Night Life
Sri Lankans like to while away an evening drinking with friends, eating a heavy supper and then going to bed. In recent years, however, nightlife in Colombo has blossomed beyond the odd night out at a hotel on a special occasion, or an evening at drinking club with one's cronies. Out of Colombo, however, entertainment is limited to the resort hotels, which feature live bands of varying degrees of ineptitude, a magician or snake charmer, as well as some tame disco sessions. The resurgence of casinos (there are more than 20 of them) in the city has been accompanied by the opening of karoake bars, theme pubs, and lively discos and nightspots dedicated to a young crowd with money to spend at the weekends and on holidays.
Night Life in Colombo
Karaoke Bars
Showboat 
104 Reid Avenue, Colombo 4 Tel: 596958 
Not noted for the quality of the food, Showboat is still popular because of its state of art Karaoke Lounge 
(with English, Thai, Korean, Chinese and Japanese songs) and its MTV lounge providing daily movies and sports coverage. Hilton Karaoke 
Tel: 544644 
A wide range of music, a well-stocked bar, and an easy-going atmosphere make this one of the most popular karaoke bars around. 

Casinos
Not all Colombo's casinos are well run or even fun. All, however, offer roulette (with minimum stake at Rs20 or Rs50) blackjack and baccarat. Drinks and snacks are avilable free of Charge to players and some casines even have buffet dinners and live music. Membership is in name only; anyone can sign-in and play. All Close on poya days.

Bally's Club 
14 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 3 
Tel: 573497 Open 24 hours. Strategically situated for the Colombo housewife, near to the Liberty Plaza shopping complex. 

Bellaglo 
430 R A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3 
Tel: 575271 
Open 24 hours. Bright and lively.

Juplters 
433 Galle Road, Colombo 3 
Tel: 589731 
Open 2pm-6am. Popular and a bit down-market, but fun. 

MGM Grand Casino
772 Galle Road, Colombo 4 Tel: 591319 
Open 24 hours. Another casino close to a shopping complex (Majestic City). 

Rltz Club 
4 Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 3 Tel: 341496 
Open 6pm-6am. For more serious players, with a VIP room, premium drinks and friendly staff.

Star Dust Club 
5th Lane, Galle Road, Colombo 3 Tel: 573493 
Open 24 hours. Down a side street off the main Galle Road; not much atmosphere.


Night Clubs 

Blue Elephant 
Colombo Hilton, Lotus Road, Colombo 1 Tel: 544644 
Theme nights and DJ music. Membership offered to club regulars. Cascades 
Hotel Lanka Oberoi, 77 Steuart Place, Colombo 3 Tel: 320001 
The current popular hangout for the younger partY set. Newly refurbished, with a pool room. 

Colombo 2000 
Galadari Hotel Tel: 544544 
Good fun when other discos like Blue Elephant and Cascades are full; huge video screen, latest music, defined dance floor. 

Cyclone
29 Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7 Tel: 075 378017 
Rather dated atmosphere but nevertheless very popular. Closed Tuesdays. 

The LIbrary 

Trans Asia Hotel
115 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 2 Tel: 544200 
An up-market alternative, with more conservative music. Popular with young professional communitY. 

Legends 
Majestic CitY, 5th Floor, Colombo 4 
Occasionally has live bands, both local and foreign. A great night, if a good band is playing.