Hiriketiya beach Sri Lanka: a surfer’s paradise
Hiriketiya beach is the ultimate surfer’s paradise and easily our favourite beach in Sri Lanka. Still not as famous as Arugam Bay or the northern beaches of Trincomalee. Hiriketiya, in our opinion, is in a league of its own in terms of natural settings and general atmosphere. A perfectly shaped half-moon bay, where intense turquoise waters hit the golden sand with constant waves, flanked by a lush palm jungle. A nature that is so perfect, it resembles a piece of art!
The little village of Hiriketiya became a famous hang out spot for surfers thanks to the perfect left-hander and the very relaxed atmosphere. In the last ten years, several Australians have relocated to this slice of paradise and opened a couple of hostels, hotels and restaurant. The mix of local culture and western culture perfectly works in Hiriketiya, offering a varied experience to visitors. During our stay, we enjoyed drinks on the beach in cafes built on bamboo stilts while watching the sunset over the ocean. We surfed at sunrise and chilled on the beach sipping on coconuts. We had rice and curry from the local restaurant on the main road to Dickwella town but also enjoyed western style breakfast in one of the extra cool cafes by the beach.
Thanks to its laid-back vibe, Hiriketiya beach attracts a certain type of visitor. Surfers and creatives, who have made of this tiny village in Sri Lanka a melting pot of culture. You can even find a co-working space, Verve, which offers a beautifully designed space to work, eat and soon sleep.
Grove Cafe & Restaurant
Asja taking a break
The catch of the day
Where to sleep in Hiriketiya
Mission House Airbnb
Our stay in Hiriketiya would have not been half as fantastic if it wasn’t for our hosts. Dulanjan and his family offer three rooms annexed to their family home, right at the beginning of the road that takes you to the beach from Dikwella. The rooms are decorated in a modern and minimalist style, with private bathrooms. Our best moments were spent on the front porch drinking delicious milky tea prepared by his mum and discussing life with his dad. A real home away from home.
An open yoga shala, a pool and an outside restaurant make Salt one of the most perfect locations in Hiriketiya beach. The rooms are beautifully decorated and spacious with private bathrooms. The pool is the perfect place to relax if you don’t feel like venturing into the ocean and rather sip a beer poolside. Breakfast is served as a buffet and an a-la-carte lunch or dinner is also served at the restaurant which is open to outside guests too.
Where to eat in Hiriketiya
Breakfast at The Groove is a must! Pancakes or eggs with potato rosti and foamy flat whites made it perfect. The tables, made in bamboo, are scattered around the wide garden which in the evening lights up with dreamy fairy light. The Grove also offers rooms for guests and is open from breakfast to dinner.
The Grove
Besides being a great hotel, Salt offers a fantastic lunch and dinner menu. Locally sourced and fresh ingredients are prepared in western style, with dishes that often change based on product availability. The hummus and the catch of the day with grilled vegetables were incredibly tasty!
A very popular hang out in Hiriketiya, this space is a hostel, a bar and a restaurant. On the menu, you will find a combination of local and western dishes. You must try their cocktails, made with great combinations of local fruits.
We were also very happy to see that all above restaurants do not serve plastic bottles or straws!
Rice & Curry
If you are looking for Sri Lankan cuisine, this modest restaurant is the right place. You can find it easily by exciting the road that goes to Dikwella from Hiriketiya beach and turning left towards town (the first restaurant you will encounter on the left hand side). There is a buffet where you can serve yourself all different types of curries, rice and string hoppers. You can also order hoppers and kothu roti, which was one of our favourite dishes. The price is shockingly cheap too!
