Cinnamon Gardens — Colombo 7 in the postal code system — was the residential quarter laid out for the British colonial elite, and it retains a leafy, spacious character. Wide avenues shaded by old trees, colonial bungalows behind high walls, embassies and government buildings, and the green expanse of Viharamahadevi Park all contribute to a very different atmosphere from the chaos of the fort and Pettah areas.
The National Museum and the Colombo Museum are both here. The area's restaurants are the best in the city, ranging from excellent Sri Lankan curry spots to contemporary international dining. Barefoot Gallery on Alfred House Road is the liveliest arts space in Colombo and a good place to pick up handicrafts. In the evenings, Cinnamon Gardens is where Colombo's middle class comes out to eat and socialise.