Ask anyone what their plan for New Year’s Eve is and they’re bound to say one word, “Goa!” Visiting Goa during New Year’s has become an unsaid ritual. After all, it is the party hub in India and at the moment, Goa’s culinary scene is buzzing. Call it the post-pandemic rush or revenge travel, the sunny state is seeing a surge of tourists this holiday season. If you’re spending NYE with your friends and loved ones in Goa, you have multiple options of new restaurants and bars to choose from. From Spanish tapas to Japanese cuisine and beer taprooms, Goa’s new restaurants and bars are big on food, cocktails and ambience!
1. Te Quiero, Vagator
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From taking you on a trip to Peru with Peruvian Ceviche, to Mexico with Baja style tacos, Te Quiero celebrates the spirit of Latin American cuisine through its tantalising menu. Enjoy scrumptious bites with zingy and zesty cocktails like Te Quiero Paloma (curry leaf-infused tequila with grapefruit juice and a cilantro salt rim) or the sweet & spicy Clarified Picante (combo of jalapeño-infused tequila & ancho chili tajin rim) at the cosy new restaurant in Goa.
Contact: +91 8055525855
2. Mystras
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Nestled in a restored Portuguese villa, Mystras takes you on a European culinary trail in an idyllic setting to spend hours in. Begin your meal with Spanish tapas and salads. Then head into Italian classics like woodfire oven pizza and artisanal pasta including gnocchi, tortellini and spaghettis. The seafood linguine and paella and highlights from the menu. Other must-try dishes are Buratta salad, Chicken Espetada, Mushroom pate, Mezze board, Skillet bread, Charred broccoli and Spinach ravioli.
Contact: +91 7240085005
3. HOSA, Siolim-Bardez
The hospitality group (EHV International) behind some of the big restaurants like New Delhi-based Indian Accent and Comorin, and New York-based Koloman, now introduces the restaurant HOSA in Goa. Step inside a modern Goan bungalow where Chef Suresh DC brings South India’s diverse food to you in the form of contemporary dishes with traditional flavours. HOSA translates to ‘new’ in Kamna, so don’t expect the ordinary as the menu goes beyond that. Dosas and appam are coupled with the Guntur crab fry and rich ghee roasts of jackfruit or goat. Small plates like Puli Munchi Wings and Gunpowder Kid Corn pair well with tropical-inspired cocktails. Other highlights include Wild Mushroom Pongal and the Curry Leaf Cured Snapper. Cocktails feature classic tiki and modern interpretations. An extensive wine list complements the food menu further.
Contact: +91 8326747212 / 7498627977
Price for 2: INR 3600 (food & cocktails) and INR 2400 food only
4. Ivoryy-By The Cliff, Vagator
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The New Delhi-based restaurant has now opened its doors in the sunny state. And it’s here to treat you to an epicurean experience with global cuisine ranging from Asian, Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern to Goan favourites. Enjoy your meal along with a delectable cocktail with a view that faces a forest, sun, sand and sea. What’s not to love?
Contact: +91-7030141000, +91-7030148000
Lunch: 12:00pm to 3:30pm
Bar Bites & Drinks: 3:30pm to 7:00PM
Dinner: 7:00pm to 11:00pm
5. Half Pint, Vagator
The founders of two breweries–Nakul Bhonsle of Great State Aleworks and Gaurav Sikka of Arbor Brewing Company–have come together to launch India’s first collaborative taproom. Tucked away in a quiet by-lane in Vagator, Half Pint is a space for you to chill out amidst greenery and savour simple food that reflects Goa’s culinary diversity along with some Portuguese influences. The interiors are reminiscent of an old tavern with 12 tap beers certainly being the highlight. But what makes this brewery different is the way it is reinventing beer culture by serving beer half pint (250ml) so that you get to try an array of flavours. Take your pick from unique craft beers like Persimmon Wheat (a special wheat ale with hints of honey that is perfect for this weather), Kokum Sherbet (a summery red kokum and jeera sour, with salty and sour kokum notes) and the Tamarind Wheat (a wheat ale with delicious tangy and tart flavours), among other classics.
Half Pint is open Wednesday to Monday (closed on Tuesdays)
Timings: 5.00pm to 1.00am
Call: +91 88372 48273
Average Price for Two: INR 1000
6. House of Nomad, Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa
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Booked a stay at Goa’s Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa? Then you must opt to dine at its recently opened gastropub. House of Nomad welcomes you with Indo-Portuguese architecture along with a slew of cocktails paired with a fusion of contemporary bites and traditional Goan flavours. Pair cocktails such as the No Sleep Nomad or the Coffee infused Dukshiri with finger food like ‘Rissois de Camarao, Chorizo Poi Sliders and more.
Contact: 91 832 664 1101
11 am to 11 pm, Tuesdays Closed
7. Slow Tide, Anjuna
Sitting on an old chai shop cum Goan shack from the late ’60s, Slow Tide is an ode to Anjuna’s hippie culture. The menu features treats that the team behind Slow Tide enjoyed while growing up along the coast, from East Indian to Mangalore and Colombo. And in praise of shack food, diners see a revival of time-honoured favourites, both from Goa and across the seas. Traditional shack smoothies, plant-based and nutrient-dense with homemade blends are given special attention. There are two bars–‘Andy’s Joint’ and an interactive infusion bar in the community dining room area.
Contact: +91 80552 55266
8. Fig & Maple, Assagaon
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Chef and owner Radhika Khandelwal aims to make the culinary space sustainable with the use of local, seasonal produce and zero-waste methods. The menu features reimagined dishes with a twist on some regional classics. For instance, you’ll find a khandvi pasta, which sees the Gujarati snack reinvented into prawn-filled ravioli. Another interesting pick is Dosa Rose Cookies with Chorizo and Avocado served with Chorizo jam–the chef’s take on the Chorizo/Goan sausages.
Contact: 7678665130
9. Casa Cafe, Siolim
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Looking for a breakfast spot? Head to this 10-seater quaint cafe that will serve as your hangover cure after your NYE party. From hot cuppas including special Portuguese coffees to freshly baked delights like Italian biscottis, Pumpkin Jam and Brie croissant sandwiches, Casa Cafe will soothe your soul with its comforting food. Fun fact: the kitchen has an all-women team headed by Chef Catarina Teixeira.
Open from 9.30am to 6.30pm (Sundays- 9.30am to 2pm)
10. Paper Moon, Taj Fort Aguda Resort & Spa
Indulge in traditional Italian gastronomy with views of the Arabian Sea at Taj Fort Aguda Resort & Spa’s Paper Moon. An exquisite choice of ingredients will allow you to experience a fresh variety of delicacies every season. Choose from a wide selection of wines and cocktails made with local ingredients to complement popular dishes, and also experience a cafe offering the best Italian coffee and drinks.
Contact: +91 832 6645036
11. CafeWe, Anjuna-Vagator Road
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If you are looking to go into detox mode right after your NYE party, allow CafeWe to help you out. The vegan and healthy cafe believes a happy gut is equal to a happy you. Bite into crunchy salads and sandwiches along with sweet delights. Must-tries include Olive tapenade, hummus and fermented cherry tomatoes on sourdough bread; Avocado and pickled raw mango drizzled with chilli oil on a bed of melted cheese on sourdough bread with a side of lacto fermented vegetable pickles; and chocolate almond fudge cake with raspberries.
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12. Juju, Colva
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From the founders of Beleza By The Beach comes a new restaurant in South Goa and it’s born out of the need to fill the gap of a lack of good Indian food. Juju presents reimagined regional Indian cuisine. Think slow-braised shanks with zafrani berry pulao and refreshing cucumber tzatziki, or a Kasundi snapper fillet with wilted greens bhaji and crispy herbed potato croquettes, or even a Burrata with a tandoori pepper coulis, roasted tomato and grapefruit dressing. Now, this makes us salivate already!
Contact: +91 8956691430
Restaurant & Bar: 12:00 – 15:30 & 17:00 – 23:30 (Monday closed)
13. Kasa & Koox, Vagator
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Kasa ‘N’ Koox is here to satisfy all your Japanese and Pan-Asian food cravings. The space has three parts. The main restaurant Koox serves Asian cuisine through small plates like avocado tacos and tuna tataki, and a selection of grilled meats and locally sourced seafood. The rooftop bar Kasa is inspired by the Japanese island Ishigaki and offers dishes from gyozas to sake-marinated chicken wings along with an array of cocktails. There’s also an exclusive members-only speakeasy bar that has small plates, Robatayaki grills and vintage-style cocktails.
Contact: +91 91686 01304 / +91 91686 01300
Also read: Heading To Goa? These 7 Homegrown Alcohol Brands Should Be ‘High’ On Your Must-Buy List
