Conveniently located on the 28th, 29th, and 30th floors of Access South Tower, Elevate is the newest member to enter Colombo’s accumulation of iconic attractions. Its seemingly apt positioning is a notable highlight. One is sure to catch a glimpse of the 360-degree views at the rooftop bar whilst sipping a drink, or be enveloped by the stunning landscape amidst a fine meal at its restaurant. Elevate isn’t merely a rooftop bar or restaurant, it’s a lifestyle club. This is what would quite successfully set it apart from all else in its calibre. With a fully equipped fitness centre and banquet hall extending right throughout the 28th floor, restaurant and lounge area on the 29th, and an all-embracing rooftop bar at the 30th, it truly is a stunning work of art. Elevate Rooftop Bar [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="15752"] The rooftop bar is situated on the 30th floor (also being the highest point) of the building, and can accommodate 400-450 people. Guests are lured in to the eclectic ambience created by the porcelain white and wicker furnishings, whilst being surrounded by those picturesque 360-degree views. All this whilst being served carefully crafted signature cocktails, and exquisite tapas to endure as they say “an elevated experience”. Guests can host their own private events at this space; either by booking the entire space or allocating a particular area, depending on the number of attendees. The scattered seating arrangement facilitates this. As mentioned previously, Elevate embodies a lifestyle, and for good reason. Restaurant and Bar Manager Yemindra Udalagama revealed that guests can take part in fun activities such as Zumba workouts and Yoga at Elevate. Yoga sessions are on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The Restaurant [gallery link="file" columns="2" size="full" ids="15751"] A whiff of delectable food from the executive buffet, its indulgent aroma, and the Victorian-like interior paired with paintings neatly hung on its walls creates the setting. The restaurant is open to everyone, serving guests from 12 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.; guests can either order from their A La Carte menu (both lunch and dinner) or help themselves to the Executive Lunch Buffet (Rs. 1,356 Nett per person). Here’s what we tried from their A La Carte menu. Starters Caesar salad – Rs. 990 Guests have the option of choosing between grilled jumbo prawns and grilled chicken breast – we tried the latter. The salad itself was quite delectable for the dressing was distributed quite evenly. The grilled chicken, a generous quantity, was moist and well-seasoned. Whilst the eggs and crispy bacon added texture and flavour, garlic croutons, I thought, brought the entire dish together as its crunch acted as the perfect accompaniment to the dish. Lamb satay – Rs. 980 The Indonesian-style marinated skewers on its own were rather flavoursome; the sweetness of the peanut sauce complemented it well, and added depth to the overall flavour. [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="15749,15747"] Mains Sweet and sour pork – Rs. 1,290 This was quite a hearty dish, and was jam-packed with flavour, although it wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. Not only was it flavoursome, it was also cooked to perfection as the meat quite literally melted in our mouths. It was served up with blanched bok choy which complemented the richness of the pork. Grilled yellow fin tuna from Sri Lankan shores – Rs. 1,480 The truffle mashed potatoes were the perfect accompaniment to this dish, as the creaminess of the mashed potato went well with the grilled tuna which wasn’t overdone. Additionally, the vegetables added that crunchy element to the dish, and gave it an overall freshness. We also tried their green curry vegetable (Rs. 790) which had a great lemongrass flavour, as well as their stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts (Rs. 980). [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="full" ids="15753,15750,15748"] Desserts Hazelnut praline mousse – Rs. 550 This was one of our favourite dishes which tasted divine. The dish consisted of a pistachio bar which had a creamy yet mellow flavour, and wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. It is worthy to note that it had quite a smooth texture. The bar was accompanied with a milk chocolate sauce and would usually be served up with a basil and ivory ice cream; although, we opted to try their homemade ice creams, and went with vanilla bean (Rs. 410). The homemade ice cream was the highlight, as the vanilla flavour was well infused. It was creamy and rather soft as opposed to being icy. All in all, this dessert delivered, and is worth the price. The food, we thought, was at the pricier end of the spectrum, although it didn’t fail to retain its quality and freshness right throughout. The space is inclusive of a banquet hall, a fully equipped fitness centre with personal trainers, showers, and locker rooms. We were also granted access to enter the all exclusive “members only” lounge, where members are able to host meetings, private dinners or even enjoy a quick cup of coffee. [gallery columns="2" size="full" link="file" ids="15746"] Access South Tower, Level 28, 29, 30 No. 278/4, Union Place, Colombo 02 Telephone – 0112 302 302 Web – www.elevate.lk Instagram – elevate.cmb Facebook – Elevate Photos Krishan Kariyawasam