Here are reliable options in Colombo that are widely recommended for excellent food (short note on what to try at each):

• Cinnamon Grand Colombo — large food scene (14+ outlets); excellent seafood at The Lagoon, traditional Sri Lankan at Nuga Gama and a popular noodle/Asian concept. (oyster.com)

• Taj Samudra — longstanding city classic with multiple specialty outlets (Ports of Call buffet, Navratna for Indian, Yumi for Japanese); known for consistent hotel-dining standards and buffets. (tajhotels.com)

• Shangri‑La Colombo — modern destination for dining in Colombo: Central (large live‑station buffets/brunch), Shang Palace (Cantonese/dim sum) and Capital Bar & Grill (steaks/grill). Great weekend brunch options. (shangri-la.com)

• Galle Face Hotel — heritage seafront property famous for its Verandah high‑tea, crab curry and a mix of casual/al‑fresco outlets (Firebeach, 1864 fine dining). Good for a classic Colombo dining experience. (gallefacehotel.com)

• The Kingsbury — well regarded for its Harbour Court buffet / Sunday brunch and several specialty restaurants (Ocean, Kings Steakbar, Yue Chuan). Popular for seafood/brunch events. (thekingsburyhotel.com)

• Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo — reliable large‑hotel buffets and all‑day dining (The Dining Room) with solid reviews for variety and value. Good for brunchs and big spreads. (tripadvisor.in)

• Galadari Hotel — long‑standing option noted for its high‑tea and large buffet spreads (mixed reviews but widely used by locals for tea/buffets). (tripadvisor.com)

Quick tips

• Weekend brunches and high‑tea are popular — make reservations, especially on Fridays–Sundays.
• If you prefer a particular cuisine (seafood, Cantonese dim‑sum, Sri Lankan village cooking), pick the hotel/restaurant that specializes in it (examples above).

If you want, I can: (a) list the single best restaurant in each hotel with phone/menu links, or (b) filter by price, location (e.g., near Galle Face/Colombo 3), or type of meal (buffet, high tea, fine dining) — say which and I’ll pull menus/reservation details.