Barefoot Gallery and Cafe
A Colombo institution on Galle Road, with Barbara Sansoni's bright handwoven textiles, an art gallery and a leafy courtyard cafe under the trees.
On Galle Road in Kollupitiya, Barefoot is a Colombo institution. The company was founded in 1958 by the artist and designer Barbara Sansoni, and it is famous for its handwoven textiles in bold, joyful colours, made by weavers around the country. Today the flagship store spreads across a cluster of old buildings and is one of the most loved places in the city to shop, eat and look at art.
The shop is a lovely place to browse, with handwoven fabrics, clothing, homeware, toys and a well stocked bookshop with plenty of titles on Sri Lankan history, food and culture. It is a great place to find gifts that are genuinely made in Sri Lanka.
Behind the shop is the Barefoot Gallery, which shows work by Sri Lankan artists and photographers in changing exhibitions, and a leafy courtyard cafe under big old trees. The cafe is relaxed and shady, with tables on the paving and fairy lights in the evening, and it serves good coffee, fresh juices and light meals. It is also home to a popular weekly pub quiz and occasional live music.
Barefoot makes a perfect break from the heat and traffic of Galle Road. It is easy to combine with a walk along Galle Face, a short tuk tuk ride north, or with other shopping stops in Kollupitiya. Weekday lunchtimes can be busy with office workers, so come a little earlier or later for a quieter table.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free to enter. Shop and cafe prices vary.
- Opening hours: Shop and cafe open daily, roughly morning to evening. Check current hours, as they change on public holidays.
- Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
- Best time: Late morning or late afternoon, outside the weekday lunch rush
How to get there
On Galle Road in Kollupitiya (Colombo 3), a short tuk tuk ride south of Galle Face Green.