Honest and attentive service. Staff is well trained and one of the owners, Paolo, was running the front end - very welcoming. A great selection of beverages and food options. Really enjoyed the spaghetti with clams and Cuttlefish. It was quite a treat. Perfectly made and cooked pasta! (I opted to not have the Tuna that was originally served with it) Well prepared menu in that every dish has a wine pairing. Wines are significantly more expensive than in the city. A glass often equates to the cost of a bottle at retail. However the vintages are generally very good and it's good to spoil yourself once in a while 😊. Home made limoncello was amazing with our desert. We had the mint granita with coconut mousse and passionfruit sorbet, as well as a to DIE FOR chocolate flourless orange cake with a layer of nutty nougat, marzipan, orange gel, a deep thick rich cocco mousse on top, accompanied by a light refreshing orange ice cream. All in all, desert put it over the top for us. Definitely will be going back here again!

Excellent wine selection and delicious Italian!! The service is thoughtful and attentive and the ambiance is cozy yet elegant. A really nice restaurant when you need a break from curry or looking for a lovely date night.

TL;DR: incredibly high quality ingredients, thoughtful execution of flavour, perfectly sized portions, welcoming staff and owners + a beautiful space. If you are willing to spend on a delicious, authentically Italian experience in Galle, then Aqua Forte is for you. **Get the clam pasta.** We went into Aqua Forte, based off of previous reviews. The trending feedback we saw was “overpriced and small portions but good food”. We were craving Italian and saw that the menu was better than other restaurants in the area - so took the plunge. Between 6 of us we ordered 2 scallop entrees, mushroom carpaccio and octopus carpaccio to start. Alongside, we had multiple Aperol Spritz, Prosecco and beer. Each dish on the menu comes with a wine pairing and EACH dish was cooked and prepared exceptionally well. The only gripe I have is that the mushrooms in the mushroom carpaccio were low quality and flavoured by the toppings (the pecorino used was fantastic). Would have been nicer if a higher quality mushroom was used or if the mushrooms were seasoned to enhance the dish. The mushroom carpaccio was still good, just calling out the opportunity for improvement here. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and combined with the Parmesan crisp had excellent textural contrast to accompany the flavour it provided. The octopus carpaccio was refreshing and hit the spot for our group. Of the 3 starters though, the scallops stood out the most. For the mains we ordered the steak, rack of lamb, lobster pasta, braised beef ravioli, clam pasta and eggplant lasagna. Each dish was fantastic. The steak and lamb were cooked a perfect medium rare, the eggplant was a fantastic veg dish that did not leave us feeling like anything was missing and both the lobster pasta and braised beef ravioli were perfectly Al dente, meeting the brief. The star of the show however, was the clam pasta. I am not a particular fan of clams and it wasn’t our first choice. However, the emulsified sauce, perfectly cooked clam meat and *literally* best pasta noodle we have ever had - came together in the best pasta dish many of us have had in YEARS. After speaking to chef Roberto and co-owner Paolo they clarified that ALL seafood dishes are cooked in the broth of the seafood itself as an emulsion to intensify the flavour. It was clear to see as he explained the incredible skill and passion they have for Italian food. Closing with the DELECTABLE passion fruit panna cotta and tiramisu, all we can say is BRAVO Aqua Forte. From the high quality glassware, plates, seating and room design to the high quality ingredients in every dish this was worth every dollar spent. We will be visiting you again, and look forward to eating at your sister restaurants!

This restaurant is one of the most lovely places of Galle. I’m sure you will see it soon. The cook Roberto is very creative: thanks to him, we always taste a lot of different meat, because the restaurant menu changes weekly. The meat choice depends on the ingredients availability, because he assures he serves only fresh dishes. This restaurant isn’t good only to taste new things; it’s also a comfortable place where you can hang out quietly with your friends. The staff is really kind with customers: they do their best for you to have a great experience. I surely recommend this restaurant, because the quality is the best and the prices are low. You can eat delicious dishes. Roberto and his team are fabulous.. Go there and eat, eat, eat.

"Top notch italian dining - best meal of our trip" We were shocked to find a restaurant of this quality in Sri Lanka. The food was equivalent or better than the high end dining we are used to in northern italy. Super high quality ingredients, exceptional cooking technique, and a wine list to match any high end restaurant in Milan or Piedmonte. The restaurant is run by two italians who opened it quite recently. They run an excellent operation with staff trained to high end european standards as far as both the food and wine service is concerned. Every dish we had was exceptional, to the point where we came back the next day to have lunch and try more dishes off the menu. The pasta with ragu was delicious, I finished all of it which I normally never do, carpaccio fantastic and the scallops perfectly cooked. We also had the octopus which was grilled and exploding with flavor, as well as perfectly medium rare sous vide lamb which was fantastically seasoned and spiced. I would come back here again and again. I really wish the best of luck to these restaurant owners to always have a full house because out of any restaurant in Sri Lanka they absolutely deserve it!

Phenomenal world class dinning experience tucked in the heart of old town Galle! 7 course modern, inspired Italian tasting menu, impeccable wine pairings, and a beautifully designed setting. What a surprise - if you love food, go here. Not cheap, but entirely reasonable and very worth the splurge for the quality and attention to fine details.

Very authentic Italian cuisine. We shared three entrees and they were all delicious. The atmosphere was very upscale and smart. The service was impeccable. No AC like most of Galle Fort, but the ceiling fans kept it cool enough. Highly recommend.

We had a splendid evening at Aqua fort restaurant which is situated in the heart of Galle fort. All the staffs and the chef are very welcoming. Starting from helping us to choose dishes from the menu to preparing a vegitable puree(which was not on the menu) for my infant they did an outstanding job. Seating, music and ambience are ++ if you are into romantic dinner. It's definitely a 5* kinda authentic Italian experience. Even though the dishes falls under a bit pricey category, I am sure you won't regret due the experience you get. Highly recommend.

This restaurant is something very special. Everything has been carefully selected - from the chairs & artwork; to the cutlery, glassware & napkins; to the food and drinks - to ensure an outstanding fine dining experience. The staff are flawless. The cheff incredibly talented. The food is perfect. Immaculately presented, perfectly portioned & incredibly tasty. This restaurant is well worth the visit for those seeking authentic Italian cuisine, in a fine dining restaurant.

The best Italian food we have ever eaten. Absolutely amazing. The staff are fantastic , the setting is beautiful & the atmosphere was wonderful . The food was outstanding!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing experience, once again! My husband and I are quite obsessed with this place, because each time is a culinary feast! Yesterday again, it didn't disappoint. The dishes were paired with the wines, and it was an incredible experience. Being Italian it's really nice to be able to eat in a place that feels like home. Congrats, this is an incredible place!

The best italian restaurant in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka! We we were craving pasta for the longest time and when we came across Aqua forte we had to try it. We went for the Valentine days special and had the 7 course tasting menu so we could enjoy everything from the menu. Everything was so delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend ordering the Tiramisu!

Great food and impeccable service. The Chef is also the co-owner is Italian. All round great ambiance.

Authentic and most delicious. Thank you

Very tasty Italian food in a chic atmosphere with very attentive waiters. We came for a lunch after browsing through Galle Fort and felt and craved for a relaxing place and good food. And we where very pleased with our choice. Priced a bit more than other places but therefore great quality value and Italian authenticity !

Absolutely amazing Italian restaurant that redefines a cozy little restaurant in the middle of Sri Lanka and Galle. This restaurant is worth a visit no matter where you are on this island. Super friendly owners and wait staff. Went for an early snack/coffee break before the dinner rush and while we were the only party in the restaurant, it was worth every penny. The coffee was fantastic and the iced mocha was served in a tall glass that was extremely impressive and a nice departure from the typical coffee options nearby. Also shared a tiramisu cake that was fantastic. Light fluffy and perfectly constructed but not too sweet, a great pairing for the coffee. Was tipped off to this restaurant by a nearby shop owner but it was a little disappointing to not know about this place earlier. Would have loved to have a full dinner here.

AQUA Forte? The BEST fine dining restaurant I've ever been to. Its ambience, service and commitment to the cuisine are truly unparalleled. The owners have diligently selected wines to pair with almost every dish that is served, and they've done it well. A little heavy on the pockets, but worth it all the same. I'd suggest going there if you're in the need for food that will blow your mind or an occasion to celebrate.

We travelled to Galle to see the Dutch fort, but we also wanted to have ‘some’ lunch. We landed here and had the best lunch one could imagine. One of the chefs is from Italy, with some of the best Italian food I’ve had for long! They also served some really good wines!

The best italian food in Sri Lanka

True Italian gem. Impeccable service. Fantastic food and wine selection. Cozy ambience. Unique Italian experience in the heart of Galle Fort. We’ll be back!

Wow, I have been to Italy and this restaurant is really respectful of the Italian authenticity in both the products and recipes. Highly recommended!

Pretentious Nonsense Honestly ! Great experience if you live with the fairies. But If your after sound advice, listen to the Russian reviews posted, as only they seem to speak gospel truth these days. After a fine dinning experience, wait till you visit Italy, or a major City, Not Galle that’s for sure. My personal advice! Don’t bother wasting your time especially if your conversed in honest food, which Italians are famous for. The one word that comes to mind when summarising our experience - “Hoodwinked” Maybe their Pizza place next door might be a better gamble. Great crockery and decor though.

The ambience is so good but that is only good thing for this restaurant. Price is not expensive compare to other fine dining restaurant in asia. But the tase is totally terrible. I order squid ink and taste is really really weird. The portion is also very small. I cant belive that it has very high rating.

An amazing dining experience. Food, service and ambiance was excellent. The squid pasta was so unique with such excellent flavors. Definitely a go back!

Fantastic evening. Great experience. Attentive staff. Delicious food. Cool Chef duo! Recommended!

Omg, the food is simply exquisite, we tried a special degustation menu and it was out of this world, I would say this is the best Italian on our island and if you want authentic Italian food this is the place to go. Chef Roberto, well done for bringing Italian cuisine to Sri Lanka.🙏

Had an amazing 6 course lunch with my girlfriend here today. The food was worth every rupee, actually outstanding quality for the price. Service was impeccable without being stiff, which I appreciate, very pleasant atmosphere, knowledgeable and correct in every way. Can’t fault them, even if I tried. Wine list was, as far as I can tell by being in Sri Lanka for 7 months, unique for Sri Lanka and great pairings with the dishes. Our favorite dish was the duck risotto. Would go back just for that and the recommended Pinot Nero. Outstanding in every way. Highly recommended restaurant for anybody who would like to have REAL Italian food, or simply just a great meal.

Chef Roberto, Paolo and the whole staff of AQUA Forte was very welcoming and the setting of the restaurant from seating, ambience, music all catered towards quite a lovely evening. The food was exceptional and it was probably the best Italian I've tasted on our shores. Chef Roberto served me a special dish (not on the menu) which was a Paccheri pasta with pork meatballs and a special spice from Italy, spicy on a 3/5 scale but it was perfect. The other dishes served were also delicious and to finish off, home made ice cream and sorbets and tiramisu topped the night off. It's a 5 star dining experience and the price you pay at the end is well worth it. Even if you are reading this review from Colombo, the drive down to Galle Fort for a meal here is worth it. If it's not too crowded, try the tables on the balcony upstairs for a more intimate evening.

Beautiful place, delicious coffe and great desserts. We are very happy for such so beautiful place in Galle Fort.

Superb classy Italian restaurant with authentic taste. friendly staff, best place for an romantic dinner in two.

Best Italian in Sri Lanka 🔥

Favourite place in Galle and I live here. Worth every penny 👋👋👋

Excellent food, probably our best meal in Sri Lanka (tenth visit), excellent service, very good wine menu, very tasty deserts, staff is very professional and friendly

Perfect meal, amazing location, impeccable service and extensive wine and cocktail list. Do not miss this place if you are in Galle area. True Italian place, run by Italians who know how to make you feel like you were in Italy. Just perfect!

Perfect place for a date, high price, beautiful interior, nice service. You totally get a filling that its a restaurant not in Sri Lanka. Overall impression worth the price.

After almost three weeks of a steady Sri Lankan diet, I was delighted to have stumbled upon this gem of an Italian restaurant. The food was simply spectacular. They provided a variety of baked in-house breads which was delicious. Extensive wine list too. The ambiance and lighting were spot on. Well done chaps. I wish you continued success.

Simply amazing! I am a regular customer at Aqua pizza in Battaramulla. The food here in Galle is outstanding. Would love to have Aqua Forte in colombo too!

This Italian dining place is a lovely place, good authentic dishes. Tasty and straight forward.

Pricy but definitely worth it. The staff was a model example for restaurant service standards. The place was clean, well lit with a great atmosphere. There is even an art gallery. The food was fresh, well served and tasteful. We weren't to fond of the carpaccio but perhaps it's a matter of taste. The caprese was spectacular 👌 a must try The bolognese was a real Italian delight, super fresh pasta with a rich sauce Overall, a perfect place for a special event Cost was about 40usd per person

Great place for Italian food, highly recommended!!

Fine dining, and definitely the best I’ve had in Sri Lanka, (or South Asia) in terms of service and quality / definitely not Sri Lankan prices at 140$ per person (with wine pairing), but the selection of wine is so good, I think it was my best glass (ever) - I had to come back for it. I recommend for special nights!

One of the best tasting Italian food ever had. The management is passionate and it shows. Ambience is fantastic. Desserts are too good. Order the tiramisu.

It's a fine dining restaurant. You are greeted by the owner and even the chef will come and ask you if you have any dietary restrictions etc. People usually make a reservation to dine here. But if there's a way they'll still accommodate you. Delicious food. Comfortable atmosphere. Very attentive and professional waiters. The Pana Cotta is highly recommend. So is the octopus dish. Yes, it's pricey. But you definitely get what you pay for.

It’s a lovely restaurant with a nice ambiance but would I go there again? Absolutely not. The fish dish was undercooked and underwhelming, we had to send it back. My seafood pasta had barely any seafood in it. Overall the portion sizes are tiny and you don’t feel satiated after the meal. For the price that you pay, you would think the experience would be otherwise. The fresh bread they served with the olive oil is excellent. The chef does come out to greet the customers which is an added bonus. But that definitely doesn’t make me want me to go back. No complaints about service. If there was one restaurant I would recommend in Galle (not fine dining ) but really tasty seafood , it would be Elita.

A truly creative and inspired menu! My husband and I are both foodies and this was one of the best meals we've had. We went for their tasting menu and wine pairing which was exquisite. The combinations of texture, umami, sweet and spicy notes were wonderful. Every course was special and decadent. The risotto (with earthy cheeses and the surprise of cinnamon and brown sugar sweetness) with the bright, floral white pairing, and the suivi-style lamb (which was utterly melt in your mouth) with the Mantepulsiano wine were just spectacular. All the pastas were cooked just to perfection as was the seafood. Oh and the Moscato and Borolo dessert wines were wonderful - not too sweet, but both very aromatic. Not to miss!

Delicious Italian food, well presented with great wine pairing. Cool atmosphere and efficient service. A bit too expensive for what it is but overall a good experience.

Food, when it came, was really excellent. Beautiful setting. The service was super friendly but didn't match what you'd expect from a meal that would have been pricey in London, let alone in Sri Lanka. Half our drinks never came and things were pretty slow.

Food presentation is great, generally smaller portions. Food is average. I think the taste and the ingredients of dishes are compromised due to the situation in the country right now. For example, less broccoli or less cheese in some dishes compared to the same dish in another Italian restaurant. Great place to have a pleasant dinner with a wine by a side.They have two floors. No parking.

Overall a very good tasting menu & wine pairing experience, let down by the body language of the head chef, visibly disinterested when serving food (no desire to explain the dish) or to thank you when leaving (he was more interested in his phone) - as above; it’s an ‘experience’, everything adds to that, as it ought to be for 340USD in Asia. Despite this, I would recommend, other staff were attentive & chatty.

Absolutely both, Aqua Forte and Aqua Pizza are my favorite Italian Restaurants! You simply can’t get anything better!

After all the disappointing food experience in southern villages, this place is a relief. The food and wine are simply great. We had a wonderful Valentine’s day here. Thank you, Aqua Forte!

The cuisine was authentic but as locals I think there was a slight issue. The price is a bit too high for my liking

Good food, especially carbonara. Tastes like in Italy! Costs around 10-12 usd per dish, typical European prices

Terrible experience, the mahi mahi was spoilt, the white Italian chef was very rude. I think locals are not welcomed here. Terrible experience, not value for money.

This place was fabulous! By far the best authentic Italian restaurant in Sri Lanka. The food was very flavorful and absolutely blew my mind. Presentation was absolutely beautiful. Aqua Forte truly deserves a Michelin star. Great atmosphere, best Italian food, great wine list, and amazing service. Chef Roberto and his business partner was amazing! The staff was lovely and very attentive. What a wonderful experience.

Bad Customer Service! Bad Food! Went here with a group of 17 to be given attitude by the manger and awful food! The Mahi Mahi was completely rotten and it was fed to a small child. When we complained about the food they gave us no care attitude. Will definitely not be visiting here every again!

Decent Italian in the fort.

The building is beautiful and the service was perfect. The owner was super nice. We’ve spent quite some time chatting with him. The steak and its sauce were truly amazing. My wife enjoyed her pasta but it was nothing special. We recommend this place if you want a fine dining experience.

(Translated by Google) Very tasty food. If you are tired of hazel, etc., here you are.) (Original) Очень вкусная кухня. Если устали от кари и т.д., вам сюда.)

Excellent food and service! Highly recommended!

Sophisticated Italian cuisine, a must try while in Galle fort.

after reading so many good reviews, I went for lunch but was disappointed. food was average and for the price paid for, nothing much.

Must try. Exceptional

One of the best places I have ever been. Not expecting to find such an authentic Italian restaurant in the middle of Galle Fort! We started with a perfectly prepared Negroni, followed by home made bread and then a 7 course degustation menu with wine pairing. Everything was absolutely perfect, well prepared and presented. Wines were carefully selected to match and the whole experience was outstanding!

Nice restaurant with beautiful decor. One of the most expensive places in Galle, so we expected a bit better level. Pork was very dry, gnocchi portion was really tiny, however tasty.

(Translated by Google) Expensive and not tasty ((we really counted on this place, as we were tired of local food. We read the reviews and went, which in the end: Ice Ti brought without ice, the average octopus; Recommended tuna carpaccio - beautiful serving, but not tasty; the steak is excellent, but warn that it would be less salted; when they brought tiramisu - it does not look like the one in the picture + sugar creaked on the teeth. When they brought the bill, they mistakenly turned on one extra cocktail (( (Original) Дорого и не вкусно (( очень рассчитывали на это место, так как устали от местной пищи. Начитались отзывов и пошли, что в итоге: Айс Ти принесли без льда, осьминог средний; рекомендуемый карпачо из тунца - красивая подача, но не вкусно; стейк отлично, но предупредите, что бы меньше солили; когда принесли тирамису - он не похож, на тот как на картинке + на зубах скрипел сахар. Когда принесли счёт, по ошибке включили один лишний коктейль ((

(Translated by Google) Who would have thought ... to find a top-class Italian restaurant in the middle of Fort Galle. The ambience alone deserves 5 stars, come in and just feel good and look forward to the food from the excellent ambience. And this is almost "come in Italia", but in Sri Lanka. I had the gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce and nuts as a primo, excellent! and as secondo the pulpo prepared in a wonderful sauce melted on the tongue. The Pinot Grigio served was also of good quality and the Amaro at the end had the necessary herbs. The outstanding service is also noteworthy. And the most beautiful thing was that one of the owners comes from Senigallia, where I lived nearby, Arcevia, for 20 years as a German. Grazie a tutti e ci vediamo prossimo anno. (Original) Wer hätte das gedacht....mitten in Fort Galle ein italienisches Restaurant der Spitzenklasse anzutreffen. Das Ambiente verdient alleine schon 5 Sterne, eintreten und sich einfach wohlfühlen und sich von dem ausgezeichneten Ambiente auf das Essen freuen. Und dieses ist auch fast "come in Italia", aber in Sri Lanka. Habe dort die Gnocchi mit Gorgonzola Sauce und Nüssen als Primo gegessen, ausgezeichnet! und als Secondo den Pulpo in einer herrlichen Sauce zubereitet, zerging auf der Zunge. Der ausgeschenkte Pinot Grigio war auch guter Qualität und der Amaro zum Abschluss hatte die nötigen Kräuter. Zu bemerken ist außerdem der hervorragenden Service. Und das allerschönste war, daß dort einer der Inhaber aus Senigallia kommt, wo ich in der Nähe, Arcevia, 20 Jahre als Deutscher gelebt habe. Grazie a tutti e ci vediamo prossimo anno.

(Translated by Google) Divine place with Italian cuisine. Given that this is Sri Lanka, then you need to put a rating of 10, prices are European)) (Original) Божественное место с Итальянской кухней. Учитывая что это Шри-Ланка то надо ставить оценку 10, цены - европейские))

Slow service, food is expensive for the portion that they give you. Three stars for atmosphere and quality taste.

We had seen the amazing reviews of this place, so were really excited to visit. Unfortunately it was a bit of a let down. Our food was not hot enough and was very bland. Saved by a fantastic bread basket and a beautiful location.

Superb! As a lover of all things Italian I was amazed to stumble across a small slice of the Mediterranean in Galle Fort. The decor of the building, selection of table settings right through to the exquisite food I can't find fault with anything. A truly exquisite evening. Grazie mille!!

Fabulous ambiance great food good service. Best Italian cuisine in Galle fort and beyond

Friendly staff. Their desserts were great! But our Sri Lankan taste buds were not fully satisfied. Small portion size. Relatively overpriced. Mains LKR 2500++ (Beef steak almost LKR 6000, but delicious! Worth trying!) Desserts LKR 1500++

Amazing food, atmosphere, and service! It's a must see.

Definitely replaced the number one spot in my favorite places to eat in Galle. The food was phenomenal. The ambiance was perfect. Together everything resulted in an authentic italian dining experience.