A former gaming café in Aberdeen city centre is set for a new lease of life as a Sri Lankan restaurant after receiving the green light from city planners.
The venue, previously home to Reset café on John Street, will be transformed into Ceylon Vibes following approval from Aberdeen City Council. The proposals were submitted earlier this year by applicant Amothen Kandasamy.
Located across the road from the North East Scotland College campus, the new restaurant will span two floors with capacity for over 60 diners. Plans include a full refurbishment of the building’s interior and exterior, including the installation of a kitchen and bar area.
Reset café, which opened during the pandemic, closed back in January of 2023 after less than three years of trading, citing rising operational and financial costs as the reason for closure. The premises have remained vacant til this point.
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With planning permission secured, work is expected to begin on the conversion in the coming months. The arrival of Ceylon Vibes will bring a new culinary offering to the area, contributing to the wider diversification of Aberdeen’s city centre food scene.
This isn’t the first time Sri Lankan cuisine has made its mark in Aberdeen. Last year, Business Gateway supported entrepreneur Navaratnam Suppiah in launching the city’s first Sri Lankan takeaway, introducing local diners to the vibrant flavours of the island nation. The arrival of Ceylon Vibes marks a continued appetite for the cuisine and signals growing diversity in Aberdeen’s hospitality sector.
With Aberdeen already home to a high number of Indian restaurants and takeaways, the addition of another Sri Lankan venue adds a fresh dimension to the city’s South Asian food scene. As diners increasingly seek out new and authentic culinary experiences, it will be interesting to see how Ceylon Vibes distinguishes itself and resonates with local food lovers.
