Here's Our Pick Of 8 Iconic Restaurants To Eat At On Your Next Goa Trip

Tucked in the interiors of Saligao, Cantare has been a favourite amongst locals and tourists for years now. This family-run restaurant has a lovely old-world vintage charm that lends a unique identity to this place. Great Goan and Thai cuisine make this restaurant a hot favourite. If you visit, don’t forget to order the Thai red curry, beefsteak, seafood noodles and pork chops. For those who love music, Cantare comes highly recommended for live acts. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays are reserved for jazz nights, while Thursdays and Sundays are for rock and roll. Wednesdays are dedicated to quiz nights.

This casual dining restaurant in Panjim has been famous for its farm to fork dining concept and has been dishing mouth-watering dishes that are enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. A restaurant whose sole purpose is to serve great food, The Black Sheep Bistro is famous for its chorizo pav, ceviche and ghee roasted pork ribs among other equally outstanding dishes. Lunch is served from 12 pm-4 pm, while dinner time is between 7 pm-1 am. You can totally hop over between 4 pm-7 pm to enjoy their handcrafted cocktails and happy hours.

Nestled by the riverside in Nerul, The Lazy Goose is a lovely restaurant to enjoy a meal at, especially during sunset. The views are totally worth your Instagram feed, and the local cuisine completes this picture perfect scene. Old-timers will remember this as Amigos, a restaurant that was popular for its home cooked meals. Good news is that the local style of cooking has been maintained. The menu might be limited, but definitely has some of the best seafood in Goa. The pepper crab, butter garlic prawns and red snapper studded with racheado masala come highly recommended. On some days, they host live music gigs and we think that's a great time to plan your meal around. 

An expansive space that is gorgeous, The Fisherman’s Wharf has been a legendary restaurant for years now, attracting crowds to its Panjim, Salcette and Calangute outlets, from all over. The ship-deck like décor, great service and delectable local cuisine make this hotspot for foodies. The view of the backwaters at Salcette and lovely breeze all throughout the year make a meal here, memorable in every sense and it's no surprise that it's packed even during Goa's lean season. The tandoori pomfret, fish ambotik, masala fried prawns and fish curry rice come highly recommended. They also have live music performances every night, so if you’re planning a romantic dinner, The Fisherman’s Wharf is a great idea.

On Sundays, live music is performed by artists at lunch as well as dinner.

Amavi by Chef Sumera is a legendary restaurant that both locals and tourists like to dine at. If you’re searching for good global cuisine in Goa, Amavi is the place to visit. Choose from a wide range of salads, soups, pasta, meat and seafood. The red snapper risotto, Danish blue cheese cloud, bacon-wrapped medallions and pork chops are our favourites. They’re open from 1 pm to 3 pm for lunch, and dinner is served between 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm (6:30 pm to 10:30 pm during season time). 

This unassuming restaurant tucked into a tiny lane in Assagao is definitely a must-visit for all the foodies in Goa. Frequented by locals and a few tourists, this restaurant comes with a simple, no-added frills ambience, quick service and some of the best seafood preparations of the local cuisine in Goa. Order a plate of golden fried prawns and fish fry to get started, everything on the menu here is a hit. They also serve alcohol.

P.S. Since they're always packed during lunch hours, you'll have to be persistent in looking for servers who'll take your food order. 

Known for serving epic fish thalis, Café Ritz Bar and Restaurant sees guests pouring in from all the corners of the state. It's a great respite that they have multiple outlets across Porvorim, Panjim that are open from 11am till 11pm. This restaurant boasts of a menu that has mouth-watering local preparations of fish, prawns, shark, mussels, oyesters, chicken, mutton and egg. There is a limited menu for vegetarians too but rest assured that everything that makes it to the table is drool worthy. The best part about Ritz? It's budget-friendly (especially their thalis). 

This restaurant housed in an old bungalow in Assagao is a cosy space, complete with rustic vibes, a dense green cover, a comforting ambience and heart-warming service, making this a timeless favourite. Beef, pork, chicken, mutton and fish, they’ve got it all covered! The beef fry, mutton fry, appams, masala prawns, fish curry and Malabar parotta are to die for. Gunpowder is usually too busy on most evenings but get yourself a seat on the bar as you wait, and their cocktails will keep you in good spirits. 

Here’s the Ultimate Guide To Restaurants In Goa, across all cuisines, budgets and locations. There's a whopping 43 restaurants (FORTY-THREE RESTAURANTS GUYS! ) for you to visit, so make sure to plan to stay at least a couple of weeks if not a month in Goa to do visit every restaurant on this list.