Born in London to Sri Lankan parents, Dom Fernando, Paradise owner and founder, spent his school holidays exploring Sri Lanka and visiting his family. Meal times were the main focus of each day and Dom listened intently to what spices were being added. It was always Dom’s grandmother who made the most delicious dishes, and her influence has been a constant in Dom’s life, with her flavours woven throughout Paradise’s dishes.

Whilst visiting Sri Lanka, Dom loved to wander around street food stalls. It was the diversity of each mouthful and the rollercoaster of spice, heat, freshness and sweetness that ultimately inspired his dream of opening his own restaurant. Dom spent over 14 years in hospitality in a variety of group leadership roles with both InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Hilton internationally, before deciding to open Paradise in 2019, to critical acclaim.

In Spring 2024 Dom is set to launch Open Door Policy in Colombo which will realise a long standing ambition to put something back into the city where he feels most at home; taking local ingredients and regional cooking techniques to new levels in Sri Lankan cuisine.