About us
Botanik has been conceptualized and created by Cantaloupe & Co to represent a lifestyle venue with Botanical elements presented in real life, art, design and its food and beverage. Located on the 8th floor rooftop of the Fairway Colombo Hotel in the commercial, tourist and historical hub which is the Colombo Fort, Botanik is the perfect viewing gallery to Colombo’s rapidly growing skyline
. It is by far one of the best ‘rooftop’s with a view’ the city has to offer. Building on this perfect location we have created an indoor – outdoor space that transforms from a Bistro Café by day to a Bistro Bar by night. Cantaloupe combined all its experiences derived over the past years to put together what will become a destination venue known for its location, views, design, service and eclectic approach to a traditional bistro and bar. The Contemporary Bistro - by Rishi
We have teamed up with Rishi Naleendra, a brilliant young Sri Lankan Chef who incidentally just won his first Michelin Star (and is the first Sri Lankan chef to do so). He has received international acclaim for his restaurant Cheek By Jowl in Singapore, which is famed for its modern Australian Faire. We are huge fans of his work and his spirit and are excited to unveil our new product with him. The food at Botanik will progress from a brunch cafe during the day to contemporary bistro by night. As the name implies Rishi will be presenting a twist on the traditional bistro menu. The beverage experience has been curated by our F&B director hailing from Brittany in France; Mathieu Delin who started his career as a Sommelier in his home country and worked around the world from the Middle east to settle down in South East Asia. This diverse international experience, and passion shines through in his beverage menu. An emphasis has been placed on celebrating locally sourced ingredients and the menus will change with the seasons. From healthy detox juices in the morning to decadent cocktails in the evening (or in the afternoon if you must ) or the perfectly chilled bottle of vintage wine we have something special to offer
The space
Botanik is broken up into three key areas which is the Bistro, The Terrace and The verandah, all tied together with the subtle Botanical theme. The name represents the feel and imagery of the space as opposed to outright overload of foliage and plant life. The branding, as with all Cantaloupe brands,has been done in house by Exotic Melon. At first glance the logo seems to represent the silhouette of a butterfly. It was first hand drawn to be two opposite facing B's to represent Bistro & Bar. We found it perfectly apt that a butterfly compliments botany. Butterflies will play cameo roles in our décor and themes over the coming months. The spatial planning and interiors were created by Shenali De Fonseka in collaboration with Cantaloupe Design which was another exciting and rewarding creative collaboration in the creation of Botanik. The design brief was to create a warm environment with the right elements of contemporary and rustic Chic. The main restaurant area features high ceilings with exposed ducting and a signature light grid containing ambient and functional light fittings. Rustic features and details shine through with chipped plaster walls framing the show kitchen decked with signature ‘subway tiles’ where our kitchen team is on display working their magic. Many materials have been repurposed for example the bricks are are form a demolition site adjacent to our building. The indoor space also features a custom drawn mural by Nimesh; a young and extremely talented Sri Lankan graphic designer. The illustration tells a story of Topical plants, flowers and birds indigenous to our island with little descriptions etched alongside each element. More tropically inspired art will adorn the walls through the space. The focal point of the rooftop is the four sided island bar tiled with hand made Moroccan style Mosaic tiles. The bar is accessible from the Verandah as well as the outdoor rooftop area. Our furniture is a mix of locally sourced pieces as well as Jaya teak sourced from Bali. Our team is especially proud of the attention to detail.
