Skinny Tom’s Deli Serves Brunch Bottled Sunshine And The Cool Side Of Galle Fort
- Amanda Dyer
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
Updated: 17 hours ago
There’s something unmistakably easy about a morning at Skinny Toms Deli. Maybe it’s the way the sunlight hits the courtyard tables, or the playlist humming somewhere between soul and funk. Maybe it’s the menu, full of familiar favourites done exceptionally well. Or maybe it’s just that rare quality of a place that knows exactly what it is, and leans in.
Located just outside the walls of Galle Fort, Skinny Toms has become a go to ritual for locals, expats, surfers, and design lovers who know where to find the good stuff. It’s not a secret, but it’s not trying to be a scene either.
It’s what happens when the right crowd and the right coffee find each other naturally.
Founded by Tom and Gaya, the café was built on the idea that brunch shouldn’t be boring. That you can take global café culture, add Sri Lankan ingredients, and still keep it cool, local, and fuss free. The result is a space that feels part Bondi, part Berlin, but wholly rooted in the south of Sri Lanka.
The menu leans into brunch staples with a twist - think avocado toast with local lime and pickled onion, shakshuka served with house baked bread, mango pancakes stacked with coconut cream, and one of the best full English breakfasts in the country. The coffee is done properly. No burnt beans or lazy lattes here. Their baristas know their craft, and the beans are locally roasted I'm told.
The crowd? Equal parts creative expats, young Galle families, Colombo weekenders, and a few lucky tourists who wander in and wonder why no one told them about this place sooner. Everyone seems to linger just a little longer than planned. A second coffee. A cheeky mimosa. An almond croissant that probably wasn’t part of the original plan.
And then there’s the aesthetic - minimal but warm, all blond wood, concrete textures, custom tiles, and sun soaked nooks. The details speak volumes. There are plants that actually thrive. Branded merch that people want to wear. Even the iced drinks arrive with a certain confidence.
It’s the kind of place where someone will stop mid meal to ask what playlist is on, or where the chair came from.
Skinny Toms is also one of the most photogenic cafés in Sri Lanka, and yes, the Instagram crowd knows it. But this is not just a backdrop café. The food is genuinely good. The service is upbeat without being over the top. And the vibe - well, it’s hard to manufacture this kind of authenticity.
What keeps it grounded is the fact that it doesn’t try too hard. There’s no gimmick. No over-branding. Just a consistently great experience served daily until 3 pm, with the occasional supper club or pop up dinner that brings the local creative crowd together for something a bit different.
In a Galle that is fast filling with lookalike cafés and airbrushed concepts, Skinny Toms feels lived in and loved. It’s the kind of place you recommend to people you actually like. The kind of café that becomes part of your stay, rather than a stop along the way.
And that, perhaps, is its real charm.
Founder Spotlight | Tom and Gaya
The magic behind Skinny Toms is as much about the people as it is about the place. Tom, a trained chef with a background in European kitchens, and Gaya, a design and hospitality maven with Sri Lankan roots, are the couple behind the deli’s effortless charm.
What started as a passion project during their time living between London and Colombo turned into something far more intentional.
“We wanted to build the kind of café we missed when we were travelling,” Gaya explains.
“A space that felt thoughtful but not precious. Where the food was honest and the service warm.”
Their combined eye for detail is evident in everything from the custom ceramics to the playlists. Tom’s commitment to flavour and technique, paired with Gaya’s understanding of space, culture, and community, has made Skinny Toms more than just a brunch spot. It’s a lifestyle anchor.
And in a region where hospitality can often feel formulaic, the duo’s vision stands out for its heart, consistency, and creative spirit.
Planning your Galle weekend?
Our Sri Lanka Living Concierge team can line up your brunch at Skinny Toms, plus hidden shops, surf breaks, and slow strolls through the Fort’s best kept secrets. Click here to build your itinerary.
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