Sunset dinner on the beach in Dikwella, near Hiriketiya

On the south coast of Sri Lanka the sun sets between about 17:45 and 18:30 all year, so the evening starts early. At Ohana on Turtle Beach it starts at 16:00 on a sunbed and ends at a candlelit table on the sand, and the kitchen serves until 21:00.

What time is sunset in Dikwella?

Dikwella is close to the equator, so the hour hardly moves through the year:

• October to December: about 17:45 to 18:00. The earliest sunsets are in the middle of November.
• January: about 18:05 to 18:15.
• February to May: about 18:15 to 18:20.
• June to August: about 18:15 to 18:30. The latest sunsets are in July.
• September: about 18:00 to 18:15.

Two things follow. The soft light begins around 17:00, and it is dark some twenty minutes after the sun is gone. The tropics do not do long twilights. If you arrive at 18:00 you have missed it. From our beach the sun goes down over the sea. The very last moment, when it touches the water, is hidden, but most of the sunset is in view, and the colours of the sky are beautiful.

How does the evening go at Ohana?

Come at four. The evening has an order, and nobody hurries you through it.

• 16:00, the sunbed. The heat is going out of the day. A swim, a book, the bay turning gold.
• The aperitivo. A mocktail each, and something to nibble. Papadam Nachos, 2,100 LKR, are broken into big shards for hummus, pineapple salsa and crushed avocado. A Baja Fish Taco, 1,800 LKR, is spiced mahi mahi in a warm tortilla, and it is priced per taco.
• Sunset. The sky does its work. The two swings under the palms are a good place to watch from.
• Your table. In the first row on the sand, with oil lamps and candles.
• The fish. Red Snapper for Two, 15,900 LKR. A whole red snapper of about a kilo, or two smaller ones, cooked on the bone with garlic and thyme. Around it: a big gotukola salad, fries, rice, a coconut curry gravy, our sauces and a basket of papadam.
• Something sweet. Grilled Pineapple, 1,700 LKR, in cinnamon sugar with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. One is enough for two.

All of this also comes as one evening, the Sunset & Dinner pass: two sunbeds from 16:00, the aperitivo, the table in the first row, the snapper, the pineapple, filtered water and soft music. What it holds and how to ask for it is on Sunset & Dinner, beside our other passes.

Is it for couples or for families?

Both, and the table changes with you.

For two. The first row is by the water. There is candlelight, the sound of the bay and a fish to share with your hands. It is a simple kind of romantic, without a violin.

For a family or friends. We build the evening around the Ohana Seafood Platter, 18,900 LKR, for two or three: a whole fish of the day off the grill, shrimps marinated with herbs, grilled calamari, the salad, fries, rice, the curry gravy, our sauces and papadam. When the boats bring in something more, it joins the platter. An Iced Tea Jug, 3,600 LKR, is one litre with four tall glasses.

Food at Ohana is not spicy unless the dish says so. Children have the sand and two swings under the palms while the fish is on the grill.

On request, when there are enough people, we light a bonfire on the sand as the sun goes down, any evening. And with some luck, on some evenings, turtle hatchlings are released to the sea at Ohana or beside it, between 17:00 and 19:00, with our lights turned off for them. That cannot be promised or booked. The story is in our article on hatchlings.

There is no alcohol. What do you drink?

We serve no alcohol, and the drinks list is built so that you do not miss it.

• Karapincha Mojito, 2,200 LKR. Curry leaf takes the place of mint, with lime, our curry leaf syrup and local orange.
• Spicy Guava, 2,400 LKR. Guava, fresh ginger, lime and a sliver of green chilli. Sweet first, then a slow heat.
• Pinepash, 2,200 LKR. Pineapple and passion fruit with lime, mint and ginger syrup.
• Twilight Fizz, 1,500 LKR. Butterfly pea blue, turned violet by a squeeze of lime, with a little of our Ceylon cinnamon tea. It is the colour of the sky just after sunset.
• After Sun, 1,700 LKR. Cucumber, king coconut water and mint over coconut ice cubes.
• Watermelon Lemonade, 1,900 LKR. Pink, fizzy, with basil seeds.

Filtered water is on the house. Coffee is served until 18:00, so an espresso after dinner needs to be an espresso before it.

How do you reserve?

You can simply come: the restaurant is open to everyone until 21:00. For the first row, or for the whole evening as a pass, write to us on WhatsApp, +94 76 016 4768, or book a table on our booking page.

Reserve by noon when you can, so the fish is chosen for you and your table is ready when you arrive. The way to ask is on Sunset & Dinner.

Good to know

• Sunset is between about 17:45 and 18:30 all year. Come at 16:00.
• Lunch and dinner are served from 11:00 to 21:00. Prices are in LKR, plus a 10% service charge.
• No alcohol is served. There are mocktails, iced teas and king coconut water.
• Reserve by noon when you can, so the fish is chosen for you.
• We are at Turtle Beach, Dikwella, less than five minutes by road from Hiriketiya.