Journey Insights

Climbing to Cloud Nine: The Vibe of Cafe One Love

The first thing that strikes you about Cafe One Love is its structure. It’s a brilliant, sprawling wooden creation that feels like it grew organically out of the hillside. It’s less of a building and more of an experience. You can choose your own adventure: sink into a giant, comfy beanbag on a lower deck, grab a table with a commanding view of Ella Gap, or perch yourself near the bar, right in the heart of the action.

The decor is a perfect blend of Rastafarian cool and Sri Lankan charm. Bob Marley smiles down from posters, peace signs are everywhere, and the warm lighting creates an intimate, welcoming glow. As dusk began to settle, the sky outside turned a stunning shade of bruised purple and orange, and the valley below started to twinkle with lights. The air was filled with the sweet, fragrant smoke from the shisha pipes and the promise of a memorable night. It’s a place designed for lingering, for letting an hour or two slip by unnoticed while you soak in the view and the atmosphere. The vibe is utterly relaxed, yet there’s a palpable buzz, a feeling that as the night deepens, this chilled-out cafe is going to transform.

A Liquid Prelude: Cocktails and Conversations

With the view well and truly absorbed, my attention turned to the drinks menu. It’s always a good sign when the drinks list is as thoughtful as the food menu, and Cafe One Love doesn't disappoint. While they have all the classic beers like Lion and Carlsberg, and a decent wine list, it was the cocktail section that really caught my eye.

Being in Sri Lanka, it felt almost criminal not to try something with the local spirit, arrack. I went for the 'Arrack Attack', a tantalising mix of arrack, lime, honey, and ginger beer. It arrived looking fiery and inviting, and tasted even better. It was the perfect sundowner – spicy, sweet, and distinctly Sri Lankan. My friend opted for a 'Passionfruit Mojito', a vibrant, tropical concoction that was summer in a glass. We watched the bartenders work their magic, moving with an easy rhythm, shaking and stirring, always with a smile.

The bar is a social hub. We found ourselves chatting with a couple from Germany and a solo traveller from Australia, swapping stories about our adventures. This is the magic of places like Cafe One Love; they’re magnets for interesting people, and the relaxed setting makes it easy to connect. Our cocktails weren’t just drinks; they were the social lubricant for a fantastic start to the evening.

The Main Event: A Feast for the Senses

The aromas wafting from the kitchen were becoming impossible to ignore. The menu is a globe-trotting journey in itself, offering everything from Italian pasta and woodfired pizza to classic Sri Lankan curries. We decided to share a few things to get a real taste of what they could do.

We started with the Hot Butter Cuttlefish; a dish I'd become mildly obsessed with since arriving in Sri Lanka. This was one of the best I’ve had. The cuttlefish was perfectly tender, encased in a light, crispy batter, and tossed with just the right amount of fiery chilli and spring onions. At Rs. 3000, it was a generous portion and utterly addictive.

For our main course, we wanted to taste both local and international flavours. First up was the Chicken and Egg Lamprais. For the uninitiated, lamprais is a Sri Lankan treasure. It's a parcel of delights—rice, various seasonal vegetable curries, and in this case, a rich chicken curry and a deep-fried egg—all steamed together inside a banana leaf. Unwrapping it felt like opening a present. The fragrance that hit me was incredible, a complex blend of spices and herbs. Every mouthful was different, a symphony of flavours that was both comforting and exciting.

To contrast this, we also ordered a 'Spicy Pizza' from their woodfired oven. Let me tell you, they know what they’re doing. The crust was thin, crisp, and beautifully blistered. The topping was a simple but powerful selection of fresh local chillis on a rich tomato base. It had a serious kick, but the freshness of the ingredients shone through. It was the perfect dish to share, picking at slices between sips of beer and lively conversation.

The Beat Drops: From Dining to Dancing

As we finished our meal, something began to shift. The background reggae music gracefully transitioned into something more upbeat. A DJ was setting up on one of the levels, and the energy in the room lifted. This was the transformation I’d been sensing. The beanbags started to empty as people were drawn towards the music. The dining space seamlessly morphed into a dance floor.

The website mentions their DJ nights and events, and a Friday night here is clearly a big deal. The music was brilliant – a mix of deep house, funky electronic beats, and a few classic anthems that had everyone singing along. The multi-level layout meant you could either be right in the thick of it, dancing under the stars, or you could hang back on a higher level, looking down at the happy, moving crowd below.

There was no pretence, no exclusivity. It was just a joyful mix of locals and travellers from all corners of the globe, united by the music and the incredible setting. Dancing on a wooden platform, perched on a mountainside in the middle of Sri Lanka, is one of those travel memories that will stay with me for a very long time.

My night at Cafe One Love was a perfect summary of Ella itself. It started peacefully, admiring the incredible natural beauty, and ended with a joyful, energetic celebration. It’s a place that manages to be all things to all people: a chilled-out spot for a morning coffee, a romantic restaurant for a sunset dinner, and a vibrant hub for nightlife.

They’ve created more than just a cafe; they've built a community hub, a place where the view is just the beginning. The food is delicious, the drinks are expertly made, but it’s the intangible vibe, the 'one love' spirit, that truly sets it apart. If you find yourself in Ella, do more than just look at the view – climb the steps to Cafe One Love and experience it. Especially on a Friday.