It seems every season in Goa restaurants close and new ones open that become the talk of the town. My favorites are still here thank God, but there are ones which I hadn’t yet discovered, and actual new ones that I’m loving! So I’ll share some old and some new best restaurants in North Goa to look out for the 2014-2015 season.
Usually I go into LOTS of detail on what I like to order (I have tried basically everything on every menu in Goa) but for the sake of my sanity I can’t do that on a list this long! I’ll tell you a little snapshot though of my top 15 then just list some after that. These are pretty much in order of how much I like them/ how often I go to them.
Many of these are listed in more detail in other posts from last year: 5 top restaurants in Goa, 10 more best restaurants in Goa.
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Best Restaurants in North Goa 2015
1. Thalassa // Vagator.
My favorite place to hang out for drinks, the best sunset spot in Goa, and delicious Greek food. She’ll do takeaway if you’re not up for a big night out, but Thalassa will always be my favorite place in Goa.
2. Go With the Flow // Baga.
This place JUMPED to the top of my list this year. I’m obsessed. I could eat here every day if I had the money. I love the goat cheese starter, momos with honey glaze, calamari (so good), and the PORK BELLY is divine on this apple puree with corn and bacon croquettes. I love the steak with prosciutto wrapped potato and the slow cooked lamb risotto. It’s Argentinean (or Brazilian) and the churros are SO good. They now serve Japanese food (sushi included).
3. Basilico // Anjuna.
One of my two favorite places for Italian food. I absolutely love the pizzas, broccoli gorgonzola starter, spicy clams, and the bolognaise. The desserts are to die for. Be sure to pre-order the crème brulee.
4. Sakana // Vagator Chapora ish.
It used to be the only Japanese restaurant I knew of in Goa, and although now there is some competition, Sakana is still my favorite place for Japanese. I love the beef yakiniku, chicken katsu, and momos. You should get a side of the gomae salad.
5. Villa Blanche // Assagao.
This little German café is right now the road from me. I love brunch here: bagels with cream cheese and ham, chicken salad with pineapple, German meatballs, and of course the Sunday brunch (book ahead).
6. A Reverie // Calangute.
This is the best place for fine dining in my opinion.Ever year they change the menu (sometimes going a bit overboard with funky names…) but luckily still have some of my favorites. The chicken “wing” starter, goat cheese salad, the steak with onion jam (which sadly no longer comes with mac n cheese), and the triple chocolate dessert. This is the best place for steak in Goa.
7. Baba Au Rhum // Anjuna.
A great place for lunch or dinner. They’ve relocated from Arpora to Anjuna this year just past Orchard’s. The new jungle spot is super cute. They make homemade ham which is killer on pizzas and crossaint and cheese sandwiches. It’s French but has a large variety and great pastries. Love the strawberry daiquiri.
8. Sublime // Morjim.
This is a famous little place right on the beach. The chef is known for being innovative. I love the mezze platter, chicken and lettuce wraps, blue cheese stuffed beef, and the calamari.
9. O Fogo // Panjim – REMOVED – SHUT DOWN.
10. Route 66 // Panjim
For a dose of America, I go here for nachos, burgers, fries, chicken wings, and even a coney dog. Heads up: lots of dijon mustard on everything, I usually ask for it on the side as it’s quite over powering. This is the closest food to American diner food I’ve found in Goa.
11. Fiesta // Baga.
I love Fiesta! It’s right on the beach (the shack side is anyways) and the steaks are divine, the goat cheese salad is so good, and I love the pizzas as well. Everything I’ve tried is yum.
12. Ciao Bella // Assagao.
This is a fabulous Italian place; it actually might be my favorite. It’s near my house and also does takeaway. On Saturday they do pizza. I love the mascarpone ravioli with bolognaise and the French onion soup. All the homemade pastas are good and usually the “special” appetizer of the day is something I order.
13. Wok n Roll // Sinquerim.
Delicious Southeast Asian food. The complimentary starter is super yummy. I love the beef in oyster sauce, drunken beef, dimsum, and honey-glazed spare ribs. Also the Malaysian roll (starter) and garlic peppered deep fried prawns. Fried icecream for dessert!
14. Artjuna // Anjuna
By no means fine dining, this is one of my most frequented lunch spots. I love the tuna sandwich, the mozeralla and pesto sandwich (all on homemade bread) and the ice tea because it’s all sugar and that’s right up my alley! They do really good hummus and tahini.
15. Café de Goa // Calangute
This is where I ate Sunday brunch all monsoon, and although brunch will end for peak season, it’s a great place for waffles, German food, and simple but tasty brunches. She makes great cakes to order for birthdays.
Honorable Mentions for Best Restaurants in North Goa
There are so many more that are SO good but there are too many to write about them all. The 15 above are my favorites, but here are some more that I love as well in case you’re bored of those ones.
Monkey Bar // Anjuna- Goan
Anand bar // Assagao- Goan
La Plage // Ashwem- French
Republic of Noodles // Candolim- SE Asian
Natti’s Naturals // Arpora- Health Food
Travel Bar // Candolim- Fusion
Lloyd’s BBQ // Candolim- Goan
Gunpowder // Assagao- S. Indian
J&A’s // Baga- Italian
Cantare // Saligao- Intercontinental
Scarlet Juice // Chapora- Juice
Rara Avis // Baga- French
Simply Thai // Vagator- Thai and French
Café Delicieux // Ashwem – French
Sur La Mer // Ashwem- Fusion/ Fine dining
Mainland China // Panjim- Chinese
Baba’s Wood Café // Panjim- Italian
Roma Pizza // Chapora- Do Delivery
Burger Factory // Anjuna – Burgers
Shamba // Anjuna – Intercontinental
LaMuella // Manrem or Arambol- Cafe
And here are some that are on my list of places to try once they open up for season!
Some of which I can’t believe I still haven’t gotten to because they just have rave reviews. I have a feeling by looking at the menu I-95 will be on the top of my list next year!
- I-95 // Saligao
- Chef Soumyens
- Bomras // Candolim
- Ernesto’s // Panjim
- Fellini’s // Arambol
- Thai n Wok // Panjim
- Oltremarino // Vagator
- Rockfish // Baga
Gaaaaah, Goa has been on my top three bucket list destinations for YEARS. I’ll get there, someday. At least now I know exactly where to eat, thanks for this great list!
Your welcome!
This is one awesome list, and sure I am going to check some of them on my next visit to Goa….
Enjoy !
Great list but I definitely think Pink Chilli should be mentioned! Awesome food and ambience :)
Ahhh good point! I have chatted with the woman who’s hubby owns it a few times and she’s so darn sweet! Somehow, I still haven’t actually sat down for a meal. Need to do that.
Ooooh yum!! I wish I had this list when I visited a couple of years ago! These all look so good :)
Thalassa was DELICIOUS – great recommendation! We’re a group of four traveling together and staying in the south – are there any fun spots to go out tonight (Tuesday, 11/18) in the north?
Thanks!
I’m not sure off hand, you should check whatsupgoa.com and they list the nightlife
Wow these look so good to me! I wish my town in China had this many options for international cuisine. I love how there’s almost no indian food on the list though ;)
Haha, yeah Indian made the honorable mentions :) I do eat locally a lot in my village, but I don’t like to share those places – gotta keep some secrets for myself.
Try Bhatti village at Nerul, it has the most awesome Goan cuisine I have eaten.
omgsh I have been hearing this for 2 years and STILL haven’t tried it!!! I really need to put it higher on my agenda. Maybe this week.
Have you tried Black Sheep Bistro? That tops my list of most innovative menu and the food is mind blowing!
Yes, check out my post on best food in Panjim :)
amazing..a treasure trove of food..and much more fun than reading about it in the lonely planet guide..thankyou..
Thanks :D !!
Thanks for the list, I think you’ve covered all the greats, plus there are a few we have yet to try…
Please try TAMARIN when you are next in the Calangute/Candolim area, we are located just before Travel Bar & Snip Spa. I think we will fit into your idea of fresh & flavoursome. We specialise in Mediterranean and Kashmiri. Don’t be put off by the odd combination they work!
Please note for your readers that Travel Bar is currently closed & J&As are also shut. There’s also a branch of Cafe Delicioux in Panjim with great pastries.
Hello, I’ll come give it a try! and thanks for info about travel bar and J&a.. why did travel bar shut?
Thanks for the list. We will be in the Goa area in less than a month!
Hi Rachel, Thanks for the list.. i am a big foodie and would be checking out most of the places once i be tbere next month.
Enjoy!
Hello,
Thank you so much for the blog, it helped us plan our Goa trip! We just came back yesterday from our holiday in India.
I have a question: We noticed that virtually every restaurant cooked with an insanely high amount of sodium. It was so bad that I started the conversation with the waiter asking for low salt, then no salt, as 50% of the time, the message didn’t seem to be communicated to the cook. Why so much salt? The spices are sufficient for flavor, so could it be about the heat and retaining fluids in hot climates? We’ve had a few totally ruined meals because of that. We had two meals at Indians’ homes, those were more reasonably salted, one of these meals had dishes prepared by several different people, all delicious (I’m awaiting the recipes!)
Thanks for any insight and any advice about communicating the request for low or no salt to the chef, for future trips!
Fabienne
Hi, I actually haven’t noticed this! I never put salt on my food, I don’t like things salty but I haven’t noticed it when out to eat. That’s a shame you had bad meals :(
hi, me and my partner are looking to come to goa in may next year, we know it will be hot and its end of season but its only time we can come. all these restaurants look amazing but im just concerned will everything still be open restaurants, bars etc in may? don’t want to come on a great holiday but have nowhere to drink eat etc?
any help would be greatly received
Hi Jon, I’ve written a post on this :) Goa restaurants and clubs open in monsoon