5 Best Restaurants in Goa, India

Smack-dab in the middle of Panjim, this Goan institution is indisputably the best place in town for homestyle 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).

At this popular fine-dining restaurant, dishes are "re-visited, re-interpreted, and re-invented" with infused flavors, and all the food is beautifully plated. As the name suggests, A Reverie has a dreamlike, elegant ambience: the space is painted in warm earthy tones, but there are stylish overtones of bling; it's accented by dimmed lounge areas and wrought-iron decorative furniture.

The Goa Marriott's café and lounge, pronounced "As You Are," may be worth a visit for the bay views alone—fortunately, the quality of its limited yet choice menu won't disappoint, either. After dark, the coffee shop morphs into a relaxed evening lounge bar.

Situated within the Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Morisco offers elegantly presented seafood, Indian, and continental cuisine and great views of Fort Aguada. While the food is upscale, with prices to match, the ambience is casual.

Slightly more expensive than is the norm in Goa, this Pan-Asian chain eatery inside the Lemon Tree Amarante Beach Resort features lovely interiors dominated by dark bamboo and sandstone with Indonesian accents. Diners can choose to sit at teppanyaki counters (with a built-in hot plate where the chef cooks and serves the food straight onto your plate) or at regular tables.