One of my favorite things about being an expat in Goa are all the food options here. I have made many lists, including my favorite restaurants in Goa but sadly most of these are all closed.
I’ve already explained a lot about what it’s like in Goa in monsoon, so please do check out that post first.
Don’t forget to pick up my Insider Guide to Goa and my Guide to India
General Goa Travel Tips
- Safety Tips For Solo Female Travel in Goa, India
- BEST Places to Visit in Goa in 3 Days
- 50 Things to Do in Goa
- Best Place to Stay in Goa
This is the time of year that most Indian families take their summer holiday to Goa; prices are cheaper and most of the party crowd has left. There are less backpackers and more Indian couples on their honeymoons in monsoon Goa. It’s all a bit more family friendly and laid-back, but the negative is there aren’t many places to eat and party.
I’ve made a list of places Ben, my friends, and I eat at in monsoon, as well as a few places to party. The trance scene is basically gone, but some clubs stay open. I am not mentioning ALL the places open in monsoon, just the ones I eat at for your reference. There are many more in Baga, Candolim, and Calangute, that are okay but we never go to. If you want more places and to know if there are any extra parties going on you can check out What’s Up Goa.
For more tips on Goa check out my 170-page e-book, Insider’s Guide to Goa. After five years of living in Goa, I am confident this book is the most comprehensive, up-to-date guide to Goa plus it has all my secrets inside. Click here to buy it now.
Food in Goa during Monsoon
Anjuna
- Artjuna // Great lunch food, there is a shop here as well, love salads and sandwiches
- Zorba // owned by Mariketty of Thalassa, great food, live music – try the latin burger
- Guru bar // a tourist hang out in Anjuna, decent food at low prices, overlooks sea, shops nearby
- Curlies // beach shack, popular with locals and backpackers, cheap, decent food at the sea
- Eatopia // intercontinental and Indian, not the best but we grab parcels sometimes
- Tamarind Hotel // good Indian, they deliver, has live music
- Bellisima // inside Laguna Anjuna – good affordable Italian food (music on Fridays)
Baga/ Calangute / Candolim area
- Wok n Roll // S.E. Asia restaurant in Candolim, one of our favorites
- Travel Bar // Fusion food in Calangute, has great steak, pork chops, and seafood soup (closed for renovation)
- Cantare // All kinds of delicious food in Saligao, love the salads
- Lloyd’s BBQ // famous BBQ place in Candolim
- Riverhouse // Baga, awesome international food, in the Thalassa fam
- Republic of Noodles // Chinese & more in Calangute, another one of our favorites
- The Sofala // Nerul is a hotel with restuarant and bar, serves Sunday brunch from 12-4 for Rs. 1,000 including alcohol
- Kapriz // Fusion restaurant in Baga also has a brunch on Sundays
- Café De Goa // German in Calangute, great sandwich, quiche, bakery, and waffles! Sunday buffet is amazing.
- Cavala // great starters in Baga, live music on Friday’s, love the lamb lasagna
- Britto’s // Indian and seafood in Baga, a hugely popular restaurants tourist frequent, nice schnitzel too
- Fiesta Beach Shack // delicious steak, appetizers, and pizza. Closed in July only
- La Brise // inside the Novotel Hotel (also at the night market during season)
- Koi // Candolim, very good Asian food from all over (duck rolls are amazing)
- Chicken Man // rotisserie chicken with sides, American style, very tasty, delivers
Arpora
- Pink Chili // yummy affordable Indian food, across race car track
- Nattis Naturals // healthy food which is closed only July
- Lotus Blossom // yummy Thai food, should start delivering this monsoon
Assagao
- Ciao Bella // awesome Italian place, closes the month of July usually
- Soro // pub style, live music, pretty cool
- Ruta’s //cafe with great quesadillas and hummus
- Gunpowder // South Indian food
Panjim
- Mainland China // there is a buffet on Sundays
- Black Sheep Bistro // European, great for drinks
- Baba’s Wood Café // Italian just outside Panjim (on maps)
- Taj Vivanta // part of the Taj hotel, they have sushi
- Mum’s Kitchen // Goan food
- Pizza Mia // delivers – NYC style pizza
Vagator / Chapora
- Sri // a place with everything on the menu in Vagator, frequented by tourists and locals, plus is inexpensive
- Waters // a restaurant and club in Vagator, a little pricier
- Roma Pizza // Chapora, they deliver and we love them
- My Place // Italian in Chapora
Others
- Mustard // Sangolda, you can find on Google maps, Bengali mixed with French
- Grand Hyatt // intercontinental in Bambolim, have a champagne Sunday brunch
- At the roundabout on the way to Anjuna or Arpora is a guy who sells delicious beef sandwiches
- Worse case scenario you can order Dominos, pick up KFC (they deliver nearby), and Baskin Robbins is open or pick up meat from Ajay’s market in Mapusa and cook something at home!
Where to Sleep and Shop in Monsoon
When it comes to food, we often have to leave our side of town and head into Candolim / Calangute / and Baga. Anjuna and Vagator kind of die in monsoon. When people want to know where to stay, only in monsoon do I say maybe stay near Candolim because it will save you money on taxis. If you are renting a scooter, then I still think you should stay in Anjuna / Vagator side and just ride into the busy areas for food and nightlife. Probably best not to try Mandrem or Arambol as they really die out in the monsoon.
For me, I would stay in Siolim, Saligao, or Parra and hire a car to get around.
Favorite places to stay in Goa
cheapest places to stay in Goa
Wildflower villa
For shopping, as mentioned Artjuna has a shop as well as Cafe de Goa. Rust is open. There are shops up and down the road in Candolim and Calangute, like Queen Bee, Malini Ramani, Rangeela, and Private Collection.
The markets are all closed but some designers stick around. I’ve told you about them in my International Boho-chic series, so the best thing to do is contact them to go see their showrooms at home.
via Dadablui Fb page
Parties in Goa during Monsoon
Check whatsupgoa.com to see what is happening each night. I’m only listing a few here.
- Waters // a club in Vagator has parties on Friday and Saturday
- Kapzensuppe and Bubble Brunch // are in Chapora have off and on nights so you have to check WUG as linked above
- Cape Town Cafe // Baga
- Mambos // Baga
- Sinq // Candolim
- Cavala // Friday night live music in Baga
- Cohiba // next to Wok n Roll, Sinquerim
- Club Cubana // Arpora, has ladies’ nights (check their website – not sure in monsoon)
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If the posts continue like this, goa tourism board is going to hire you as their GOA Ambassador
hahaha, yes please tell them that :)
oh my gosh that first photo looks amazing! can you do a post on how the eurail pass works? i want to hop around europe for a bit after my se asia trip, so i was curious about it all!
Hi, it’s been so long since my last time with a eurail pass, I don’t think I’d be much help. I had AAA back then and bought it through them at a discount I believe.
Hi Rachel, you could add Maracas in Porvorim to your restaurant list and Cheenos on Baga Bridge to your night life list. Great article though!
I haven’t tried either, but once I do I sure will!
Oh ho–those things at the top really caught my eye. They suspiciously look like my chocolate eclairs. (Those things are too good for MY own good). ;) And all that other food! It’s interesting to see how other people cook, what foods and flavors they come up with. But it’s good to know that if I want something akin to hometown food, they have a BBQ!
haha I think they are eclairs! I’ve actually never eaten one. I’m not big on sweets that are pasty-like.
I really wish that I knew this blog when I was in Goa for three months in the beginning of the year!! Anyway, it’s not my last time there, I had the time of my life :) Awesome blog!! Take care!
I’m glad you’ve found it now! thanks for reading!
Lovely collection you have out here in your article. Im reading this a year later.. but then its monsoon season again ;)
thanks!
Hi Rachel,
read your blog on Goa it is really helpful will be coming to Goa on 20th August, need to know, which places to visit for nightlife, and good pubs
Thanks in advance
Regards
@Rachel Jones- Hippie in Heals- La Brise By Novotel its worth the try. The only beach dining on Candolim open 365 days…
lovely..
thankyou as i was in a dilemma whether to visit goa in june second week this year but now i feel i will surely visit.Can u help me with hotels as i am not finding much discounts on 4 n 5 stars wn booking online.loads of gratitude……
Hi I am planning to visit between 01st July 2016 till 5th July 2016. Can you please guide what all can be included and what options do I have.
hI rachel,
Totally loved your blog !! Was Planing a trip to north Goa Mid June,was wondering if the beach shacks would be operational in candolm,calungate and baga ?
someone told be even the bigger shacks like Calamari are usually shut in June due to Monsoon.
Tia
Yeah, all actual beach shacks do shut because they are made from just bamboo, etc so they tear them down. Some that are “shacks” but not actually shacks *permanent structures* do stay open so it will vary. You’ll find places to go in that area for sure!
thx. any chance of a list of South Goa restaurants that remain open during the monsoons?
Martin’s Corner stays open, I think Zeebobs – but ciarans closes and most that are on the beach
Nice post. Will there be any restaurants like the kind you mention for the North, open in the Palolem area and/or clubs like silent noise during the monsoon? Thanks.
Are you sure that all the restaurants mentioned above are open during the monsoons?
This post is from 2013, so many places are added that are not yet on this list. But after scanning quickly, I think travel bar didn’t open at all this year, fiestsa beach shack i’m not sure, and riverhouse hasn’t decided yet but are open now. Cafe de goa is shutting down forever, Zorba is now closed this monsoon. the rest are open and should stay open.
curlies and shiva valley ? hilltop and 9bar?Are these happening?
curlies is open in monsoon for sure. i think 9 bar too. not hilltop and shiva valley
Can you tell whether cruise ride is available in Goa during monsoon
Is the psytrance scene completely gone during monsoon season? I will be there for the first two weeks in August and saw that there was a HillTop monsoon blast festival on last year in mid-August. Can’t see anywhere if its on this year, have you heard of this festiva? Are there any other psytrance places open during August? Thanks
They do usually have one party in the monsoon. You can check GSOM (goa state of mind) or 9 Bar for parties but in monsoon they won’t be huge parties just smaller local vibes
Feels really good to read about the place I am from through a tourists point of view and I must say you have done very well… I have tried and been to most of the places you have mentioned and I do agree they are worth it. Keep them posts coming… Proud Goan!
will thalasa be open in july?
No.
Hi Rachel, blog is great but bit old. I need urgent help as i am planning for a goa trip from july 5-7. Can you pls suggest the places?? How about palolem?
Hey Rachel. Loved your blog. Quite informative! M planning for Goa in September 3rd week. Please suggest some real good cafes & restaurants to enjoy amazing food & places to party! I know its an off season and would be less crowded and most places would be shut down, still need to list out some great places to eat and party to avoid wasting time searching for one! Thanks in advance :)
How’s Goa during Ganesh Chaturthi? M afraid, the clubs, cafes would shut down or what? I have planned my holiday during Ganesh Chaturthi itself. Please suggest!
my trip is finalized in august. Need some tips to do in mansoon. although i have been there in November.
Your posts still help me today.
Will miss your informative posts that are so well put together.
This was extremely helpful! Love your energy and first-hand experiences. :)
Hey Rachel..!! Your articles are just fabulous. I’ve been searching all over the Internet for getting my questions answered about goa. But no where I found them until i visited your site. Thanks a lot.
We’ve planned to visit goa for 3 days on our first wedding anniversary that’s on 5th july 2019. I’ve booked resort rio for 4 nights. I need a little help. Can you suggest me some good places to visit with my wife to have a romantic time there.