12 Best Restaurants in Goa, India

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.

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.

Cross the river, and you arrive at picturesquely situated Lila Café, by the banks of the Baga River. The daytime eatery is the perfect antidote to any late-night revelry and is popular among locals and tourists alike for its continental cuisine and freshly baked breads.

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.