Step into the storied ambiance of historic dodgy bars nestled within the iconic Colombo Fort. Each venue offers a taste of local liquor paired with authentic Sri Lankan finger food, adding a flavorful dimension to your evening. Indulge in spicy Sri Lankan snacks that perfectly complement your drink, adding a delightful kick to your experience. Whether you're a seasoned alcohol aficionado or simply seeking a relaxed evening of exploration, this tour promises an unforgettable experience through the eyes of a local.
Out at sunset: the 5:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:52 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
One of the bars that we will be visiting on this experience is located in the heart of busy Pettah Market so its going to be one heck of an experience to be able to walk through these streets and navigate your way with me when a little bit tipsy!
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Dodgy Bar Tour in Colombo lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $60 per person for this Colombo experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, starting at 5:30 PM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Lets all meet up at the entrance of Ceylon Curry Club Restaurant side. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 9 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Soulful Sri Lanka.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
This tour was better than I expected. Ryan was super friendly and knowledgeable about Colombo and Sri Lanka. He even gave me advice about my upcoming itinerary. The bars we went to were fun and interesting. Great introduction to the city. I travel a lot and go on similar tours often — this was one of the best.
I travelled in Sri Lanka for two weeks in March with this company and it was the best tour experience I’ve had so far. Dilshan is very friendly, very helpful, and you can see that he really loves his job. He helped me with everything and made my trip very comfortable from beginning to end. Thanks to him, I saw Sri Lanka from a very different perspective. Thank you for everything, I highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re really happy to hear you had such a great experience and got to see a different side of Sri Lanka :)
I would definitely rate this a awesome 5 star tour. Had the pleasure of meeting a young entrepreneur Dilshan, who is so friendly. He took us to 2 hidden gems in Colombo which were absolutely amazing. We had nice cold beers at a tavern, a hidden gem in a church. Lovely history about that place. The other bar was situated in Pettah where locals meet. We had a great experience there, tasting the local arrack with ginger beer, absolutely amazing combination served with local bar bites. This is the type of tour that we enjoy and definitely a must if you are in Colombo. Dilshan will take good care of you and is very responsive when it comes to any questions that you may have via WhatsApp. Thank you Dilshan for organizing this tour for us.
Thank you for your review! We’re really glad you enjoyed the Dodgy Bar Tour and got to experience a different side of Colombo. Looking forward to welcoming you back and planning more unique experiences for you through Soulful Sri Lanka! :)
My partner and I signed up for the DODGY BAR tour early in November; and it turned out to be the most interesting 90 minutes of a Colombo evening. What Dilshan manages to conjure up even for jaded travelers like us are spaces that you may have passed by on your walks around the city a million times, but never crossed the threshold as you always understood them as part of an 'mens only club' __for the demographic that is signing up for the Dodgy Bar yours (USD 70 per person) these are points on a city's maps that they may have read in books about South India and Sri Lanka but today you are an insider for a couple of minutes. Dilshan is a treasure trove for a young person's take about his beautiful city and its changing history. During the course of his walks he has seen gentrification chomping at his heels__the four bars are now three. So I would recommend you sign up for these walks before the city gobbles up these toddy establishments!! Your contribution covers bar snacks at the end of your walk and a choice of toddy/beer/aerated drinks at the three establishments. Frankly while you may hear about the walk while reading about Colombo's bars; this is more of a beautiful walk through the city in the late evening and seeing a part of the CBD you may never have registered.
Had a brilliant night out with the Dodgy Bar Tour crew. It was excellent to step off the beaten track and get a more textured view of life and history in Sri Lanka. A highlight of my trip!
The Dodgy Bar Tour was a highlight of our time in Sri Lanka - so much so that we basically asked Dilshan to help us plan the rest of our trip! There are lots of tours and operators in Sri Lanka that funnel tourists into the same small set of places. Soulful Sri Lanka is doing something very cool and different - we went with them to some of the country's better-known destinations but they helped us do it in a way that beat crowds and created a way more interesting experience. If I were planning a trip to Sri Lanka today, I'd engage them at the very beginning of the process, give them a list of interests, and put yourself in their hands. Seriously.
Dilshan took us on a tour of bars that showcase the other side of Colombo from the high rise hotels. It was great to see these places that we would never have even known existed without him showing us. Highly recommend it! He was also a fabulous guide to the city and the country, with lots of suggestions for things to do and see. I am sure that a tour of the country organised by Soulful would be brilliant, based on his contacts as well as his knowledge and passion for Sri Lanka. Thank you Dilshan!
Terrific bunch of people who really looked after us, were very well organised, friendly and extremely helpful. Went over and above what you would expect.
Having a friend visiting from the US, I was looking for something fun to do in Colombo and stumbled upon the Dodgy Bar Tour. Intrigued, I decided to give it a try and invited some friends to join us. It turned out to be an amazing experience, thanks to Dilshan. His unmatched knowledge and passion made the night truly memorable. Thank you, Dilshan,
Hi Minalee, Thanks so much for the lovely review. Im glad you had a great time with your friends. We look forward to showing you around the country more with unique experiences. Best Regards, Dilshan
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgy Bar Tour in Colombo | 2 hours | 4.9 (9) | $60 | |
 Almost Unlimited Food N Drink Colombo Dodgy Bar Crawl | 4–5 hours | — | $113 | View |
 Behind Bars in Colombo | 2h 30min | — | $75 | View |
 Colombo Sri Lankan Street Food Tasting on Rooftop Bar | 2h 30min | — | $59 | View |
 Colombo Dodgy Bar Tour Discover Local Spirits and Snacks | 4 hours | 5.0 (2) | $45 | View |
 Dodgy Bar Walking Tour in Colombo | 4 hours | 5.0 (1) | $150 | View |
 Transfer between Colombo Airport (CMB) and Bar Reef Resort, Kalpitiya | 3 hours | — | $62 | View |