Hotel Review: Ella Sisila View

So I should start off by saying this isn’t a hotel, so much as a homestay. This is actually my preferred way of doing accommodation in Sri Lanka as the prices are usually better, and you get to have some great conversations with locals and travelers alike. The Ella Sisila View is located in…you guessed it…Ella.

Ella, which was the last city on our traipse around Sri Lanka’s hill country, is fairly new to tourism. Unlike Kandy which has tons of history, and Nuwara Eliya which has the colonial feel, Ella is just a city that happens to be surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills and valleys.

The Ella Sisila View is located about 3km outside of the downtown area. It is a hassle to get to as the road is steep and in some parts not paved. TukTuk drivers will try to overcharge you because of this. All that being said, it is worth it for the view.

Perched near the top of a hill, and overlooking the famous nine arch bridge, we made it, tired and sweaty, and turned to see the amazing vista from the outdoor seating area.

Greeted warmly by Winston, the host and cook of the homestay, we were offered tea while going through the quick check in. After a quick shower and change, we had some club sandwiches for lunch and made our way down to the nine arch bridge to catch the 15:20 train passing.

Staying at Ella Sisila View meant seeing a lot of the train, but we were high up enough we couldn’t hear it in the rooms.

The rooms themselves have your standard four poster with mosquito net that is common in Sri Lanka. The bedding was simple but comfortable.

There were a few outlets to charge our devices but I wish they were closer to the bed. I think bedside outlets are more and more important these days.

The bathroom is large, but does feel a bit dated. However the plumbing worked and the shower pressure was good so I’m not one to overly complain.

Our fantastic host Winston cooking delicious curry

The best part about our stay at Ella Sisila View has to be Winston. He was the perfect host and made our stay wonderful. Not only is he an amazing cook, he was willing to let Cody into the kitchen and show him how to make tons of authentic Sri Lankan dishes. You can go to Cody’s website to get the recipes for things like Sri Lankan Roti, Mixed Vegetable Curry, and Ambul Thiyal Sour Tuna Curry.

We paid about $30 a night to stay here, and while you could find places that are cheaper, we were perfectly happy with the price. I really felt we got a great value and would gladly stay here again. Just imagine waking up and having a tea or coffee to this view:

To see the prices and dates for Ella Sisila View click here!

Key Details:

Price: $30/night

Air-Conditioned Rooms: No, but it is not necessary at this elevation.

Breakfast Included: Yes

Pool On-Site: No

Maid Service: No, but if you ask, they will clean the room

Recommended To Stay Here: Yes

Address: Dalukgalapathana(Nine Arch Road) 3rd Mile Post, Passara Road, Ella, Ella 90090

Disclaimer: Jet Set Together paid full price for our stay at the Ella Sisila View and did not accept any payment for a good review. The words expressed in this article are my honest opinion.