The 10 best bars in Goa
All our recommendations below have been hand-selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best bars in Goa. Find out more below, or for more Goa inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, beaches and things to do.
Find a bar by type:
Best for live music
Miguel's
On the edge of Goa's historic Latin Quarters of Fontainhas lies Miguel's, a bar that takes you away from the verdant pastures and beaches and back to the Twenties. The cocktail list draws from the established classics that were the choice of tipple by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Humphrey Bogart – but with a local twist. Their changing petisco menu (Portugal's version of small plates meant for sharing) is also popular with the locals who swear by the chorizo pao.
The Rice Mill
This former rice mill in Morjim has been repurposed into a café by day and turns into a chic jazz bar at night. Architect Raya Shankhwalker kept its exposed brick walls and incorporated earthy hues of mustard with bright shades of blue. Though the food menu is limited, the drinks menu is extensive. Don't miss the ros omelette, which pairs very well with their signature Goan cocktails, like the feni-infused old fashioned or the dill martini.
Back to index
Best for local flair
Boilermaker
One of the top-notch bars in Goa's up-and-coming Siolim neighbourhood, Boilermaker's décor is a blend of Goa's former shacks with neo-Brutalism. Apart from the excellent local beer, the drinks menu is thoughtfully designed, too. First, there are 'smashables', a list of easy drinking tipples; then 'sessionables', which offer cocktails with heavier ABVs, meant to be sipped at your own pace; and finally, a section dedicated to half-serves, so that you can try more from the menu in one sitting.
Contact: 0091 922 604 9851; instagram.com/boilermaker.goa
Price: ££
Getting in: Reservations essential
Cajy Bar
The tavernas in Goa serve as prime spots to mingle, chat and entertain, similar to the pubs in the UK. Cajy's has been one of Goa's oldest, dating back to the Seventies and has transformed itself today to cater to a wider demographic. Expect to see many locals enjoying local liquor, like feni, urrak (in the first month of summer) and beers. As it is still a family-run space, the food is humble too, serving nostalgic snacks like chicken cutlets and beef croquettes.
Contact: 0091 937 043 7069; instagram.com/cajybar
Price: £
Getting in: Walk-ins welcome
Tesouro
Right by Colva beach's vast shoreline is Tesouro, an award-winning neighbourhood taverna where the seasonal cocktails stand out more than the local beer and feni. This chic bar is ideal for kicking back with a drink after a swim or a stroll on Colva or Benaulim beaches, which are a mile away. There's also occasional live jazz here, but if you prefer a catch-up with minimal background music, then there's a quieter mezzanine level too.
For The Record Vinyl Bar
Often called just FTR by Goans, For the Record Vinyl Bar draws inspiration from Japan's listening bar culture. Here you'll find an impressive vinyl collection to browse through, curated playlists, a top-notch sound system and minimal decor. The founder, Buland Shukla, is a musician, audio engineer and an architect who wanted to create an intimate space in Panjim for people to enjoy music, excellent feni-based cocktails and superb local food.
Back to index
Best for upscale cocktails
After Dinner
After Dinner is the swanky, speakeasy cousin of well-renowned seaside bar Pisco by the Beach in Anjuna. As it's open only after dinner, it is the perfect spot for some revelry or a nightcap overlooking the sea. The dimly-lit, intimate 35-seater space offers a broad cocktail menu thanks to mixologist Harsh Pandya, who makes concoctions based on different rooms of a house. Order the favourites: Pandan Negroni or the Clarified Coffee Sour.
Hideaway
Often celebrated as one of the country's best jazz bars, Hideaway is where you'll see a bold and eclectic cocktail list, all colourfully illustrated and some with a hint of profanity. While you enjoy local bands playing jazz, try libations like the bright and light Babylon – combining vodka, passion fruit, coconut water and lemongrass oil – or the Jaywalker – a fun take on a mango lassi made with apricot brandy and combined with alphonso mango, amaretto and yoghurt.
Back to index
Best for sunset views
Slow Tide
The cocktails at Slow Tide are an ode to the hippy-packed days of Anjuna of the Sixties, where each drink provides a vivid description of the characters and legends that thronged to the village. Overlooking the beach, you'll come across tipples named Acid Eric, Amsterdam Dave, Rasta John and Don Xavier. There are regular bar and restaurant takeovers by chefs and mixologists from across the state and country, and the coastal food menu is perfect for a boozy, long lunch.
Bar Outrigger
It may be somewhat of a stretch to find Bar Outrigger, where you're instructed to go on a private road near Dona Paula Bay, but you're rewarded with an exquisite rum bar with stunning views of the sea. This spot was a former dry dock for fishing boats and now offers an extensive and playful menu with rum cocktails and potent rum blends. Try the refreshing tiki Negroni (banana rum, coconut Campari and ananas vermouth).
Back to index
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.
About our expert
Rashmi Narayan
Having spent my childhood summers in India's famous seaside state – my father's birthplace – I am often escaping the chaos of London for some much-needed susegad, the Goan attitude towards leading a relaxed life.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
James Bond ‘frontrunner' breaks silence on being linked with 007 role ahead of the release of history-making new series
BRITISH actor Mike Dickman has spoken about being linked with the vacant 007 role for the first time. The rising star, 40, is building an impressive portfolio after swapping a high-flying corporate career in the sports industry for his acting passion. 5 In just a few short years, he's had a cameo role in blockbuster Barbie, landed a supporting role in psychological thriller Secrets, which is released on Amazon on August 19, and will also feature prominently in upcoming series Gandhi - the first Indian series to premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. Earlier this year, bookies even listed him as a surprise frontrunner to replace Daniel Craig as Bond, along with household names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Hardy and Henry Cavill. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, affable Mike says: "It's crazy flattering to be mentioned in a bracket with all of those tremendous actors who have got a lot more experience than I do. "I don't know what to say, Dan. I mean, for all I know, you could be working for Blofeld [laughs]. "No, it's been really interesting to see what they end up doing with the project. It's obviously a whole rebirth of an incredible franchise, isn't it?" While Amazon MGM Studios may end up looking elsewhere for the iconic suave spy, there's no doubting Mike's star is on the rise. But the humble actor is all too aware productions are a collaborative effort and is effusive in his praise of his fellow cast and crew, complimenting Charlotte Jackson Colman, the former Sky Sports presenter who plays the lead role of Sammy in Secrets, and Gandhi lead Pratik Gandhi, who he calls "absolutely fantastic". The latter project is a retelling of political and philanthropic powerhouse Mahatma Gandhi's incredible life story, which was famously brought to the big screen by Sir Ben Kingsley in the 1982 epic. In the new series, Mike plays racist Captain Harry Sparks who tried to put a stop to Gandhi's time in South Africa. Originally, producers had intended to cast an Akrikaans speaking actor, but were impressed by Mike's ability to capture the accent. It's role that could further elevate his growing status in the industry. He says: "You never know in this industry if you're ever going to break out. "I think it's really hard to predict what it's going to be as well. I'm lucky I haven't experienced this personally yet, but I know people that have a whole body of work on TV or film, and then you think your role is going to be something and then decisions are made in the edit. "The storyline changes or whatever and suddenly your role is not quite what you thought it was going to be." He continues: "I'm extremely humbled, I guess, by some of the feedback I've had from the production team on Gandhi. And I think from my conversations with Hansal [Mehta, director], I think he sees it as quite a key role in the telling of the story. "I'm sure that he's done a brilliant job with the series. I mean, Pratik Gandhi, who's playing Gandhi, was absolutely fantastic to act opposite, because it's such an iconic kind of character acting role. "I know people might roll their eyes when you say things like this, but it is so true, like those actors that can do so much without doing anything, he's one of those. You just sort of standing there opposite him in a scene and you're like, oh, he's got a real presence. So that was that was really cool to witness." Before then, viewers can watch Mike, who is in a relationship with Heather Mills, flex is acting chops in Secrets as Robert, the partner of bereaved daughter Sammy [Jackson Colman]. The film begins with a brutal murder and follows Sammy as she delve back into a dark past she'd left behind. He says: "She starts witnessing a chain of events that she can't quite understand. She's not quite sure what's going on or why it's happening. "She doesn't have much support around her. She's come home, back to her hometown after the passing of her mother. And I suppose I attempt to be a kind of a rock and a support for her in the situation and and try and help her work out what's going on, because neither of us are aware of what mysterious events may have occurred in the past or what may be happening now, and what might be happening after that." Director Chris Norton was a powerhouse on the set, infecting those around him with his enthusiasm and keeping morale up even when they were shooting in breath-stopping sub zero temperatures. Norton has a cult following in America thanks to his previous Amazon film My Month With Mrs. Potter. 5 "I think he's able to craft a really interesting nuanced story that people can immerse themselves in and get involved in that's not obvious," says Mike. "It has plenty of twists and turns, but you really end up empathising with the characters. Highlighting Chris's commitment, Mike says: "We had one night where we filmed towards the end of the movie, we filmed a scene that took place in the middle of a forest in Surrey. And it was minus four, it was like the coldest day in January last year. "And everybody else is a bit delirious. We've gone numb by this stage. And Chris is rolling around in flip flops and a T-shirt just going, 'right, what's next? What's next? OK, I need to get that shot again'." There's not much time to dwell on Secrets' release though, as Mike is already hard at work on an adaptation of William Corlett's novel, Now and Then by Matt Weston. The relationship-driven coming-of-age drama has got Mike excited and he believes it's a film that will stand the test of time. He says: "It's about a kid at school who goes through a particular experience and struggles to kind of reconcile it and adapt his relationships in later life as a result. "We're hoping that will end up being a sort of a quintessential kind of British drama and one that people can come back to as well." There's little doubt that Mike will be on screen for a long time to come.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Virus cases rise among travellers returning to Britain
UK health authorities have urged holidaymakers to take precautions against mosquito bites due to a significant rise in chikungunya virus cases among travellers returning to Britain. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 73 cases of chikungunya between January and June 2025, a notable increase from 27 cases in the same period last year, with most linked to travel to Sri Lanka, India, and Mauritius. Chikungunya, spread by mosquito bites, causes sudden fever and joint pain, though serious complications are rare and there is currently no risk of onward transmission within the UK. The UKHSA has also detected the first three cases of the oropouche virus in the UK, all associated with travel from Brazil, which is spread by midge bites and causes flu-like symptoms. Officials advise travellers to use insect repellent, cover skin, and consider insecticide-treated bed nets, while also noting a rise in travel-associated cholera cases and a decrease in dengue and zika cases.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Dave Haslam headlines Stoke-on-Trent charity gig at Jollees
DJ Dave Haslam is preparing to play a charity gig in has previously played with acts including the Stone Roses and New Order, and is also credited as being an inspiration to the likes of the Chemical was resident DJ at The Hacienda and The Boardwalk in Manchester for years, and also appeared frequently at Golden in Hanley."It's big tunes, brilliant memories, and it's a charity night as well, of course. We're fundraising for a breast cancer charity called Fighting To Be Heard," he said of the gig at Jollees. He said Stoke-on-Trent was renowned for its nightlife in the 80s and 90s and that people had to go to nightclubs to hear the DJs of the era."It was the only place you could hear the tunes, and they were fantastic tunes. It was the first era of house music and techno, and it was a beautiful sense of community." 'Spirit of the era' Haslam said he tended to draw audiences of all said the older crowd enjoyed the nostalgia, while the younger members of the audience tended to enjoy the "very organic, very authentic" feel of an era where music was not as heavily charity was co-founded by one of Haslam's friends, Kate Rackham, who died at the age of charity helps people to cope with incurable secondary breast had done a number of charity events while she was alive, he said, and her husband is from Stoke-on-Trent."For me, it was in the spirit of the era to do something for charity like this, in memory of Kate and to raise money for the good work the charity continues to do."The Classic Memories night takes place at Jollees on Saturday. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
