in Sri Lanka and it was important for me to come back to a local brand. We are a Sri Lankan brand, we want to promote Sri Lankan hospitality, and we are homegrown.”

Coming back to Nuga Gama and his favourite dishes here, Azhar said: “I would choose the dry beef and chicken, and I like all the achcharu. Generally, I like pretty much everything!”

Christmas at the Cinnamon Grand 

It’s going to be a very grand Christmas at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, which turns 20 this year.

Sharing what guests could expect this Christmas, Cinnamon Grand Colombo General Manager Nazoomi Azhar said the festivities would kick off with the Christmas tree lighting in the last week of November and continue all the way up to 31 December. 

“There are many special events, including at Nuga Gama, the Breeze Bar, and Plates, singing of Christmas carols throughout the period, and breakfast with Santa,” said Azhar, listing a few of the planned celebrations.

The welcoming of the new year is also set to be magical, with two fabulous events planned for New Year’s Eve, including DJs and musicians from England and a gala masquerade ball.