THE UNVEILING OF DILMAH URBAN ESTATE: A LUXURY TEA DINING AND RETAIL EXPERIENCE
Where pristine air and mystical cloud forests nurture the soil, magnificent biodiversity thrives and spectacular waterfalls converge, globally renowned Dilmah Tea Company brings the distinctive Windsor Forest Estate experience to Colombo through Dilmah Urban Estate at the One Galle Face Mall front.
A complete reimagining of its existing space at the mall, Dilmah Urban Estate is poised to become Colombo’s latest culinary sanctuary – where tea culture meets modern sophistication with a rich Ceylon heritage of terroir and provenance. Here, Dilmah’s authentic ‘estate to cup’ philosophy is artfully played out by paying homage to the journey of Sri Lanka’s iconic tea leaf through rare single estate brews, invigorating iced teas, craft t-mocktails, elevated tea cocktails and more.
Dilmah Urban Estate’s newly transformed immersive restaurant setting offers a conscious nod to the island’s plantation legacy through its refined gastronomy – a meticulously curated menu that accurately represents the passion of its growers. With an interplay of golden light, warm timber textures, deep green hues and tea inspired foliage, the interiors symbolically reflect how the tea plant thrives under varying conditions of light and warmth.
The venue integrates natural, responsibly sourced materials throughout its design – from wood and stone to recycled and low impact finishes – reflecting Dilmah’s longstanding commitment to sustainability. The concept further coincides with what it takes to produce good tea, extending beyond the crop and plant itself to the diverse elements of sunshine, wind, rainfall, and biodiversity that work together to give tea its personality, making it extraordinary and rare.
Speaking at the launch, tea artisan Dilhan Fernando brewed together the compelling story of Windsor Forest Estate’s rich heritage and species, which includes around 25 exotic butterflies, lorises, fishing cats and the occasional elusive leopard. Drawing on a lineage of growers, he underscored the importance of sustainable farming practices rooted in deep respect for soil health, livelihoods and biodiversity, as well as the significance of quality over quantity.
Fernando emphasised the wellness and adaptogenic benefits offered by tea which is known to reduce stress by 51 percent while containing L-theanine for focus, mindfulness and relaxation. He added that Dilmah Urban Estate was exclusively designed with every aspect relevant to each guest and their mood, occasion and lifestyle – be it tea with milk, lemongrass, ginger or gin!
“At Dilmah Urban Estate, we invite people to join us, pause and appreciate the moment – to be present and benefit from the taste, goodness and flavour discovered,” he added. The Windsor Forest Estate range presented exclusively only at the restaurant, represents a spectrum of flavour ranging from light to bright, soft to gentle and floral, and intense to strong for a multi sensorial encounter.
He recollects that tea has the ability to elevate food in a special way – to bring out a certain sweetness or texture. And Dilmah Urban Estate strives to simply do that, ensuring tea’s beautiful synergy in each of these areas. It’s really about life, an invitation to breathe, relax and connect, he states.
Today’s market is also witnessing a demand for non-alcoholic beverages. And Fernando points out that Dilmah Urban Estate addresses this need by providing elevated, flavour rich and mood enhancing options as an alternative to alcohol. He notes that the restaurant uniquely links tea to culinary experiences and gut health by seamlessly synergising, complementing and balancing both.
At the core of Dilmah Urban Estate is its grower centric philosophy, where respect for people, soil, livelihoods and ethical sourcing remain central, Fernando opines. Designed as the foundation for a broader global tea narrative, Dilmah Urban Estate plans to carry its vision internationally, beginning with Malaysia, uniquely reflecting its host city by blending locally inspired gastronomy with modern tea bars and curated retail zones.
Visit Dilmah Urban Estate at One Galle Face Mall (L1-20, No. 1A Galle Road, Colombo 2) and experience true tea luxury across every plate and infusion.
