30 Best Restaurants in Goa, India

A walk down a narrow alley in the Fontainhas district brings you to one of the city's best-value restaurants, where reliable Goan classics, conviviality, and bargain prices are the rule. Featuring the award-winning cuisine of chef Linda De Souza, this cheery hideaway is crowded with locals and tourists---indoor seating can get cramped, but tables are also available outside.

An institution among expats and regular visitors, this health-conscious garden restaurant offers a huge menu of Indian and international dishes that eschew meat, eggs, and dairy without compromising on taste. While the food is the big draw for many, vegan or not, the ambience is equally enchanting, with a mix of shaded and uncovered seating in an enchanting plant-filled courtyard.

In the tranquil, slow-paced old village of Raia is one of the best restaurants in the state, set in the late chef Fernando's country house. Now run by his wife, the restaurant serves classic Goan and Portugese-Goan dishes, and there's live music Thursday through Sunday.

Smack-dab in the middle of Panjim, this Goan institution is indisputably the best place in town for homestyle Goan food—and as most of the regulars are locals, the kitchen doesn't hold back on the spice. The menu is vast and enticing, so either visit as part of a large group, or when absolutely ravenous (but yet able to wait for a table; the service is brisk so the wait shouldn't be too long).

You can feel Goa's energy in full swing at this three-story gastropub, where patrons jam to live music, belt out their favorite songs at karaoke, or enjoy the occasional screen games. The creative menu features both small and large plates inspired by Goan classics, while the bar does a good line in cocktails---a feni (traditional Indian liquor) Manhattan and grapefruit G&T are house specials.

At this popular fine-dining restaurant, dishes are "re-visited, re-interpreted, and re-invented" with infused flavors, and all the food is beautifully plated. As the name suggests, A Reverie has a dreamlike, elegant ambience: the space is painted in warm earthy tones, but there are stylish overtones of bling; it's accented by dimmed lounge areas and wrought-iron decorative furniture.

Rugged Vagator Beach is the seductive backdrop for Mariketty Grana's popular whitewashed Greek restaurant, which is on top of a low cliff overlooking the rocky shores of Little Vagator. Thalassa's vibrant chef re-creates authentic food from her native Corfu, often served against a backdrop of live music and beautiful sunset views. 

The Goa Marriott's café and lounge, pronounced "As You Are," may be worth a visit for the bay views alone—fortunately, the quality of its limited yet choice menu won't disappoint, either. After dark, the coffee shop morphs into a relaxed evening lounge bar.

This charming little French pizzeria and bakery, in a sleepy residential lane off the busy Anjuna road, is open all day and well into the evening, but it's best for breakfast. The ambience here is laid-back, the views are noteworthy, and there are regular live music performances.

Tucked away in the bustling lanes of Anjuna, this restaurant is popular with locals and in-the-know tourists for its modern Burmese fare with a fusion twist. The atmosphere is both cozy and welcoming, with well-spaced tables bathed in the soft light from ceiling-hung lamps. They use herbs grown right in their own kitchen garden, adding a fresh touch to every bite.

This no-frills café is a local legend that has been dishing out hearty vegetarian food for more than 100 years. Early mornings see office-goers stopping by for a breakfast of tea and bhajis (flavorful vegetable curry eaten with bread or hot puris), while later, families attending services at the nearby Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church fill the seats. It's busy all day, so you might end up sharing a table with others. However, the atmosphere is all about enjoying the meal and moving on, so you won't feel out of place. 

Low-hung black lamps light a woven bamboo ceiling, and quintessentially Goan Mario Miranda cartoons enliven the walls at this restaurant inside the Caravela Beach Resort. Here, you'll find excellent fusion food and great desserts; unfortunately, it's only open for dinner.

This restaurant excels in serving inventive Goan fare crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Each plate is beautifully presented in the inviting, rustic ambience. The cocktail menu showcases local ingredients in a creative way. It's a popular choice in the area, so be sure to book in advance to snag a table.

Located right on Palolem Beach, this widely popular shack serves ridiculously good seafood---alongside a good range of meaty and vegetarian options---in an airy yet sheltered dining area. The bar does a good lineup of cocktails, making it a great location to relax with a drink while soaking in the sunset over the Arabian Sea.

Firmly established as the definitive destination for pizza (and giant calzones) in North Goa, Fellini is tucked away in the busy lanes of Arambol; it takes some finding, but it's worth the hunt. The interior is no-nonsense, with shack-style tables and seating.

Most Indian towns that are popular with overseas travelers have at least one “German bakery,” which in local parlance indicates a casual (and usually not German-run) eatery with a solid selection of baked goods. Anjuna’s German Bakery may very well be the best known such institution in the country, with its huge selection of cakes and pastries and delicious European-style dishes, with some Indian options. There are frequent live music performance with all types of music. 

Hearty dishes from India's southern coast are the specialty at this restaurant housed within a cozy Indo-Portuguese villa. Dine indoors or in the delightful garden area. As one of Goa's most popular restaurants with a loyal local following, tables fill up quickly, so it's best to book ahead---but if you find yourself waiting, the bar's standout cocktails offers a refreshing diversion.

Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tapas, along with excellent cakes, coffee, and cocktails, are served here under a tall, breezy bamboo roof, with the sea's soothing sound just below and lush greenery all around. This café is part of the Casa Jaali resort, which sits on a rocky peninsula that juts out into Patnem Beach. During the busy months of December and January, be sure to book a sea-view table in advance.

This local hot spot, also popular with in-the-know tourists, serves some of Goa's finest grilled steaks in a casual setting with attentive service. The menu also features a superb selection of cocktails to complement your meal, along with a diverse range of vegetarian and Indian dishes.

Don't let the casual air of the palm trees and simple tables of this down-to-earth shack fool you. Conceived in 2003 by three old friends, the restaurant has become a must-visit destination for any food lover passing through Goa, serving excellent French food as well as comforting burgers and grills. Dinner reservations are essential in the months of December and January.

For more than two decades, this celebrated family-run restaurant has been serving meticulously prepared Goan specialties to residents and visitors in the Majorda area. What started as a humble diner with just a few tables and chairs is now among the most popular places to eat in town, featuring a cavernous seating area and regular live music. The restaurant also offers a variety of continental and Indian-Chinese dishes.

Situated within the Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Morisco offers elegantly presented seafood, Indian, and continental cuisine and great views of Fort Aguada. While the food is upscale, with prices to match, the ambience is casual.

Slightly more expensive than is the norm in Goa, this Pan-Asian chain eatery inside the Lemon Tree Amarante Beach Resort features lovely interiors dominated by dark bamboo and sandstone with Indonesian accents. Diners can choose to sit at teppanyaki counters (with a built-in hot plate where the chef cooks and serves the food straight onto your plate) or at regular tables.

Located near the dramatic red cliffs of Vagator Beach, this restaurant has been the go-to spot for sushi and other Japanese fare in Goa for nearly 15 years. Its menu features teriyaki, katsu, yakiniku, udon and ramen, gyoza, and tofu dishes. There are options for vegetarians too, that goes well beyond just salads. The decor is simple with no excessive theatrics.

Fronting Morjim Beach, this restaurant features a chic taupe-and-white color scheme and comfy sofas under canopies. The menu is an enticing array of seafood, continental fare, pastas, and steaks. With DJ sets and innovative cocktails, Saz is an ideal spot for sundowner shots and a memorable evening by the sea. 

Popular with locals and foreigners alike, this casual spot serves butter-laden dishes inspired by the cuisine of North India's Punjab region. It is a great place to take an air-conditioned break from the intense shopping of 18th June Road. Plus, it has a garden terrace out back—a cozy spot to hang out.

Established in 1932, and now managed by the third generation of the Lobo family, this large, airy, no-frills restaurant on hectic Calangute Beach catches the exuberant sea breeze. The seafood is excellent, with a good selection of Goan and Western dishes, so it's no surprise that this place is almost always busy.

This seaside restaurant, a bit above Baga's many beach shacks, serves an astonishing variety of dishes in a casual setting that draws big crowds due to its location at the mouth of the river. It hosts very popular karaoke nights; if you're keen to watch or participate, it's worth calling ahead to see when they're on.

Located up a flight of stairs at the historic Panjim Inn, with indoor and outdoor seating, Verandah has an atmospheric location for those seeking a casual spot to sample tasty, fairly priced Goan cuisine or continental food. Check the daily specials, particularly for seasonal seafood items.