Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport won't win any awards for a sprawling dining scene, but it does a genuinely decent job of sending you off with a taste of Sri Lanka on your lips. The departures area — particularly once you clear immigration — holds the most useful options, including a branch of the well-regarded Serendib restaurant, where you can sit down to a proper rice and curry before a long-haul flight. Don't underestimate how comforting that can be at six in the morning.

For something quicker, the food court near the central gate cluster serves short eats — those irresistible Sri Lankan snacks like isso vadai (prawn fritters), cutlets, and flaky rolls stuffed with spiced fish or beef. A cup of thick, milky Ceylon tea alongside a plate of short eats is arguably the most honest airport meal you'll find anywhere in South Asia. Prices are fair by airport standards, and the quality holds up surprisingly well. If you're travelling with children or a fussy eater, there are also familiar international fast-food options close by.

One thing worth noting: the airside dining options are more limited than you might hope for a major international gateway, so if you have a long layover, consider eating before you go through security, where a wider range of casual cafés and small restaurants lines the departures hall. Duty-free shops also stock locally made snacks, spiced cashews, and vacuum-packed hoppers that travel well and make excellent gifts — or a private inflight snack you don't have to share with anyone.