Journey Insights

There are some nights you stumble into without any plan, only to leave with a story you’ll carry forever. That’s exactly how my evening at Cafe One Love in Ella unfolded—unexpected, electric, and full of rhythm.

Nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country, Ella has always been that dreamy backpacker town where misty mornings melt into lazy afternoons. But after the sun dips behind the lush tea-clad hills, the town comes alive in a way you wouldn’t expect. And nowhere does that transformation better than Cafe One Love.

First Impressions: A Glow in the Hills

I could already hear it before I saw it—the low hum of bass, the tinkle of laughter, and the unmistakable sound of clinking glasses. Walking through Ella’s main street, the café stood out like a glowing lantern against the darkened backdrop of the hills. Fairy lights twisted around wooden beams, reggae beats rolled through the air, and the scent of grilled food mixed with hookah smoke floated lazily across the road.

Stepping in felt like slipping into another dimension. Inside, the atmosphere was a fusion of bohemian comfort and wild energy. People lounged on colourful cushions with shisha pipes bubbling away, while others were already swaying to the rhythm on the dance floor. I couldn’t help but smile—it was impossible not to.

Starting the Night: A Cocktail Adventure

Now, let’s be honest: no good night ever starts without the right drink in hand. The cocktail menu here isn’t just long—it’s playful, packed with local twists and classic favourites.

I kicked off with an Arrack Attack (Arrack, lime, honey, ginger beer). The first sip was sharp yet sweet, the ginger beer giving it a zing that woke me right up after a long day of hiking. It was the kind of drink that doesn’t just refresh—it sets the tone.

From there, it became a little tasting adventure. The One Love Cocktail, a vibrant mix of vodka, blueberry juice, Sprite, lime, and sugar, was tropical bliss in a glass. If happiness had a flavour, this was it. Then there was the Espresso Martini, smooth and bold, perfect for fuelling a night that I already sensed would stretch into the early hours.

Around me, I could see tables scattered with colourful mojitos: mango, passionfruit, pineapple, even watermelon. Each one looked like a postcard from a summer holiday. It was tempting to order them all, but I had to pace myself—the night was only just beginning.

The Shisha Corner

Between rounds of cocktails, I found myself drawn to the shisha lounge area. There’s something mesmerising about the slow swirl of smoke rising in dim, golden light, mingling with the laughter of strangers who felt more like friends. For Rs. 3000, you could share a shisha with your group, and judging by the crowd gathered around the pipes, it was a ritual as much as a pastime.

I joined a group of travellers from Germany and Australia who were passing the pipe between them like a peace offering. The flavour—sweet, fruity, and smooth—blended perfectly with the café’s reggae playlist. Every puff felt like it stretched time a little longer, slowing down the night just enough to savour it.

Dancing into the Night

But make no mistake—this isn’t just a chill-out spot. Cafe One Love has a way of pulling you onto the dance floor, no matter how much you tell yourself you’ll just “sit and watch.”

The DJ that Sunday night was a genius at reading the crowd. He drifted between reggae, afro beats, and even a splash of old-school disco, creating a soundtrack that was impossible to resist. One moment you were swaying lazily with a cocktail in hand, and the next you were jumping with a crowd of strangers who suddenly felt like your lifelong tribe.

At some point, someone pulled me into a circle where a group of locals and tourists were dancing together, no choreography, no self-consciousness—just pure, messy joy. That’s the magic of One Love: it strips away all barriers until you’re simply moving with the music.

A Midnight Feast

Of course, all that dancing and drinking demanded fuel. Luckily, the café doesn’t just shine with cocktails—it delivers when it comes to food too.

For a late-night bite, I ordered battered prawns with cocktail sauce. Crispy, golden, and juicy inside, they disappeared quicker than I’d like to admit. My new friends shared their spring rolls—light, crunchy, and just the right amount of spicy when dipped in sweet chilli sauce.

I couldn’t resist sneaking a slice from someone’s One Love Special Pizza, loaded with sautéed wild mushrooms, mozzarella, and fresh tomato. Honestly, it might have been one of the best pizzas I’ve had in Sri Lanka.

The Energy of Sunday Nights

If you’re wondering why I keep mentioning Sunday—it’s because that’s when the café truly explodes into life. Every day has its charm here, but Sunday nights are special. It’s when the weekend spirit, travel stories, and Ella’s eclectic crowd collide in one big, beautiful mess of music and movement.

There’s something contagious about the energy. Even if you walk in tired from trekking Little Adam’s Peak or spending hours on a train, you’ll find yourself staying until closing, lost in the rhythm of laughter, dance, and clinking glasses.

A Moment of Stillness

Somewhere around midnight, I stepped outside for a breather. The cool mountain air wrapped around me, carrying faint echoes of the music inside. Above, the sky stretched wide, scattered with stars that seemed brighter here than anywhere else.

It was a strange but beautiful contrast—the wild, pulsing heart of the café behind me and the serene stillness of Ella’s hills ahead. In that moment, I realised why this place feels so unforgettable: it’s not just a bar or a café. It’s a bridge between worlds—the calm and the chaotic, the familiar and the exotic, the stranger and the friend.

Why Cafe One Love is a Must

If you ever find yourself in Ella, make sure to save a night for this spot. Come for the cocktails—the Moscow Mule with its kick of lime and ginger, or the indulgent Long Island Iced Tea if you’re feeling brave. Come for the shisha, the laughter, the music that makes your body move before your mind has even decided to.

But more than that, come for the feeling. That indescribable rush when you realise you’re exactly where you need to be, surrounded by people who share nothing with you except this one moment of joy.

Carrying the Vibe

As I finally left, long after midnight, I felt like I was carrying something with me—like a pocket of energy, laughter, and warmth tucked into my heart. That’s the thing about nights like these. They don’t just end when the lights go out. They stay with you, like the echo of a favourite song.

Cafe One Love isn’t just a place you visit in Ella—it’s a place that becomes part of your journey. And if you’re lucky enough to be there on a Sunday night, don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing with strangers, sipping a Cosmopolitan, and thinking to yourself: this is exactly what life should feel like.