The Local Guide
Neighbourhoods
Located in Panjim, Fontainhas, also known as Goa’s Latin Quarter, is flanked by an ancient creek called Ourem Creek to the east and the Altinho hills with springs to the west.
Fontainhas is best explored on foot, and strolling among its narrow cobbled streets will definitely transport you back in time.
Marvel at the old Portuguese houses that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Painted in hues of green, pale yellow, and blue, along with red-coloured tiled roofs, artistic doors, and overhead balconies, you’ll instantly fall head over heels with the rows of traditional Portuguese houses and cottages that cover the narrow, winding landscape. There are cute little cafés and bakeries that are over 100 years old dotting the streets of Fontainhas.
With colourful Portuguese-style houses and beautiful street art on the walls, the Latin Quarter itself is a wonderful work of art.
Places to visit:
Gitanjali Gallery - Contemporary art as well as a vast collection of Scandinavian art from the 1950s to ’90s.
Velha Goa Galeria - Traditional hand-painted azulejos (tin-glazed ceramic tiles).
Maruti Temple
Fonte Phoenix (Fountain of Phoenix) - Natural spring. t
Fontainhas festival (held in Feb) - Art and cultural festival in which the historic houses are transformed into art galleries with locals putting on display their artworks that showcase the Goan heritage. In addition to that, musical and dance events are also held.
Where to eat & drink:
Viva Panjim - Goan and Portuguese cuisine.
Horse Shoe - Goan and Portuguese cuisine.
Hospedaria Venite - Seafood and local Goan delicacies.
Joseph Bar - Local Taverna
Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro - Bakery
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Fontainhas
Rua de NatalLocated in Panjim, Fontainhas, also known as Goa’s Latin Quarter, is flanked by an ancient creek called Ourem Creek to the east and the Altinho hills with springs to the west.
Fontainhas is best explored on foot, and strolling among its narrow cobbled streets will definitely transport you back in time.
Marvel at the old Portuguese houses that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Painted in hues of green, pale yellow, and blue, along with red-coloured tiled roofs, artistic doors, and overhead balconies, you’ll instantly fall head over heels with the rows of traditional Portuguese houses and cottages that cover the narrow, winding landscape. There are cute little cafés and bakeries that are over 100 years old dotting the streets of Fontainhas.
With colourful Portuguese-style houses and beautiful street art on the walls, the Latin Quarter itself is a wonderful work of art.
Places to visit:
Gitanjali Gallery - Contemporary art as well as a vast collection of Scandinavian art from the 1950s to ’90s.
Velha Goa Galeria - Traditional hand-painted azulejos (tin-glazed ceramic tiles).
Maruti Temple
Fonte Phoenix (Fountain of Phoenix) - Natural spring. t
Fontainhas festival (held in Feb) - Art and cultural festival in which the historic houses are transformed into art galleries with locals putting on display their artworks that showcase the Goan heritage. In addition to that, musical and dance events are also held.
Where to eat & drink:
Viva Panjim - Goan and Portuguese cuisine.
Horse Shoe - Goan and Portuguese cuisine.
Hospedaria Venite - Seafood and local Goan delicacies.
Joseph Bar - Local Taverna
Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro - Bakery
Old Goa, also called Velha Goa, is beside the Mandovi River in the western Indian state of Goa. The former capital of Portuguese India, it's known for colonial-era monuments like the Basilica of Bom Jesus, with the remains of St. Francis Xavier, and the domed Church of St. Cajetan, inspired by St. Peter’s in Rome. Nearby, the vast Se Cathedral, built in the 16th–17th centuries, has ornate chapels and a bell tower.
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Velha Goa
Old Goa, also called Velha Goa, is beside the Mandovi River in the western Indian state of Goa. The former capital of Portuguese India, it's known for colonial-era monuments like the Basilica of Bom Jesus, with the remains of St. Francis Xavier, and the domed Church of St. Cajetan, inspired by St. Peter’s in Rome. Nearby, the vast Se Cathedral, built in the 16th–17th centuries, has ornate chapels and a bell tower.
Cafes / Restaurants / Bars / Nightlife
Thalassa, which is also the Greek word for ‘sea’, gets the vibe just right. With food that’s bursting with flavour, thanks to Mariketty's keen eye for supervision and detail. Not just a gracious host, she manages to bring her childhood wrapped up in delectable Greek and other Mediterranean recipes at Thalassa, making the food rather unputdownable. The Mediterranean prawn platter, flaming saganaki, steamed mussels in ouzo sauce, small Greek chicken pizzas, king prawns in garlic sauce, souvlakis (both beef and vegetarian) and pork gyros are a must-try. If you’d like to indulge your sweet tooth, choose amongst their creamy cheesecakes or the homemade Greek yoghurt.
If you’re looking for a sparkly night, at Thalassa you’ll almost never go wrong. The music and ambience is magnetic, spruced up with live Greek dance performances like Sirtaki and Zorba, as well as live fire shows, music and of course the glorious sunsets on the horizon where the river meets the sea.
The restaurant, true to its Greek origins is done up purely in white, with white cane chairs set along the riverside, with the azure waters in the vista beyond. Head there early, because these seaside tables are usually the first to get taken. Ideally, if you’re headed there for sunset, make a reservation, but make sure to stick to the time. They’re usually brimming with people around then, so won’t hold the table for you too long.
Most Popular time to visit: Most days for sunset & dinner.
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Thalassa
301/1 VaddyThalassa, which is also the Greek word for ‘sea’, gets the vibe just right. With food that’s bursting with flavour, thanks to Mariketty's keen eye for supervision and detail. Not just a gracious host, she manages to bring her childhood wrapped up in delectable Greek and other Mediterranean recipes at Thalassa, making the food rather unputdownable. The Mediterranean prawn platter, flaming saganaki, steamed mussels in ouzo sauce, small Greek chicken pizzas, king prawns in garlic sauce, souvlakis (both beef and vegetarian) and pork gyros are a must-try. If you’d like to indulge your sweet tooth, choose amongst their creamy cheesecakes or the homemade Greek yoghurt.
If you’re looking for a sparkly night, at Thalassa you’ll almost never go wrong. The music and ambience is magnetic, spruced up with live Greek dance performances like Sirtaki and Zorba, as well as live fire shows, music and of course the glorious sunsets on the horizon where the river meets the sea.
The restaurant, true to its Greek origins is done up purely in white, with white cane chairs set along the riverside, with the azure waters in the vista beyond. Head there early, because these seaside tables are usually the first to get taken. Ideally, if you’re headed there for sunset, make a reservation, but make sure to stick to the time. They’re usually brimming with people around then, so won’t hold the table for you too long.
Most Popular time to visit: Most days for sunset & dinner.
With an expansive outdoor ambiance and great comfort food, Calamari Bath & Binge is one of the best places in Candolim to enjoy a meal with a view. Drop by to experience gorgeous sunsets, tuck into comfort cuisine or unwind with a pint or two on their sunbeds; Candolim is an ideal beach shack for calamari and calm.
Great food, chill music and service make Calamari Bath & Binge a popular hangout joint in Candolim, but it’s the ambience that keeps both locals and tourists coming back. Settling down for a meal at one of the tables here will bless you with gorgeous views of the sea, and if you like to laze around on the sunbeds, you’ll never get tired of the panoramic views of the ocean and sound of the waves.
This family friendly restaurant is great for lunch as well as dinner, and if you’re a solo-traveller you’ll love the privacy of the sunbeds. Get yourself a pint or two, bring your book along, and settle down for the day as the service is extended to the sunbeds too.
They are open only from November till April.
Most Popular time to visit: Most days for lunch or dinner.
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Calamari Bathe & Binge - will reopen in October
With an expansive outdoor ambiance and great comfort food, Calamari Bath & Binge is one of the best places in Candolim to enjoy a meal with a view. Drop by to experience gorgeous sunsets, tuck into comfort cuisine or unwind with a pint or two on their sunbeds; Candolim is an ideal beach shack for calamari and calm.
Great food, chill music and service make Calamari Bath & Binge a popular hangout joint in Candolim, but it’s the ambience that keeps both locals and tourists coming back. Settling down for a meal at one of the tables here will bless you with gorgeous views of the sea, and if you like to laze around on the sunbeds, you’ll never get tired of the panoramic views of the ocean and sound of the waves.
This family friendly restaurant is great for lunch as well as dinner, and if you’re a solo-traveller you’ll love the privacy of the sunbeds. Get yourself a pint or two, bring your book along, and settle down for the day as the service is extended to the sunbeds too.
They are open only from November till April.
Most Popular time to visit: Most days for lunch or dinner.
This new immersive Asian dining in Panjim is novel in more ways than one. Thankfully for us, it's not going to be a seasonal beauty so we're hoping to spend a rainy weekend here in the balcony, overlooking one of Panjim's pretty street corners. The interiors are equally (if not more) charming. So, go, get yourself their oak barrel aged whisky cocktails, some fine Asian fare and you're set. We recommend day drinking (Blush Of Rose cocktail FTW) and Goan chorizo fried rice, Udon noodles with pork belly and Vietnamese style beef.
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Tataki - Immersive Asian Dining
Mahatma Gandhi RoadThis new immersive Asian dining in Panjim is novel in more ways than one. Thankfully for us, it's not going to be a seasonal beauty so we're hoping to spend a rainy weekend here in the balcony, overlooking one of Panjim's pretty street corners. The interiors are equally (if not more) charming. So, go, get yourself their oak barrel aged whisky cocktails, some fine Asian fare and you're set. We recommend day drinking (Blush Of Rose cocktail FTW) and Goan chorizo fried rice, Udon noodles with pork belly and Vietnamese style beef.
Burger Factory in Morjim is the perfect place to watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea, while you eat delicious artisanal burgers with thin, crisp hand-cut potato chips and sample some original cocktails.
Without a doubt the best burgers in Goa.
Most Popular time to visit: All day.
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CLOSED Burger Factory Morjim
Burger Factory in Morjim is the perfect place to watch the sunset over the Arabian Sea, while you eat delicious artisanal burgers with thin, crisp hand-cut potato chips and sample some original cocktails.
Without a doubt the best burgers in Goa.
Most Popular time to visit: All day.
A Reverie is a fine-dining restaurant serving molecular gastronomy food that is perfect for most occasions, like a date or even just a relaxed evening.
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A Reverie
A Reverie is a fine-dining restaurant serving molecular gastronomy food that is perfect for most occasions, like a date or even just a relaxed evening.
Baba au Rhum is idyllically located near Bamboo Forest on the Anjuna - Baga backstreet. The café is charming, serene and blissfully laidback. The mood here at Baba au Rhum is always friendly and relaxed. Music from across the world plays over the speakers all day and guests here often linger long after their plates are empty.
Most Popular time to visit: All Day
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Baba Au Rhum
Baba au Rhum is idyllically located near Bamboo Forest on the Anjuna - Baga backstreet. The café is charming, serene and blissfully laidback. The mood here at Baba au Rhum is always friendly and relaxed. Music from across the world plays over the speakers all day and guests here often linger long after their plates are empty.
Most Popular time to visit: All Day
Ping’s Bia Hoi is a Vietnamese beer garden meets Southeast Asian street food haunt in Sangolda. A peppy, kitschy, music-filled garden, this one sits perfectly in chef Picu Gomes’ family home and makes possibly the most irresistible Philadelphia Cream Cheese Dim Sums ever. The colourful barber shop kiosk, the clothes lines at the entrance, the flower baskets are a slice of a typical Hanoi market set right in the heart of North Goa.
Pings
Ping’s Bia Hoi is a Vietnamese beer garden meets Southeast Asian street food haunt in Sangolda. A peppy, kitschy, music-filled garden, this one sits perfectly in chef Picu Gomes’ family home and makes possibly the most irresistible Philadelphia Cream Cheese Dim Sums ever. The colourful barber shop kiosk, the clothes lines at the entrance, the flower baskets are a slice of a typical Hanoi market set right in the heart of North Goa.
Open all year round, and one of the only places in Goa serving home-style unique Israeli food, other than other popular Mediterranean dishes is Café Artjuna.
They even have yoga, Muay Thai and other activities that take place in their beautiful property. The café is spread across a large shaded garden, decorated quirkily with tables that have sand art inside them, to decorative middle-eastern style colourful lamps. And now they are open for dinner, with exclusive daily specials that offer an even more extensive variety in their repertoire of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Contact No: 0832 2274794
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Artjuna
940 Market RdOpen all year round, and one of the only places in Goa serving home-style unique Israeli food, other than other popular Mediterranean dishes is Café Artjuna.
They even have yoga, Muay Thai and other activities that take place in their beautiful property. The café is spread across a large shaded garden, decorated quirkily with tables that have sand art inside them, to decorative middle-eastern style colourful lamps. And now they are open for dinner, with exclusive daily specials that offer an even more extensive variety in their repertoire of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Contact No: 0832 2274794
Over the years, Candolim has become a favourite among the travellers flocking to Goa — this stretch has some of the best eateries in the area. The newest among them is Davide’s Pizzeria — a pizzeria set up in a beautiful garden restaurant, that deserves all the hype that it's getting.
Contact No: +91 9136551605
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Davide's Pizzeria
Porta VaddoOver the years, Candolim has become a favourite among the travellers flocking to Goa — this stretch has some of the best eateries in the area. The newest among them is Davide’s Pizzeria — a pizzeria set up in a beautiful garden restaurant, that deserves all the hype that it's getting.
Contact No: +91 9136551605
If you ask any of the locals where to go to party in Goa, and especially on a Friday night: the answer will most probably be Cavala.
What Is It?
Though it is no longer the quintessential local bar and tourists have discovered it a while back, it still manages to retain its loyal Goan customers. They are the ones who will be busy jiving away, knowing all the other regulars, and the staff there, as well as Marius of course.
Contact No: +91 83900 55518
Most Popular time to visit: Friday, 9 pm onwards.
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Cavala
If you ask any of the locals where to go to party in Goa, and especially on a Friday night: the answer will most probably be Cavala.
What Is It?
Though it is no longer the quintessential local bar and tourists have discovered it a while back, it still manages to retain its loyal Goan customers. They are the ones who will be busy jiving away, knowing all the other regulars, and the staff there, as well as Marius of course.
Contact No: +91 83900 55518
Most Popular time to visit: Friday, 9 pm onwards.
A new take on the Retro Pub experience! With the rustic & soothing ambience of a quaint little Goan bar, Soro’s fusion cuisine leaves you with a Goan experience that will have you coming back for more. Live music and entertainment throughout the week makes this a must-stop destination for every traveller.
Contact No: +91 98819 34440
Most Popular time to visit: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 pm onwards.
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Soro - The village pub
A new take on the Retro Pub experience! With the rustic & soothing ambience of a quaint little Goan bar, Soro’s fusion cuisine leaves you with a Goan experience that will have you coming back for more. Live music and entertainment throughout the week makes this a must-stop destination for every traveller.
Contact No: +91 98819 34440
Most Popular time to visit: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 pm onwards.
Sightseeing
This restored 16th-century fort offers sweeping river & sea views, along with a cultural center.
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Reis Magos Fort
Nerul - Reis Margos RoadThis restored 16th-century fort offers sweeping river & sea views, along with a cultural center.
The Panjim Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is placed on the hillside and just high above the Idalco Palace built by Adil Shah. Standing on the gallery of the church, you can see the entire view of the lovely Panjim city. It is one of Panjim's best attractions located in the heart of Panjim city and is the first church of Goa, built in 1541.
The decoration of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church is simple, but still it is amazing to the eyes because of it simplicity.
The area above the church on hilltop is called Bairro Altos de Pilotos because large beacons used to be lit here to guide ships into the estuary before the light house. On the right side of the church down to the lane little further is Secretariat Building. A few steps down the lane is Jama Masjid and built in is a Muslim College. Further on the street is the Hindu Mahalaxmi Temple which is main temple in Panjim, In front of the church is the view of Municipal Garden, hotels, boutiques etc.
Church Square
The Panjim Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is placed on the hillside and just high above the Idalco Palace built by Adil Shah. Standing on the gallery of the church, you can see the entire view of the lovely Panjim city. It is one of Panjim's best attractions located in the heart of Panjim city and is the first church of Goa, built in 1541.
The decoration of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church is simple, but still it is amazing to the eyes because of it simplicity.
The area above the church on hilltop is called Bairro Altos de Pilotos because large beacons used to be lit here to guide ships into the estuary before the light house. On the right side of the church down to the lane little further is Secretariat Building. A few steps down the lane is Jama Masjid and built in is a Muslim College. Further on the street is the Hindu Mahalaxmi Temple which is main temple in Panjim, In front of the church is the view of Municipal Garden, hotels, boutiques etc.
Tipps für Reisende
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B Live Electric Bike Tours
Curated tours give you wholesome insights into local history, culture, architecture and art. They also come packed with small surprises like a meal at a 200-year-old house, a musical performance or a stopover at a local poi seller’s bakery. You can pick ones around Panjim that narrate the story of its making and offer a peek into the culture, one that takes you through Old Goa or explore Divar Island’s many nooks and crannies.
Not only are these e-bikes non polluting, they’re easy on the knees too.
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Rent a self drive bike or car.
Taxi's in Goa can be really expensive. If you are comfortable riding or driving, we suggest to hire a self drive bike or car.
NOTE: NOT FOR beginner riders & drivers. If you need a taxi, we suggest you use the GoaMiles app.