Gone are the days, when a trip to Goa would consist of visiting beaches and trying activities. Besides its pristine beachside, the region’s food and dining scene is thriving. Be it authentic Goan restaurants to Insta-worthy cafes in Goa, it won’t be a surprise if tourists now prepare a wishlist of places to eat in Goa. A vibrant food culture makes the holiday experience so much more interesting. If you too are visiting Goa and don’t know about top dining spots in Goa, here’s a list of must-visit Goan restaurants that give you a lingering taste and an even better experience.
Top Dining Spots in Goa
1. Vinayak
The quintessential Goan cuisine flavours can be best relished at Vinayak Family Restuarant in Assagao. Located in one of the quaint lanes, this place is famous for the Gaon-style thali meals, promising a wholesome indulgence in the raw, coconutty flavours of the region. The regional specialities like Xacuti and Vindaloo are worth trying. If you’re visiting Goa in the peak season, brace yourselves for some waiting time, because the place is almost always full.
Book a stay in our villas in Assagaon and you can simply walk up to this restaurant for a wholesome Goan thali meal. It is less than 10 minutes away from our Colina villa community.
Address: House No 278, Socol Vaddo, Asgaon, Goa
2. Gunpowder
If you want to try authentic South Indian food, this is one of the best places to eat in Goa. The traditional curries and meal preparations bring the true taste of coastal cuisine to your plates. Dig into the curries with Appam or Malabar Parottas and don’t forget to end your meal with a sweet payasam, a special dessert from the South.
Set within a traditional home setting, this popular restaurant in Assagao features a cosy bar and a boutique shop with clothes, trinkets and other knick knacks.
Address: 6, Saunta Vaddo, Assagao, Goa
3. The Lazy Goose
The river sides of Goa are rather more pristine than its beaches. Enjoy a fulfilling meal by the riverfront at The Lazy Goose in Nerul, a beautiful riverside restaurant in Goa. You can enjoy a late lunch and lounge till the sunset for the views. The live music only adds to the cheerful vibe of the place. Salads, prawns and calamari fry, crab grills, luscious burgers and thinly sliced pizzas, add this all-day dining establishment to your places to eat in Goa.
Address: Below the Nerul Candolim bridge, Nerul River, Goa
4. Fireback
If you love visiting restaurants for not mere food but the overall setting, ambience and interiors, Fireback in Siolim is crafted to impress. Set in a modern glass house structure with a koi pod around, this is one of the best places to eat in Goa, specializing in Thai cuisine. The team has been trained in Bangkok so be rest assured of getting international standard quality. Stir fries, Thai curries and small plates paired with special ingredient cocktails, promise a memorable dining experience.
In Goa, you could even plan your stay at one of our Vaddoo homes. These beautiful pool villas in Siolim are equipped with all modern amenities.
Address: At Irada Home, near St. Anthony’s Church, Siolim, Goa
5. Martin’s Corner
Another popular restaurant in Goa known for its traditional seafood cuisine is Martin’s Corner. Although a small eatery, it is frequented by locals, celebrities, and foreigners alike. The family-run restaurant encapsulates the vibe of locals in Goa and serves multi-cuisine dishes. The Masala fish fry, Chicken Xacuti or Pork Chops and Sausages from here are must-try dishes. The place also serves authentic Goan desserts including Bebinca and Serradura, or the Goan-fusion Tender Coconut Soufflé.
Address: Binwaddo, Betalbatim, Salcette – Goa
Best Cafes To Eat in Goa
While the choice of good restaurants in Goa is endless, there is also a rise in cute cafes across the state. With pretty aesthetics, beautiful vibes and serving top quality food with refreshing beverages, here’s a list of the best places to visit in Goa on your next trip.
1. Babka
In Goa for the monsoons? A cup of hot chocolate on a rainy evening would be delicious! If you are staying in Anjuna, head over to Babka coffee shop. This cosy coffee bar and patisserie has just the right brews. Pair it with the gooey Nutella babka, pancakes or hand-rolled loaves of bread and sandwiches. Their cheesecake is also worth trying.
This cute coffee shop is within 5 minutes from our luxury villa Branco in Anjuna.
Address: House no. 1282 Gauwadi, Anjuna, Goa
2. Baba Au Rhum
A classic favourite among cafe hoppers, Baba Au Rhum has two branches in Goa – one at Anjuna and the newer one at Badem. Whether you want to spend a laid-back tropical afternoon with refreshing drinks or an evening snack run with smooth coffee blends, this is a must-visit cafe in Goa. Located within a bamboo forest, the jungle-themed setting is quite refreshing than otherwise enclosed cafe interiors.
Address: House No. 1054, Sim Vaddo, Anjuna
3. Artjuna
Artjuna – a new hotspot among tourists turning into one of the best places to eat in Goa – beautifully depicts the vibe of all things Goa. You will find someone reading a book, a group jamming in another corner, and someone else playing board games, everyone just chilling together. This spacious cafe has something for everyone, including art workshops, exhibitions, pop-ups and live events. With a range of menus spanning veg, non-veg to vegan dishes, you can spend hours here and not get bored.
4. G-Shot Coffee Roastery
For someone who loves only speciality coffee, G-Shot Coffee Roastery is a good option among cafes in Goa. Located in Assagao, this cafe takes a rather deliberative approach to coffee brewing. It offers coffee from 5 different estates in more than 20+ varieties. It is a community-run cafe with a promise to deliver only the best kind of coffee. The food menu includes dishes made sourcing the freshest ingredients and handcrafted sourdough bread with other bakery items like cookies made every day.
Address: H. No. 436, Bouta Waddo, Assagao, Goa
5. Garden of Dreams
For those with a strong preference for vegetarian restaurants in Goa, the Garden of Dreams is a beautiful cafe set within a garden in Arambol. A sofa and beds within a garden? Yes, that’s the comfort you can get in this lush green garden space covered in multiple trees.
This cafe in North Goa is especially popular among foreign tourists. It serves nutritious and healthy salads, soups, bagels, pasta and raw vegan desserts. It harbours a peaceful vibe which makes it hard to leave from here.
Address: 128, Plaza Hotel, Khalchawada, Arambol, Goa
6. Kefi
Kefi is another good cafe in Assagao located in an idyllic location. Specialising in Mediterranean food, it brings the best of Middle Eastern cuisine to Goa, but with a hint of the local flavours. An exquisite array of Creole, Mexican, Keralite and Goan flavours are part of the menu. Other than the Mediterranean classics, you will also find pizzas, burgers, healthy smoothie bowls to cocktails. It also has an in-house bakery and a coffee bar.
Address: House No. 460, Tembar, Anjuna Mapusa Rd, Asgaon
Over the last few years, the food and hospitality culture in Goa has seen a meteoric rise. From quaint cafes to full-fledged multi-cuisine dining establishments, there is no dearth of the best places to eat in Goa. You can visit the beach state multiple times and still have so many more options, yet to try and explore.
Plan a stay with Lohono Stays’ and we promise an addition of one more favourite meal to your Goa trip – the homecooked meals by our chefs. Each of our private villas in Goa is catered to by a trained team and qualified chefs who can prepare toothsome recipes of your choice. We assure you, a Lohono villa experience will also qualify as one of the best places to eat in Goa.
