20 Best Restaurants in Goa, India

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, crystal chandeliers, and wrought-iron decorative furniture.

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 home-style 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).

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. Thalassa also has fairly reasonably priced rooms on offer---book them well in advance.

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. It's closed all monsoon season, but usually reopens its doors in October.

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.

At the helm of this delightful Italian restaurant---one of Goa's best (so get there early if it's a weekend)---are Mario and Simona, who are hands-on hosts who tend to customers as well as cook. Their personal touch is evident in every plate the kitchen sends out. Reservations are recommended in the high season.

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.

Don't let the casual air of the palm trees and simple white 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.

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.

Housed inside the Hotel Mandovi, this beautifully decorated restaurant offers formal tables with floral upholstered chairs and tablecloths and intricate ceilings embellished with curlicue designs plus a handful of terrace tables. The menu here is extensive and varied, and features an array of Portuguese-influenced seafood dishes along with Chinese and Western fare at lunch and dinner.

Popular with locals and foreigners alike, this casual spot serves butter-laden dishes inspired by the cuisine of North India's Punjab region. It's situated within the Hotel Aroma, and is a great place to take an air-conditioned break from the intense shopping of 18th June Road.

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 seasonal 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.

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.