Excel Restaurants introduces Darley rd.

There is only one road in town that comes alive every day with groovy music, tongue tingling dishes and interesting beverages — Darley rd. Located down T.B. Jayah Mawatha, which was formerly known as Darley rd. (sharing the premises with Excel World Entertainment Park), the Darley rd. Pub & Restaurant is the new kid on the block. Darley rd. is positioned as a unique place in town for both weekend excitement and weeknight chills as there is something for everyone, every day. The grand opening of Darley rd. was a sophisticated soirée, which saw the attendance of a slew of stars.

Mouth-watering whiffs of delicious comfort food linger in the air from 11 a.m. at Darley rd, inviting patrons to indulge in a hearty meal with a pint or two. As the skies darken, the atmosphere at Darley rd. livens up, transporting diners away from the chaos of the world. Foaming glasses clink with cheer, cocktails are served with an enactment of the mixologist’s acrobatic skills, and exuberant tunes enliven the ambience. 

Exposed brick walls, elegant wooden touches, and dim lighting create an antiquated artsy air while the stylish bar stools and plush seating area add a contemporary touch to the ambience. The seating areas have been separated from one another using decorative wooden panel screens to ensure the privacy of the discerning guests. Darley rd. features three exclusive dining rooms – Auckland Room, Press Room, 34 Room – which are perfect for private functions, yet are open to daily diners too. The venue can accommodate 150 pax overall. Toe-tapping music serenades the setting every day, while on selected days of the week live music keeps the vibe lively with entertainment from renowned Sri Lankan artistes. 

Darley rd. features a deliciously diverse food menu to complement its degustation of wines and other spirited beverages. The carefully curated fusion menu includes a range of all-time favourite Sri Lankan dishes, Far Eastern delights as well as Western classics. The extra spicy mutton baduma with five chilli varieties as well as the crispy salt and pepper cuttlefish with exotic tamarind sauce are the two Darley rd. speciality dishes, which are sure to make you come back for more. Darley rd. serves a range of classic pub grub such as devilled meat, chicken kochchi balls, devilled cashew nuts and Mexican potato wedges. 

Choose a variety of delicious options including Cajun spiced chicken breast and herb marinated fish fillet from the special hot stone menu. Guests can enjoy an extensive range of premium beverages while digging into a tantalising bevy of treats. Sip Darley rd.’s speciality beverages such as the Wasa Kuppiya and Flaming Lamborghini. Or even try the delicious mocktails – ‘Date King’ and ‘Green Lady’. 

Conveniently located, Darley rd. provides a strategic time out for the city’s workaholics. Darley rd. promises a unique experience with a friendly setting and is the perfect place in Colombo to relax, mingle, appreciate good music and relish delicious cuisine. 

Commenting on the opening of Darley rd., Eksath Wijerathne, Group General Manager, Browns Hotels and Resorts/Executive Director, Excel Restaurants said, “I’m pleased to introduce our latest venture ‘Darley rd. Pub & Restaurant’, which is a one-of-a-kind place ideal for a relaxed hangout or an exciting night-time rendezvous. The ambience at Darley rd. has been curated to ensure a sense of privacy and entertainment for everyone. I would like to invite everyone to visit Darley rd. to enjoy good music, good food and drink all in a stellar setting. Darley rd. is a great venue to catch up with family or friends and to make new ones, a place that you can always count on any day of the week.” 

Operated by Excel Restaurants, which is a part of the prestigious Browns Group, Darley rd. adds a new dimension to the local restaurant scene. Currently, Excel Restaurants manages a host of restaurants in Colombo including Tsing Tao, Loon Tao, IL Cielo, Berlin Sky Lounge, Floor by O!, Shore by O! and The Four Leafed Clover. The Browns Group is one of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified conglomerates, which manages a fast growing and valuable portfolio of brands across several key industry sectors, such as power generation; home and office solutions; agriculture; pharmaceuticals; investments; marine and manufacturing as well as leisure and hospitality.

Pix by Shehan Gunasekara