Il Mare

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Italian Cooking Where the Indian Ocean Sets the Scene

At the southern tip of Sri Lanka, Il Mare occupies one of the more striking dining positions on the island — an open-air, oceanfront restaurant within the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, where the horizon is uninterrupted and the sea breeze is part of the experience. The setting is elegant without being stiff, the kind of place where a long lunch drifts naturally into a candlelit dinner.

What's on the Plate

The kitchen anchors itself in authentic Italian technique while drawing on what the surrounding coastline offers. The menu highlights make the approach clear: Tartare di Tonno features tuna sourced from nearby Mirissa, marinated and served raw with precision; Lasagne Classica al Ragout di Manzo is house-made, layered with beef ragout, mozzarella, and tomatoes — the kind of dish that signals a kitchen unafraid of the classics; and Galetto, a Tuscan-marinated baby chicken served with rocket leaves, rounds out a menu that moves comfortably between the Italian coastline and the Sri Lankan one.

Fresh catch of the day, prepared with Italian methods, anchors the seafood side of the menu and changes with what arrives from local waters.

The Wine List

Il Mare's wine program earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2024 — meaningful recognition for a restaurant this far from the traditional fine-dining circuits of Europe. The curated selection of world-class wines is designed to move alongside the Italian cuisine, whether you're sitting down for a midday meal or staying through the sunset happy hour.

Atmosphere and Occasion

Lunch runs through the early afternoon, while dinner — on selected evenings — stretches from the last of the daylight into the night. The open-air setting means the ocean is always present: the sound of it, the light off it, the salt in the air. It's a room that earns its views rather than simply borrowing them.