The beautiful state of Goa is popularly known as the land of fish, feni and football. Apart from the various popular beaches, forts and other tourist attractions, Goa is also known for its famous restaurants and beach shacks that offer lip-smacking dishes and drinks, much to the delight of the thousands of tourists that dine at these places during their holiday in Goa.
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of the famous restaurants in Goa had to shut shop. However, as things started to return to normalcy after the second and third waves of the pandemic, many of them have restarted their operations. During this time, many new restaurants have also come up in Goa. These restaurants have introduced new types of cuisines to Goa, leaving food lovers all the more spoilt for choices.
In this article, we take a look at 5 newly opened restaurants in Goa that you must check out.
Roboto, Calangute
First on our list of new restaurants in Goa is Roboto at Calangute. This is a Japanese and Korean contemporary street style and izakaya-style restaurant. It is located near the Dolphin Circle in the heart of Calangute. The restaurant completed one year of operations in 2022. The place is beautiful, not very crowded and the service is excellent. The staff are very attentive, but non-intrusive. They have a limited menu. However, every dish on their menu is top class and delicious. You must try the pork gyoza, kobujime, crusted fish, jjamppong ramen and teriyaki fish don buri. They serve very nice cocktails as well. Highly recommended place for those who are keen on trying some Japanese cuisine.
Tulum, Baga
Next on our list of new restaurants in Goa that you must try out is Tulum Beach Bar and Restaurant. This amazing hidden gem is located in a very quiet area, away from all the noise and chaos at Baga beach. There is no other beach shack or restaurant nearby.
The way to the restaurant is really interesting. It’s like going on a hiking trip, because you have to walk through a narrow road, filled with fallen branches of trees. The road is completely safe even at night. If you don’t feel confident enough, the restaurant will send a person along to drop you till the exit. You have to cross a small height of rock and go way down to the coastline of the river to reach the restaurant.
Making a reservation at Tulum is necessary as it is not any ordinary place. It is open only during the season, so it is very busy. The staff are very cautious to take minimum people inside. They do not want to make the place very crowded to ensure that guests enjoy a nice time without being disturbed.
The entry for couples is Rs. 4,000, which includes full cover. Yes, the place is expensive as they expect a very high profile crowd. You can see many celebrities at the place after sunset.
Ida’s Boutique Bar and Restaurant, Vagator
This is a garden-style bar and restaurant located just a stone’s throw away from Ozran beach in Vagator. It commenced operations in November 2020, just a few months after the economy started to reopen. The restaurant is a family-run enterprise, that has a theme centred around sustainability. The restaurant features several items that have been refurbished into new items and put into service again in a new way. For example, an old fishing boat has been transformed into a beautiful bar, fallen tree trunks have been upcycled into stylish lamps and discarded Old Monk bottles have been given a new life as ingenious serveware.
The day-to-day operations of this unique boutique bar and restaurant is handled by four members of the Thapa family—mother Anushree is in charge of the well-crafted menu, which features delicious goodies and refreshing drinks. Her daughter, Aneesha, who designed the restaurant, handles the bar, where cocktails come infused with homemade bitters and shrubs, while the father and son take care of logistics and reservations, respectively.
Dakte, Siolim
This charming little cafe, located at Siolim, has plenty of vibe and character. It is located around 7 km from the shores of the famous Chapora beach. Although it is ‘dakte’ (small) in name and size, it is ‘hodle’ (large) in spirit. The menu is comprehensive for a cafe – plenty of breakfast, salad and sandwich options and of course, coffee. A must try at this place is the meaty brekkie, which consists of a mini fruit bowl, boiled eggs, baked beans, hash browns, sausage, bacon, ham and toast with coffee. The ham and cheese omelette, as well as the pancakes served here, are also great. There are mini board games at each table, as well as power points on the walls. Service is very friendly and prompt, and prices are quite reasonable .
Suzie’s, Assagao
Lastly, on the list of new restaurants in Goa is Suzie’s. It is a whimsical garden restaurant, nestled in the jungle by-lanes of Assagao. Chef Suzie’s food is playful. Fusion fare – merging local produce with a variety of cooking styles and techniques. The menu changes four to five times a year, based on the changing moods and ingredients of the Goan seasons. To match the playfulness of Suzie’s food, each specially crafted cocktail on the menu is a labour of love. The restaurant is a reservations-only space. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
With this, we conclude our list of the 5 new restaurants in Goa that you must try out. So if you are feeling lonely during the weekend, head down to one of these newly opened restaurants with your friends and enjoy feasting on all the unique culinary delights that they have to offer. Make your reservations now!
