Goa’s dining scene is among the best in the country. If any proof was needed, it came last night at the Condé Nast Traveller x Zomato Top Restaurant Awards 2024, where the state emerged with 10 spots on the top 50. Classic Goan flavours continue to rule menus, but receive modern touches along the way. Local ingredients now find their way into your cocktail glass as well, and the bar scene is among the most exciting in India.
#5 Bomras, Goa
When Bomras reopened in Anjuna in 2020, locals and tourists flocked right back to the restaurant like nothing had changed. The restaurant was earlier located in Candolim and is led by chef Bawmra Jap (regulars know him as Jap), a Kachin from northern Burma.
#8 Cavatina by Avinash Martins, Goa
Tucked away in breezy Benaulim in South Goa, Cavatina is a modern Indian restaurant with a Goan heart. Ingredients are sourced from around the state and creative cooking techniques lead to a reimagining of local classics.
#10 Izumi, Assagao, Goa
Izumi’s Assagao outpost opened in 2022 with expansive indoor-outdoor seating and a bar programme curated by Arijit Bose and Pankaj Balachandran. The greatest hits from chef Nooresha Kably’s Mumbai menu also feature on the Goa menu, along with a separate yakitori bar for tenderloin, chicken wings, charred Napa cabbage and chicken tsukune.
#11 Petisco Kitchen & Bar, Goa
In Portuguese, petisco means a snack or small piece of food—similar to the concept of tapas in Spain. At Petisco, the curated gastrobar menu led by chef Halton D’Souza features small and large plates meant to be shared across the table, such as the prawns a la plancha and pan-fried mackerel.
#15 Hosa, Goa
Pull up to Hosa, and your mouth is already agape, taking in the profile of a fetching Indo-Portugese bungalow—few pass through its doors without snapping a shot of the facade. Guests are greeted by high-ceilings and interiors by Rohini Kapur and Ashley Mascarenhas, the 100-cover restaurant spread out across an alfresco patio and six spaces decked out with splashes of greenery, tasteful tilework, and modern chandeliers.
Source: Conde Nast Traveller ( https://www.cntraveller.in/gallery/the-best-restaurants-in-goa-right-now-tra2024/ )