Sesaya Poshtel & Bistro is giving Colombo a new way to stay. Billed as Colombo’s first poshtel, the Rajagiriya property sits somewhere between a hostel and a boutique hotel. It has the social energy of the first and the comfort and style of the second, along with a rooftop that has become a destination in its own right.
The rooms at Sesaya are design-led throughout, with contemporary interiors and layouts built around how travellers actually live on the road. Every private room and dormitory is air-conditioned with its own ensuite bathroom. Private rooms open onto balconies with views across the city, and soundproofing keeps the buzz of the common spaces where it belongs.
Sesaya is built as much for living and working as for staying. Its coworking floors give remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads a proper place to focus, backed by high-speed WiFi throughout the property and work desks in every room. Shared lounges make it easy to meet fellow guests, and the team helps with practical matters such as visa extensions. That makes Sesaya a natural base for anyone whose short trip to Sri Lanka has turned into a longer stay.
At the top of the building is Canapé, Sesaya’s rooftop bistro. By day it serves international cuisine from breakfast through dinner, with open-air seating overlooking the Colombo skyline. By night it turns into one of Rajagiriya’s more lively event spaces, with a calendar that ranges from guest chef pop-ups to private celebrations and relaxed evenings with music and city lights. Canapé recently hosted a pop-up with Yazu at the Beach from Radisson Blu Resort Galle. The night brought Yazu’s dumplings, sushi and signature cocktails up from the south coast to the rooftop.
“Travellers coming to Colombo kept telling us the same thing: hostels felt too basic and hotels felt too expensive for what they needed. We built Sesaya for the people in between, somewhere you can get a good night’s sleep, get work done, and still meet people over dinner on the rooftop,” said Dhiren Kundanmal, Director, Sesaya Poshtel & Bistro.
Location is a big part of Sesaya’s appeal. Rajagiriya is one of Colombo’s best-connected neighbourhoods. Nawala and Battaramulla are next door, Borella is a short drive away, and Colombo 7, Kollupitiya and Galle Face are all within easy reach. A bus stop sits right outside the property, so guests can explore the city’s cafés, restaurants and nightlife by day and come back to a calmer base in the evening.
Sesaya Poshtel & Bistro is located on Sri Jayawardenapura Mawatha, Rajagiriya. For reservations and event enquiries, call +94 112 117 917 or email reservations@sesaya.co.
