Hiriketiya in Sri Lanka is my (surf) heaven on earth! I have visited this place three times now and will be back again:-) Although it is getting busier, there are some very nice accommodations to book. It is my favorite place to surf, with waves for every level. Almost everything is within walking distance here. These are my Hiriketiya tips and highlights!

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I stayed at the lovely Dots Bay House twice. This was my ultimate home away from home and I loved the food here! In the evenings there are often live performances, so it is not the most quiet place. The music was a bit loud this year, so if you prefer more peace & quiet I would recommend staying at Salty Pelican Retreats! You can refill your bottle of water here for free. I booked surfing classes at the Hiri Surf School. Really nice guys and good lessons for all levels. Highly recommended!

This year I rented a board at the Lion Surf School almost every day and surfed on my own. Be aware of rocks and sea urchins in the water. Especially on the left side of the beach. The best thing to do is not to ‘walk’ but just hop on your board;-) I got a little piece of sea urchin in my foot and that wasn’t very pleasant… Nothing serious, but you’re a bit crippled and because of the heat you can quickly get infections under your foot…

READ ALL ABOUT MY STAY AT DOTS HERE

Dots Bay House | Hiriketiya | Sri Lanka

Restaurants, food and drinks in Hiriketiya:
Dots Bay House: my favorite place for good food in Hiriketiya, because of the atmosphere and I loved the Mahu Mahu burger with kimchi! Because of the new airconditioning, it is also a great spot to work… if the wifi works:-)
Bahia: one of my favorite brunch spots. Beautiful garden, great coffee and nice, central location.
Duni’s Hoppers: if you want to try the tasty, traditional hoppers, you should definitely visit Duni’s Hoppers. Delicious hoppers for breakfast, brunch or lunch. The menu also includes fresh smoothie bowls and good iced coffee.

Smoke & Bitters: the best cocktails (!) and a very extensive menu with a lot of delicious vegan options too. A beautiful place for sunset in Dikwella. Not cheap and call to make a reservation, because the place is almost always fully booked.
The Backyard: delicious breakfast, tacos and cocktails! This is the restaurant of Salty Pelican Retreats, that is open to everyone.

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Verse Collective: good place to work with an amazing tasty vegan burger and good coffee on the menu. It is all about sustainability here. Inside you can sit and work in a cool café area. There you will also find a nice little shop with surf wear. Great spot for digital nomads, although I did not really like the vibe here that much this year. The staff can be a little arrogant and they don’t want to give you the wifi code if you sit outside… A bit pretentious to be honest.
MOND: very nice place for coffee, smoothie bowls and other goodies. In the evening they serve cocktails & wine and delicious small dishes. Love it all!

Bombora/ Ivy: dangerously good cocktails, with a fantastic view over Hiriketiya.
Hirketiya Beach Bus Restaurant: simple Sri Lankan dishes on the beach. Especially at night time this place looks so romantic!
The Sunset Bar: so in love with this spot. Try the coconut roti with dahl and coconut sambol and watch the surfers right in front of you. What a view!
Belika: French pancakes and delicious smoothies & coffee. This Instagrammable spot has a beautiful pool!

Verse Collective | Dikwella | Sri Lanka

Hiriketiya Seafood Restaurant: delicious Sri Lankan dishes and fresh fish.
Garlic Cafe: romantic garden with an amazing Sri Lankan buffet.

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Photos in the middle: breakfast at Dots Bay House

Where to stay in Hiriketiya – Hotels & Hostels
Click on the name for the best rates and availability!
Dots Bay House: my ultimate ‘home away from home’ during my trip in Sri Lanka! Not that great if you like some peace & quiet though…
Salty Pelican: ideal if you want a little more peace and like to meditate & follow good yoga classes. I absolutely LOVED my stay here and will be back!

MY STAY AT SALTY PELICAN RETREAT HIRIKETIYA

Verse Collective: hip ‘co-work space’ hotel, ideal for digital nomads. Verse is situated on the beach of Dikwella. Book a comfortable private room through Airbnb.
Le Cabanon: stylish apartments that look like they’re styled for a magazine.

First photo: Boho Hiriketiya. 2nd photo: Dikwella beach. 3rd photo: fish tacos at Dots Bay House.

Visit the relaxing Tonic Spa! My Ayurveda ‘back massage’ was so good! When you book a ‘full body massage’ always ask for a masseur of the same sex, because your front/ torso will also be massaged and this can feel uncomfortable otherwise… 

Go shopping at L’Atelier! Enter at your own risk.. Send the owner a DM trough Instagram and book an appointment.

CLICK HERE FOR GREAT HOTELS IN HIRIKETIYA

Tonic Spa

Tip: download the app Refill my bottle in your app store, so you always know where to refill your water bottle or Dopper for free. This saves a lot of empty plastic bottles in the trash!

MY STAY AT SALTY PELICAN RETREAT HIRIKETIYA

Click HERE for the best rates and availability at Dots Bay House!
Check out my post about Kandy HERE.

MY TRAIN RIDE FROM KANDY TO ELLA