16 Best Hotels in North Goa, Goa

Right in the middle of acres of tropical foliage and within shouting distance of the sands of Candolim beach, this handsome and sprawling property provides an excellent base from which to explore North Goa. One large, five-bedroom villa, three two-bedroom cottages, and two Portuguese bungalows make up Aashyana Lakhanpal. The main villa is light, bright, and modern, with slate-lined water bodies and plush cream sofas. The double-bedded suites are furnished tastefully, with four-poster beds, modern art, and outdoor bathtubs in some, and private outdoor spaces in all. The casinhas are less trendy, but still lovely, with brightly colored open-air bathrooms and stone floors. Staff are extremely solicitous and on-hand to organize everything from massages to water sports or trips to the old town. There is a four-night minimum stay, which edges up to a seven-night minimum stay in peak season.

History, style, and attitude combine to make spending time in this 200-year-old Portuguese mansion turned boutique hotel a pleasure. Artfully put together public and private spaces feature stenciled walls with whimsical architectural details throughout, and the open-air lobby has high ceilings and comfortable old-world upholstered couches. A rooftop bar and restaurant serves Goan and continental dishes amid cool breezes and views of the countryside. Each of the guest rooms (some of which have balconies overlooking the garden or pool) is furnished with antique Goan and Balinese furniture, four-poster beds, and one-of-a-kind bedspreads.

This rambling, boutique hotel is one of the best places to stay in Baga—the lively beach scene is only a few minutes' walk away, and the friendly staff treat you like family, making up for any upkeep deficits. Open-air public spaces, including the lobby and bar, have private seating areas sheltered by varying levels of lush landscaping. Each room is different in size and character, so see what is available at check-in before settling in; choose a second-floor room for more privacy and better views. The finish in the bathrooms isn't very high-spec, but you're paying for location and for the cool, boutique-ey vibe. The restaurant specializes in Goan and Italian food.

Perched on a hillside high above the Arabian Sea, this smart and stylish contemporary hotel overlooks the wild beauty of Vagator Beach, which guests can reach by following a winding path that descends rather sharply. White leather sofas, glass tables, and designer lighting complete the look of the dining room and bar. The guest rooms have sleek built-ins, spare modern art on the walls, and comfortable beds. An open-air terrace bar is a lovely viewing spot for a dramatic sunsets.

On a 500-yard-long spit of outstretched private land, surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea and Otter Creek, this beautiful, small property has attentive service and comprises four elegant beach houses and three tents that are separated from the mainland by the saltwater creek—access is via a private bamboo footbridge. The beach houses sleep between two and six persons, depending on the house; each tent sleeps two in a double four-poster bed. The property is closed May through September.

In a quiet location off the main road near Candolim, this resort from the Fortune Hotels group resembles a classy Portuguese mansion and is competent and professional in its service and facilities. The property overlooks verdant rice fields and an imposing whitewashed church behind busy Candolim. A free shuttle service transports guests to nearby Candolim Beach, and the busy Calangute stretch is a short taxi ride away. All rooms come with balconies—ask for a pool-facing one.

This hotel occupies a 200-year-old restored Portuguese country house on an inland lane, and its small pool, lush garden, and simple, well-maintained rooms make it a well-priced place to stay in Anjuna. The multicuisine restaurant is a step up from the shack restaurants that line the beach. (Though "granpa" [sic] himself is long gone, and the place has changed management, the name has stuck as a mark of respect.)

A 10-minute walk from the beach, this quiet spot with elegant, minimalist cottages is in a tree-lined residential area. The cottages, each with one or two bedrooms, have soft lighting, entertainment areas with divans, and pretty blue bathrooms. The resort has an attractive pool, plenty of greenery, and a quiet restaurant if you don't want to trek to the other restaurants down the road.

A restored Portuguese villa with clean rooms and antique furniture, this heritage guesthouse is a popular place among those who know Goa well, and it's only about half a kilometer from here down to Sinquerim Beach. Rooms are sunny and bright, and many overlook a charming garden. It is on one of North Goa's narrowest lanes, behind the massive Taj resorts.

Roughly translated "a hidden dwelling," Nilaya is aptly named: this hip, hilltop retreat away from the beaches is etched out of laterite stone and enhanced with mosaic and ceramic tiles in a Goa-meets-Gaudi tableau. It's so remote that visitors who choose to leave the hotel will require taxis to do almost anything. But there are heavy incentives to stay: silk-lined daybeds by the pool, healthy and flavorsome food and drink, an excellent cocktail list, and an elevated view of the distant sea. For your guestroom, you can choose a suite or a tent; all have double beds. For a decadent day trip, ask about the property's beautiful 65-foot dhow (a teak sailing vessel) that can take you up the Chapora River.

Less than a kilometer from the beach (a complimentary shuttle bus makes regular beach runs), this beautiful boutique hotel built of laterite (a local red pitted stone) is far enough from the noise but close enough to be part of the action when you want it. It has old Portuguese floor tiles and an abundant, leafy garden, giving it an earthiness and warmth that's especially welcome in this overcrowded part of town. The rooms, all suites, are well designed, with paintings, sculpture, and custom colonial-style furniture. Each has its own private dining area and patio, with a detached garden or terrace. A complimentary shuttle bus makes regular beach runs.

For the old-world charm of an aristocratic family home, stay at this elegant Portuguese villa on the south bank of the Chapora River, now converted into an all-suites boutique hotel. Bought in 1996 and beautifully restored, this old mansion has huge airy bedrooms impeccably furnished with antiques, and spacious bathrooms, ornately decorated common areas, and a lovely courtyard at its center. A new bridge across the Chapora makes it easy to get to the beaches north of the river in Pernem, as long as you have a car or bicycle—it's about 6 to 7 km (4 miles) from Siolim House to the Pernem beaches.

Set in a Portuguese family home in one of North Goa's most charming villages, Sunbeam is owned by Indian stylist Jivi Sethi, whose lively, unabashed approach to design is seen throughout the property. Unexpected elements include a mirror-lined massage parlor, Goan antiques alongside modern Indian accents, and a colorful swimming pool featuring a not-at-all-subtle phallic fountain. Sethi's staff is attentive and the kitchen sends out wonderful food, from complex European fare and Thai food to homey Goan and simple breakfasts, all to be savored in the fuchsia-papered dining room.

Constructed within the boundary and adjoining the ramparts of an old Portuguese fort built in 1612, this hotel has gorgeous views of the fort, sea, and beach. Most of the rooms face the ocean and are furnished with contemporary Goan-style dark wood and cane furniture. If you crave seclusion, stay in the exclusive (and expensive) villas tucked into the hillside behind the resort (these used to be a separate property, known as the Aguada Hermitage). The restaurants, recreational facilities, and spa at the Taj Holiday Village next door are open to Fort Aguada guests as well.

Housed in charming Goan village–style cottages and villas that face lush gardens or the broad expanse of Sinquerim Beach, all guest rooms at this Taj resort include private terraces, luxurious bedding, marble bathrooms, and flat-screen TVs. The freeform pool affords both views of and access to the beach, and it's adjacent to the children's program facility. The three full-service restaurants specialize in Thai, Goan, and continental cuisine. Myriad recreational activities are offered for adults and children, and a world-class spa has ayurvedic treatments, yoga, and therapeutic massage in a serene setting.

Thatched and dome-shape roofs are tucked away in a shaded grove of palm trees at this fun and funky property just minutes from lovely Ashwem Beach. Guests have the choice of five Goan-style homes or the space-age domes, each equipped with a king-size bed and bathroom. The hotel's eco-friendly mission is reflected in the use of locally available materials, such as lava rock, palm leaves, grass, and local clays and sand. Morning yoga classes and ayurvedic treatments make this a special, if offbeat, retreat.