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Café 1 · Nawala — the original

Coffee, blossoms, and a little chaos.

Walk in for a cup. Stay for the cherry tree, the shop you did not plan to enter, and a room that refuses to match. Named for Rex de Silva’s pocket cartoon — kept going by his family.

Find a café See what’s on
The blossom tree in the main room at Café 1, Nawala
The blossom tree over the sofas

Origin

Born from a pocket cartoon.

For decades, Sri Lankans opened the morning paper and found Ibson in the corner — a tiny cartoon by editor Rex de Silva. The first café opened in Nawala in 2022: the coffee Rex liked, a room the grandsons could grow up in, and a place where play never quite ended.

My wife and I kept building them for a simpler reason. We wanted to create jobs in Sri Lanka, and a community for the younger generation — somewhere to work, to stay, and to belong.

Some things match. Some absolutely don’t. That mismatch is the point.

The main café

Café 1, Nawala.

Daytime seating at Café 1
The terrace at Café 1
Sandwiches and plates in the Café 1 case
The hot case at Café 1

Visit

Find your Ibson's.

Different spots. Different menus. Same Ibson's love. Free Starlink Wi-Fi at every café. Tax is included. A 10% service charge applies, plus 5% on takeaway.

Illustrated map of every Ibson's. Tap a café to open its card.

  • Nawala

    Café 1

    The main room, and the original. Cherry blossoms, the full menu, and DJ Sundays.

    51 Narahenpita Road, Nawala

    Sun–Wed 7:00–10:30 · Thu–Sat until midnight

    • Red velvet latteRs 1,050
    • KitKat hot cocoafrom Rs 800
    • Chocolate waffleRs 2,840
    • Ibson’s big breakfastRs 1,890
    • Ibson’s cheesecakeRs 690
    011 218 6756 Directions Full menu Order now

  • Colombo 02

    Café 2.0

    The bigger room on Ramanayake Mawatha — characters, shop, and room for a crowd.

    57 W A D Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 00200

    Sun–Wed 7:00–10:30 · Thu–Sat until midnight

    • French baguette sandwichRs 1,980
    • Mexican chicken wrapRs 1,100
    • Club sandwichRs 870
    • Tuna sandwichRs 530
    • Caramel macchiatofrom Rs 840
    011 213 7749 Directions Full menu Order now

  • City of Dreams

    Brew Box

    A tighter kiosk at The Shoppes. Coffee, fresh eats, then back to the day.

    The Shoppes at City of Dreams, K03, Level 08, 15 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200

    Daily 10:00–10:00

    • Double chocolate cloud cakeRs 950
    • Iced caramel macchiatoRs 950
    • Sri Lankan milk teaRs 550
    • Hot chocolateRs 1,050
    • Nutella tres lechesRs 950
    074 413 5342 Directions Full menu

  • Galle

    Café 3.0

    Sea Street, the blossom tree, movie shelves, and free Starlink.

    No. 77, Sea Street, Galle

    Daily 7:30–10:30

    • Nutella cloud cakeRs 1,020
    • Double chocolate cloud cakeRs 950
    • Eggs benedictRs 1,450
    • Not Philly chicken toastyRs 650
    • Sticky toffee puddingRs 480
    077 442 5847 Directions Full menu

  • Unawatuna

    Brews & Bites

    Dewale Junction. Coffee and plates with the coast a short walk away.

    188/2 Dewale Junction, Unawatuna

    Daily 10:00–10:00

    • Iced MiloOn now
    • Tandoori chicken puffRs 670
    • Hummus sandwichRs 350
    • Devilled chicken toastyRs 550
    • French friesRs 840
    077 267 3200 Directions Full menu

  • Colombo 02

    Courtyard

    The wooden garden room. Tacos, fried rice, and a longer sit.

    35 W A D Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 00200

    Sun–Wed 7:00–10:30 · Thu–Sat until midnight

    • Garlic lime chicken tacos (2)Rs 560
    • Crumb fried prawn tacos (2)Rs 580
    • Deviled mushroom tacos (2)Rs 380
    • Courtyard breakfast plateRs 1,890
    • Tiramisu latteRs 1,700
    011 230 0229 Directions Full menu Order now

  • November 2026 · Hikkaduwa

    Cabana Café

    Still under construction among the palms. Opening November 2026 in Hikkaduwa.

    Hikkaduwa

    Opening November 2026

    Menu arrives with the opening.

    011 218 6756 On the map

Select a café to view its Google Maps pin and directions.

Specials

On the counter this week.

White chocolate cloud cakes in a kitchen tub

Café 3.0 · Galle

Cloud cake

The signature dessert. A white-chocolate cloud over sponge. Nutella cloud cake is Rs 1,020. Double chocolate is Rs 950.

Iced Milo in a Brews and Bites cup

Brews & Bites · Unawatuna

Iced Milo

On now at Dewale Junction. A cold Milo over ice, in the Brews & Bites cup.

A pizza on the table, with the mask behind it
A chocolate bar cake with nuts
Sesame-crusted fried bites with a flower
Latte with a leaf in the foam
Avocado toast with poached eggs
A bear cup under the blossoms

Take something home

The shop you did not plan to enter.

You came for a cup. The hat, the belly badge, and one small green turtle had already decided you were leaving with company.

  • The sock wall
  • Plush lined up on the shop shelves
  • A pile of green turtle plush
  • A wall of pop-culture pins
  • Charms and small gifts
  • Sticker packs under the blossom logo
  • Keychains above a wall of toy cars
  • Rows of plush along the shop wall

Ibson's Socks

Comfy. Funky. You.

Socks that make every step cooler.

Made to feel good. Made to last. Made for you. Hearts, moons, aliens, trees — a sock for the step you did not plan.

  • 75% cotton
  • 20% nylon
  • 5% spandex
The wall of colorful Ibson's socks

The Ibson plush.

He is the mascot. He is also the star tourist — the only guest who never asks for the bill and still takes the best seat.

The hat does not come off. The belly badge is not a suggestion. People pose with him, then he poses in the suitcase. He has seen more cafés from a carry-on than most people see on purpose. The green turtle is just the opening act. You came for coffee. He had already packed.

  • The Ibson plush, hat on, badge out
  • The hat that does not come off
  • The plush, mid tourist nap
  • The café mark on his belly
  • The green turtles, his opening act

From pixels to prints

Print the picture. Pick it up with the coffee.

Ibson's Ink lives at Café 1, Nawala. A photo, a bridal gift, a birthday — or a roll that behaves like an old disposable. Shoot today. See them tomorrow. No previews, no saving, no retakes.

Weekday pickup at the counter, about 30–35 minutes. Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM. Weekend orders wait until Monday. Collect only when tracking says ready.

  • Photo prints

    Bring the picture. Leave with the print.

  • Bridal & birthday

    Personalized gifts, picked up at the café.

  • A locked roll

    Photos stay hidden until tomorrow. Then you choose.

ibsonsink.com Track an order 011 217 9134

The other hat

The flavor got to the chefs.

We gave the chefs a kitchen. Then we gave them big hats. Then things got weird.

Now they’re back there adding things nobody asked for, tasting everything twice, arguing over sauces, and saying things like, “Trust me.” We stopped asking questions.

Somewhere between the pan and your plate, something fun always happens.

  • Was it necessary? Probably not.
  • Does it taste better? Absolutely.
  • Was that little extra part of the recipe? The chef refuses to comment.

Eat first. Ask questions later.

Big hats. Bigger flavor. Very Ibson’s.

The room

The baristas have opinions. The staff have a plan.

A heart drawn in latte foam

Baristas

They know your coffee. They know your name.

They probably know you said, “This is my last coffee today.” It wasn’t.

They’ll put a heart in the foam, hand it over like nothing happened, and somehow remember your order from three Tuesdays ago. Ask for “the usual” and it’s already being made. Ask for decaf and… well, they’ll try not to judge you.

Coffee is serious. The baristas are not.

A tall foam drink in front of the cake case

Staff

You came in for a coffee. Cute.

They found you a seat under the flowers, handed you a menu, showed you something you definitely didn’t need, and somehow there’s now a turtle, a pair of funky socks, or a blind box involved.

You said, “I’ll only be ten minutes.” That was two hours ago.

They’re friendly because that’s the job. Getting you to stay for dessert is a competitive sport.

Welcome to Ibson’s. Your quick coffee has been cancelled.

Regulars

What people write after they leave.

Book

Skip the wait.

Tell us the table you want. The café confirms the booking. Groups over ten should call the location directly.

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Contact

Find us in the real world.

Nawala

51 Narahenpita Road, Nawala

Sunday – Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Thursday – Saturday: 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM

+94 11 218 6756

[email protected]

Colombo

57 W A D Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 00200

Sunday – Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Thursday – Saturday: 7:00 AM – 12:00 AM

+94 11 213 7749

[email protected]

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