The beautiful city of Vasco da Gama located 30 km from Goa’s capital Panaji is Goa’s transport hub. The city, which derives its name from the 15th-century explorer Vasco da Gama is the entry point for a majority of tourists who flock to Goa for a nice holiday. It houses the Vasco railway station, the Mormugao Port and is just a few minutes away from Goa International Airport. Scores of tourists from different parts of the globe enter Goa through one of these major entry points.
Many of these tourists look for nice places in and around Vasco to have early morning breakfast or a nice afternoon lunch. To their good luck, Goa’s port city Vasco is host to several nice restaurants which offer a variety of Goan, Indian, and Continental fare. Many restaurants also offer 100% vegetarian food to cater to those who follow a strict vegetarian diet. Here’s a list of the best restaurants in Vasco da Gama for those looking for a nice place to dine when on holiday in Goa.
Annapurna Restaurant
Starting the list of best restaurants in Vasco da Gama is Annapurna. There are relatively few restaurants in Vasco da Gama that offer 100% vegetarian food and, Hotel Annapurna is the best one from the lot. It is a pure vegetarian restaurant and cafe located next to Syndicate Bank on D D Deshpande Road in Vasco.
The restaurant has two levels, with the AC section located on the first floor. The restaurant serves a wide variety of vegetarian dishes at reasonable prices. The restaurant gets packed to capacity, especially during lunchtime.
The place has a quiet and peaceful ambience. Their lunch thali is reasonably priced, at Rs. 100 and offers options of puri or roti with 2 sabzis, dal, rasam, curd, and buttermilk. Though the portions are limited, they are quite sufficient. In the morning and evening, you can enjoy their south Indian tiffin. Dosas are excellent with a tasty chutney and typically ground south Indian sambar. The place is worth visiting for vegetarian meals and refreshments when in Vasco.
The Grapevine Lobby
The Grapevine Lobby is one of the best fine-dining restaurants in Vasco Da Gama. It is located on the ground floor of The HQ Hotel in the heart of Vasco Da Gama. The dining area is nicely decorated and has a nice and peaceful ambience. It is large and spacious, with nice clean tables, chairs, and sofas to sit on.
This restaurants in Vasco Da Gama has a buffet menu as well as an a la carte menu. The buffet offers a wide spread of dishes at a very reasonable price. The a la carte menu offers a variety of Indian and continental fare. One must try their tomato soup, fish & chips, warm onion rolls, delicious tomato basil with croutons, French Fries and large fried white fish with tartar sauce. Every Wednesday, they have live karaoke, which makes the whole atmosphere at the restaurant very vibrant.
Vasco Square
Vasco Square is a nice multi-cuisine restaurant located in the beautiful lanes of Vasco city. The restaurant has a wonderful ambience. There are 4 tables placed in the balconies, which are worth experiencing as they are open to the garden and the sky.
They serve delicious veg and fish thalis over here. One must try the fish fingers, tandoori fish tikka, butter chicken and Chilli chicken. Also, their cheese garlic naan is simply mouthwatering and irresistible. Their Goan dishes are also very tasty and authentic in taste. The service is quick and good. Overall, a good place for a nice lunch or dinner. Its proximity to the airport and the city hub makes it a good dining option for travellers.
Welcome Restaurant
This restaurant is located just opposite the Vasco Railway station and is easily accessible from the main road. It is a nice place for south Indian snacks such as idlis and dosas. They also serve various dishes from regions like Maharashtra, Kerala and North India, but being a place owned by a South Indian, it is best for South Indian food. They also have a wide variety of lip-smacking ice creams.
Sheela Bar and Restaurant
This bar and restaurant is located opposite a small island in the Zuari river. Its proximity to the airport makes it a great option for a quick meal after a tiring flight. The place has a nice, neat and soothing ambience.
The decor is typically Goan, with wine bottles and wooden artefacts on the walls, little lamps and a thatched roof. The servers are cheerful and wear local Goa print T-shirts to add to the ambience. The owner is always around and often sits down with guests for a chat.
Lastly, on the list of the best restaurants in Vasco da Gama is Sheela. The food served here is well-prepared, and the range of liquors served at the well-stocked bar is outstanding. One can try a typical Goan thali with fried fish and fish curry with rice. One must also try ordering the different types of fish like Shenanyo (mussels), Lepo (sole fish), Vellyo (Anchovy fish) and Reshad Bangdo (mackerel with recheado masala), along with prawn curry and boiled rice. When it comes to drinks, one must try the Goan toddy, and the Ginger flavoured feni.
Apart from the seafood dishes, veg and chicken dishes are also available. The prices are a bit high, but the good food, the beautiful ambience, and the excellent service make it worth it. If you are looking for authentic Goan food and a nice selection of local spirits, a meal at Sheelas is a must.
