Layard’s Wharf, a melting pot of global cuisine
Something for everyone: Many different offerings. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
Nestled within the expansive Havelock City Mall is Layard’s Wharf, born out of a vision to create a market-style food court that celebrates diverse flavours, all set within a context deeply rooted in the history of its location. The mall is situated on the grounds of the former Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving Mills adjacent to the Wellawatte Canal, built by Briton C. P. Layard in 1872, with the locale embodying a legacy of cultural convergence and industrial growth, inspiring Layard’s Wharf to serve as a melting pot of global cuisines.
This latest culinary venture by Food Studio (Pvt) Ltd., follows the success of predecessors at Colombo City Centre and One Galle Face. Noted co-founder and CEO Nadeem Rajabdeen, “Layard’s Wharf transcends the conventional notion of a food court.”
Layard’s Wharf consists of six different sections: a coffee shop and patisserie that combines international standards with classic local pastries and short eats; a Mediterranean section with pizzas and pasta; a South Asian section with street food from India and Sri Lanka as well as some Pakistani cuisine; a grill focusing on meat, seafood, and rotisserie with items like shawarma and burgers with interesting sides; a section for South East and East Asian cuisine featuring sushi, rice bowls, noodles, and dumplings; and a healthy fresh section mainly based around nutritious cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and salads.
The food court brings together a blend of traditional and modern food trends, inspired by the global culinary scene. Jesse Aston, co-founder and CEO of Big Studio Inc., the culinary innovation arm and subsidiary of Food Studio (Pvt) Ltd., points to the inclusivity of the menu, saying, “There’s something for everyone at Layard’s Wharf.”
A feature of Layard’s Wharf is its cashless system, where transactions are streamlined through debit or credit cards with cash transactions facilitated via a QR code issued at a central cashier point for convenience.
Founded in 2018, Food Studio opened its first food court at Colombo City Centre, soon following up with another at One Galle Face, and has grown to build 14 restaurant brands with plans to expand over the next few years. “At Food Studio, our ethos is rooted in fostering a farm-to-table community,” says Naveed Cader, co-founder and Vice Chairman of Food Studio (Pvt) Ltd. “We unite local and international F&B stakeholders to deliver unique, diverse, and affordable dining experiences.”
Layard’s Wharf by Food Studio is located on the third floor of the Havelock City Mall.
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