The Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2017 is undoubtedly the largest literary festival to take place in Sri Lanka, and it’s back again this year bigger and better than ever! The festival holds a special place in the island’s event calendar as it is not only a haven for literary lovers, but also boosts the tourism industry. Thankfully, the stars were on my side and I managed to get a booking in the overcrowded city for the 5 day event. 

The backdrop of Galle alone, with its Portuguese and Dutch fortifications, colonial buildings and natural harbour, affords a picturesque setting to the event. And the festival uses every part of the city to its advantage to take its participants on a journey. The cobble-stoned alleyways add to the magic of the Fort, and it’s an amazing place to take in when you’re in between sessions. 

So here we have a roundup of places you can check out while at the Fairway Galle Literary Festival this year! 

Pedlar’s Inn Café and Gelateria 

Pedlar's Inn Cafe is no newbie to the Galle Fort, and rightly so. Go for the food which is delicious (and reasonably priced – by Galle Fort standards) and stay for the ambience. The seating is strategically done, and makes for a good place to get some shade and relax. Once you get your fill, walk on over to the gelateria on the opposite end of the road, and let your inner child take over while sampling a delectable selection of high quality, creamy gelato served in crisp waffle cones. 

The Stairway 

A relatively new spot, The Stairway is an old attic which has been renovated into a quaint and quiet little setting. They serve up basic, yet fresh fare. A winning feature of The Stairway is that it most likely won’t be as crowded as most of the more popular hangouts in Galle, which is a welcome blessing if you’re trying to get out of the heat and enjoy good fish and chips. 

Chambers 

The Chambers is a 100 year old property, which has been now converted to house a Moroccan/Italian restaurant. The largely open spaced design lends itself well to the overall charm of the space, and their personal takes on favourites such as moussaka and hummus. So if you get an inkling to get away from the usual Galle food scene, Chambers, with its own personal history, might well be the place for you. 

Dairy King 

Walking through the streets of Galle is no easy feat with the sun streaming down on you. So if you’re in-between sessions, or looking for a quick place to grab your sweet-fix, then head on over to the Dairy King. They have a modest range of flavours, lending itself to ice cream and milkshakes, and their brownies are chocolatey and delicious. 

The Living Room by TPV 

The Living Room (they have an outlet in Colombo too) makes you feel like you’re Alice in Wonderland. So if ice cream and thambili isn’t your thing, they serve up pretty good (and inexpensive) cocktails, in a charming (albeit bizarre) setting. They also have interesting art, jeweller and sculptures for purchase if you feel inspired by your surroundings. 

Bubblelement 

If you’re a bubble tea addict – like most of Colombo at this point – Bubblelement has a branch in the heart of the Galle Dutch Fort. It was actually the predecessor to its Colombo counterpart. With an inviting little setting, it serves up delicious combinations of tea and juice with your usual chewy bubbles, or popping bubbles. So grab yourself some bubble tea and hit the streets of Galle, because walking its streets will never leave you bored. 

Apart from satisfying the foodie your surroundings inspire you to be, the city of Galle is teeming with places to be explored. 

The All Saints Church with its gothic columns and roof, the Dutch Reformed Church which is one of the oldest Protestant churches in the island and boasts stunning architecture or the Fort Meeran Mosque with its intricate stained glass and tile work which is nearly three centuries old displays the beauty and serenity of the religious places (still used for worship) in the country. 

Apart from these, the National Maritime Museum with informative and century old collections and the Dutch Gallery where you might have to restrain yourself as it is an antiques/jewellery store are definite must-visits while in Galle for the Lit Fest. 

Be sure to catch the sunset at the Moon Bastion, and try and climb the lighthouse. You will have to pay a small fee, but for the uninterrupted views, it’s completely worth it. 

Photographs via respective websites/Facebook pages