The Passport Hotel, a 27-key boutique property founded by hospitality entrepreneur Ashesh L. Sajnani, introduces a distinct approach to hospitality in North Goa. Positioned as India’s first cocktail-forward traveller’s hotel, the property centres its experience around drinks, conversation, and local exploration.
The vision behind the concept
Sajnani is no stranger to cocktail culture. He previously introduced Mumbai to speakeasy-style bars with Please Don’t Tell (PDT), helping shape the city’s modern cocktail scene. With The Passport Hotel, he brings that same spirit to Goa, creating a place where travellers can connect over drinks, explore the neighbourhood, and experience the destination beyond the obvious.
A location rooted in culture
Located on Badem Church Road in Assagaon, North Goa, the hotel sits in one of the region’s most interesting neighbourhoods, known for its cafés, design stores, cocktail bars, restaurants and creative community. The idea is simple: instead of isolating guests within a resort, the hotel encourages them to step out and discover the culture around them.
A hotel designed around cocktails and conversation
At the centre of the property is Mini Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar and primary social space. Guests check in over a welcome drink instead of a traditional front desk, setting an informal tone from the outset. With jazz in the background and a menu of small plates, the space reads more like a neighbourhood bar than a conventional hotel lobby.
Upstairs, Layover introduces a different setting. The rooftop pool and bar overlook the hills of Assagaon, functioning as a shared space for evening gatherings and extended conversations.
For more contained experiences, Jet Lag offers a smaller, enclosed setting used for cocktail workshops, curated tastings, and discussions around spirits.
A passport that leads you across Goa
The hotel introduces a Passport Program where guests receive a physical booklet at check-in, designed around cocktail exploration rather than travel documentation.
It includes a curated list of bars across Goa, encouraging guests to visit, interact with bartenders, and collect stamps as they go. Over time, it serves as a record of their movement through the region’s cocktail culture.
Within the hotel, select rooms include DIY cocktail setups, allowing guests to prepare drinks independently at their own pace.
Travel, but slower
With 27 rooms, the hotel maintains a relatively intimate scale. Some rooms include plunge pools and jacuzzis, while all are designed to support both rest and work.
Beyond accommodation, the property hosts jazz evenings, cocktail sessions, and small community gatherings, bringing together travellers, locals, and industry professionals.
The overall approach aligns with a slower, more exploratory way of travel, focused on experiences rather than itineraries.
