Food Studio unveils five new dining concepts at Colombo City Centre

• Company sharpens focus on building scalable food brands with long-term growth potential

By Amira Cader

Food Studio recently unveiled a refreshed line-up of five culinary concepts at Colombo City Centre’s (CCC) Dining Gallery, marking a significant milestone in the company’s evolution from a restaurant operator to a brand-focused food and beverage platform.

The launch brings together Primo, Hotel Manoli, Bamboo Boy, Kimono and Wide Eyes under one roof, creating a diverse dining destination designed to cater to a broad range of tastes, occasions and consumer preferences. 

The revitalised Dining Gallery occupies Level 3 of Colombo City Centre and forms part of Food Studio’s wider strategy of developing distinctive, scalable food brands with long-term growth potential.

The opening signals a new chapter for Food Studio, which began its journey at CCC and has since expanded its portfolio through the development of proprietary concepts. While Primo was already operating at the location, Hotel Manoli has made its debut at CCC following its stint at One Galle Face Mall, while Bamboo Boy has been revamped and joined by new concepts Kimono and Wide Eyes.

The five-brand portfolio has been curated to offer a wider range of dining experiences, bringing together Middle Eastern cuisine, Southeast Asian flavours, Japanese-inspired offerings, specialty coffee and artisanal sandwiches in a single destination.

Food Studio Managing Director and Liberty Lands and Developments Group CEO Naveed Cader said the return to CCC’s Dining Gallery represents more than a relaunch.

“CCC is where Food Studio’s journey began, and we firmly believe it remains at the heart of everything we continue to build. Returning to the Dining Gallery with this five-brand line-up is not simply a relaunch, it is an evolution,” he said.

Cader noted that the company is increasingly focused on building strong brands rather than standalone outlets, with an emphasis on concepts that can scale across locations and potentially expand beyond Sri Lanka.

“This is about building brands with long-term potential. We are investing in concepts that have a clear identity, strong customer appeal and the ability to grow sustainably. These five brands form the foundation of something we intend to take much further,” he said.

The launch comes amid growing demand for curated dining experiences in Colombo, driven by changing consumer habits, increasing tourism arrivals and a greater appetite for quality food concepts that offer both convenience and variety.

Food Studio CEO Nadeem Rajabdeen said the company began as a platform for bringing together authentic food concepts before evolving into a portfolio of home-grown brands developed through direct investment in product development, branding and operational excellence.

“Through that journey, we started developing our own brands. That has evolved into a sharper focus on fewer concepts, executed exceptionally well, with real investment in the product, the brand and how it scales,” he said.

Rajabdeen explained that each concept was born from a distinct idea and market opportunity. Primo focuses on premium sandwiches and handcrafted fillings, Hotel Manoli offers Middle Eastern comfort food, Bamboo Boy delivers Southeast Asian hawker-style cuisine, Kimono showcases Japanese-inspired flavours and Wide Eyes serves as the group’s specialty coffee and patisserie brand.

He noted that the company remains committed to creating concepts that resonate with modern consumers while maintaining the flexibility to expand across multiple locations.

As Colombo’s food and beverage sector continues to evolve, Food Studio believes its focus on strong branding, operational consistency and scalable concepts will position the company to capitalise on emerging opportunities both locally and internationally.

With five distinct concepts now operating under one roof, the company is betting that the future of dining lies not only in serving good food but in building enduring brands that can stand the test of time.