{The Definitive Guide to Goa} 2017-2018 Welcome to Goa!
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{the definitive guide to Goa} 2017-2018 Welcome to Goa! At Isprava, we believe that Goa is the perfect holiday destination. We have explored Goa’s rich history and heritage and brought it into our homes. We appreciate the juxtapositions that can be found in Goa; the 16th century history against vibrant neighbourhoods; the calm beaches against crowded shacks; the energetic parties against tranquil hideaways. It is no surprise that travel guides are replete with recommendations for tourists. Goa is Isprava’s first home, hence we personally wanted to help you make the most of your time here with our specially-curated, local-approved, ‘Discover’ – Isprava’s definitive guide to Goa. This guide is filled with everything from little-known tips and tricks for navigating this spectacular state, to our inner knowledge of popular and off-the-beaten-track stores, restaurants, bars, beaches, and getaways. Whether you plan to slip away, live it up, or just blend in, we hope that our ‘Discover’ will be your guide to the first of your many adventures, friendships and memories. Regards, Nibhrant Shah Founder and CEO, Isprava SECTION TWO {beaches and SECTION FIVE islands} {sundowners} SECTION TEN SECTION ONE Agonda Antares {supermarkets and {grub hubs} Galgibaga Teso Elevar Ciao Bella Ashwem chemists} Chronicle Thalassa Morjim SECTION EIGHT Delfinos Hy Mart Mandrem 7, The Cliff Bar Oxford Arcade Burger Factory {festivals and Palolem Savitri La Plage events} Gunpowder Querim SECTION SIX Orchard Stores Divar Island {3am hunger Carnival Newton’s Supermarket Baba Au Rhum Serendipity Art Bat Island pangs} NV Carlmont Chemist Vinayak Festival The Mango Tree & Druggist Sakana Indian Super League SECTION THREE Tito’s Babu Pharmacy Baba’s Wood Cafe India Bike Week {historical places} Noronha’s Corner Narvekar Medical Ruta’s Roadhouse Goa Reggae Sunsplash Elevar Bom Jesus Basilica Food Truck Stores Bean Me Up Fort Aguada The Omelette Ladies SECTION NINE Villa Blanche Chapora Fort on Anjuna Beach SECTION ELEVEN Matsya Freestyle Cabo De Rama Fort {schools} {hospitals} Kitchen SECTION SEVEN Paradise School, Goa The Ardee World Bhatti Village SECTION FOUR {markets and School SECTION TWELVE Sublime {yoga, massages shopping} The Banyan The Learning Curve {isprava and salons} Ingo’s Saturday Night A Reverie Sunshine Worlwide recommends} Snip Salon and Spa Market Calamari School Spa by Clarins Anjuna Flea Market Mustard SECTION Sereno Spa Artjuna Cafe Chocolatti Quan Spa People Tree THIRTEEN Tierra Y Mar Zaara The Luxury Spa Paper Boat {the isprava Cream Choc and Salon Malini Ramani difference} Massages Wendell Rodricks Yoga Teachers Turquoise and Gold Chiropracter TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE he Portuguese first not just the Goa you know; it’s arrived in Goa in more than beautiful beaches 1498, spreading and cookie cutter resorts; it’s Christianity to Isprava’s first home. We have expand the successfully positioned ourselves Portuguese near the best in food, culture and culture. Therafter, scenery and introduced to Goa Goa remained a our discreet style amidst its subtle Portuguese colony charm. Isprava’s Goa is a place up until 1961. Once you will be enticed to visit 365 a major trade centre in India, days a year. Goa attracted to its shores Tinfluential dynasties, seafarers, The passion of what we do merchants, traders, monks and here lies in the history, heritage missionaries who have impacted and spirit of Goa. Isprava is all its cultural and socio-economic about discovery and exploration. development over the years. We have gone far and wide to pick the best of Goa, new The energy of Goa is unlike and rediscovered, seen through anything else. Vibrant yet mellow the discerning lens of Isprava. at the same time. It is no wonder We invite you to go through that Goa is where we have our insider’s guide to the city set up some of Isprava’s most we love and live a piece of the Facade, Villa Branco beautiful homes. At Isprava, it’s #IspravaLife. What: Italian Where: 569, Assagaon Badem Road, Assagaon When: 7:00pm to 11:30pm, Closed on Tuesdays How much: Around `2,000 for two (Cash and cards accepted) Reach: 9767557673/ CIAO BELLA 8322273065 Mario (from Rome) Soft music plays and Simona (from throughout the Florence) own and evening and there run this traditional is a choice of {isprava tips} Italian eatery. three separate Do not miss their specials- The rustic dining dining areas. experience is We cannot whatever they may be! We love complemented by the recommend the truffle and mushroom tagliatelle, simple, yet beautifully Ciao Bella bolognese mascarpone ravioli, decorated space. enough! as well asespecially their special the pizzas ISPRAVA PIZZA! {grub hubs} There are restaurants, and there are restaurants. Here are the ones that are so unique to Goa and so varied in flavours, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you just went on a culinary trip around the world. From fancy to rustic, from gourmet to local, these restaurants are high on any tourist’s list for their delicious food, fantastic ambience and unique experience. SECTION ONE THALASSA The culinary rite The design and you will also find BURGER of passage for ambience of people dancing on tourists in Goa is the Thalassa instantly the tables. legendary Greek transport you to a taverna, Thalassa. Greek island where FACTORY Perched on a it’s always time to hilltop, overlooking party. The restaurant Want to eat burgers the magnificent gets very busy in Goa? Look no Indian Ocean and post 6:00pm {isprava tips} further: this is a {isprava tips} picturesque Little throughout the healthy burger joint Do not miss their famous artisanal Vagator beach, season so make We highly recommend you try in North Goa, with beef burger Thalassa combines sure you have a freshly made patties, their grills and dips. Also, to avoid the greatness of reservation. As the loud music with the hustle and so you get the real Greek hospitality the sun sets and burger experience bustle typical of the restaurant, visit and cuisine with the tempo rises Thalassa on a weekday. whilst on a Goa Goan joie de vivre. getaway. The Greek word “Thalassa” translates The first outlet started directly to “The Sea” in Anjuna in 2012. It and it is clear why; was a tiny restaurant the view is to die for. with some great art on the walls. The beef burgers were delectable and chicken a second close. The small space started picking What: Burgers What: Greek up crowds and Where: Anjuna & Where: Small today Burger Morjim Vagator, Vagator Factory stands When: 12:00pm to When: 9:00am to proud with 3:30pm and 6:00pm 11:30pm, Open all an extended to 10:30pm, Closed days outlet at on Tuesday How much: Around Anjuna How much: Around `2,000 for two and a `1,000 for two (Cash and cards full blown (Cash and cards accepted) restaurant accepted) Reach: 9850033537 at Morjim. Reach: 8600990220 LA PLAGE GUNPOWDER As the name suggests, mulagapodi) is home backwater prawns, La Plage is amongst Gunpowder (common to the flavours of chilli pork ribs, the best places to eat name for the South Andhra Pradesh, Kerala mutton curry, in Goa. Located on Indian spice powder Karnataka, Tamil mushroom black Ashwem beach and Nadu, Kerala, Goa pepper fry and avial, hidden behind palms and even parts of all served up with and bushes, it offers Maharashtra. There egg appams and a relaxed topical is so much more Malabar parathas. setting straight out of to South Indian a postcard. food than {isprava tips} just idlis and Conceived in 2003 dosas! At by three old friends, For starters, we highly recommend Gunpowder the restaurant has the spicy potatoes, Andhra prawn be prepared transformed from masala and their calamari starter to take a (not for the faint hearted!). As its humble six-table culinary for mains, you cannot miss the beginnings into a journey backwater prawn masala and must-visit destination with dishes the pumpkincurry. tamarind for any food-lover {isprava tips} like Syrian visiting Goa. Christian beef, Chocolate Thali and Beef Carpaccio is our personal favorite. What: South Indian What: Sea Food/ Where: Anjuna French Mapusa Road, Where: Ashwem Assagaon, Bardez Beach When: 8:00am to When: 8:30am to 3:30pm and 7:00pm 10:00pm, Open all to 11:00pm, Closed days on Monday How much: Around How much: Around `2,000 for two `1,500 for two (Cash and cards (Cash and cards accepted) accepted) Reach: 9822121712 Reach: 8322268083 VINAYAK If you’re a fan of combination of Here you will find staying off the factors: high quality locals sipping beaten path and seafood, alluring coconut water experiencing cities ambiance and the besides expats and like a local, you fact that it is not too tourists sharing fish should definitely visit far away from the thalis and Goan Vinayak. The family main road.” delicacies. run restaurant in Goa features high on Over the years, our list of eateries. Goa has seen an Ujwala, one of the increasing number What: Goan and owners once told us, of world cuisine Indian “I believe Vinayak is restaurants and Where: Sacol special because of a yet, even today Waddo, Assagaon, you will see a huge Bardez beeline for Vinayak’s When: 12:30pm to well-known, local 3:30pm and 7:00pm {isprava tips} delicacies. to 10:30pm, Closed on Thursday We suggest you try their burgers, How much: Around pizzas and salad niçoise. {isprava tips} `500 for two (Cash only) We highly recommended the Reach: 9049380518 fish thalis, rawa fried fish, prawn curry and the chicken xacuti. BABA AU What: European Where: House No. 1054, Sim Vaddo, RHUM Anjuna, Bardez When: 9:00am to Baba au Rhum relaxed that you will 11:00pm, Closed on is warm and often find patrons Tuesdays) welcoming.