Images courtesy of Ella
About the restaurant
It's perfect for
Food-curious travellers passing through Darwin who want to eat somewhere truly memorable
You need to try
The roti, arriving crispy in places and pillowy in others, and completely essential with everything
Look out for
the intimate laneway location that feels like a genuine hidden find, even once you know it's there
Ella in Darwin is the culinary love letter of MasterChef alumna Minoli De Silva, named after the lush jungle town in her native Sri Lanka. Tucked away in a laneway off West Lane, this moody, warmly lit restaurant reimagines Sri Lankan cuisine through a deeply personal lens - drawing on Ayurvedic principles, family recipes gathered from phone calls home, and global inspirations gathered over a culinary career. The chef's selection menu is the way to experience it fully, a curated journey through bold spice, textural contrast and surprising flavour. Creative cocktails like the colour-changing pandan drink are as memorable as the food.