Colombo’s favourite atmospheric watering hole, the Breeze Bar at Cinnamon Grand recently stepped up the ante with a whole new look and a cosmopolitan Tapas menu guaranteed to take the city by storm.

The Breeze Bar retains its casual and chilled out charm, but the latest refurbishment has replaced the comfortable rattan seating with sleek yet casual upholstery with a muted and elegant colour palate.

Breeze Bar’s comfortable charm, pleasant staff and soothing music have always drawn city-dwellers to the pool-side hang out at Colombo’s most popular city hotel. The inclusion of a brand new Tapas menu, the perfect pairing for the Breeze Bar’s extensive range of cocktails and beverages is likely to make it more popular than ever. The Tapas on offer are small, simple selections perfect for keeping the conversation flowing all evening.

The Breeze Bar’s new Tapas menu is the creation of Chef de Cuisine at Cinnamon Grand, Manjula Wickrema, who says some items on the menu, like the delectable Chili Tandoori Chicken in masala beignets were spur of the moment creations. “In the kitchen one day, I came across some ulundu vadai mixture and there was some tandoori chicken around. It made me think - chicken vadai would be very unique. So I chopped up some onion and chillies and made the mixture which is deep-fried and served with three different coconut chutneys,” says Chef Manjula. The delicious ‘chicken vadai’ is spicy and tender and served on skewers with the three differently flavoured chutneys.

Tapas, he explains, is the name given to a wide variety of snacks that originated in Spanish cuisine. “Originally they were nibbles, simple things like grilled cheese on bread or mixed olives,” Chef Manjula explains. In modern cuisine, Tapas has a special place of its own, with Asian Chefs in particular infusing new flavours and spices to create uniquely popular Asian Tapas. Breeze Bar’s Tapas menu reflects that innovation, its creator says.

“Breeze Bar’s clientele being largely local guests, we have endeavoured to make our Tapas somewhat spicy. Chilli and pepper are preferred ingredients in the local clienteles’ nibbles,” Chef Manjula avers with an indulgent smile. Certainly the BBQ chili pork with pickled slaw and the salmon croquettes with spicy curd dressing attest to this theory and is the perfect complement to many cocktails on the Breeze Bar menu. 

The other mouth-watering items on the brand new Tapas menu include salt and pepper calamari twister with zest aioli, cashew crusted prawn tempura with ginger sambol, seared beef and coriander risotto, chicken liver katzu, saffron sushi rice and Japanese kare and the extraordinary crispy blue, brie and paneer samosa with tamarind chutney, a dish of delectable snacks that is sure to make all the dreams of the vegetarian tapas-lover come true. The menu also offers two special soups, perfect for a cool rainy evening – the Chinese hot and sour and the Malay prawn laksa if the mood calls for some warm comfort.

A popular inclusion is also the Balinese Sate Bar which features half a dozen chicken, beef, lamb or pork sates, served with a crunchy peanut sauce and sambal goreng, Indonesian style.

The Breeze Bar’s stunning cocktail and drinks menu provides the perfect complement to its creative new Tapas with old favourites mixing with snazzy novelties to give guests the very best of whatever they happen to be in the mood for. The Red Crusta is a firm favourite, a special Breeze Bar cocktail made with Vodka, blueberries, brown sugar, crushed ice – and adding a very unique touch of zest, julienne of fresh ginger. Also on the must-try list is the Cocoa ‘n Coffee for the caffeine liqueur lover, a special mix of Baileys Irish Cream, Khalua, Tia Maria, Creme de Cacao Brown and Vanilla Ice Cream. The bar menu also features a special Margarita and Mojito selection including the blue-hued Catalina Margarita, made with Tequila, peach liqueur, Blue Curacao and lime and the Berry Mojito – a blend of mixed berries, mint and rum. For those large gatherings, Breeze Bar offers some of your favourite Margaritas and Martinis by the pitcher, guaranteed to keep the spirits alive throughout the night.

Replete with new delights and old favourites, cheerful breezes and cosy comfort, the Breeze Bar is the place in the city to take in all the sensory delights of a perfect tropical evening.