Aldona is a tiny village tucked away in North Goa, away from the beach belt. It's where time behaves differently. It stretches, is unhurried, and feels intentional with its sloping house, lined roads adorned with trees, and clear blue skies, all mixed with the unbeatable crisp Goan air. This is where a 150-year-old Portuguese villa is also tucked away, on a quiet intersection. Known as The Project Café Goa, a boutique stay that feels less like a hotel and more like a time capsule suspended gently between centuries, and I had the opportunity to spend two nights in this slice of heaven.
Part boutique hotel, part cultural space, and part invitation to slow down and look closer — The Project Café is a lifestyle hotel where everything is deliberate. Founded by Drasty Shah, this is a space where art isn't just on the walls; it's everywhere. From the way the light hits the balcony, the mural facing the still pool, to the courtyard lined with bookshelves stuffed with books. The entire space is built lovingly by artists, chefs, designers, and curators. What's fascinating is that nothing is off-the-shelf, most are one-off, and better still, much of it is on sale!
I arrived expecting a getaway. I left feeling as though I had stepped out of an art-filled dream curated with tenderness. The space is made up of 8 bedrooms, an outdoor restaurant, a café where breakfast is always quiet and peaceful, an art bar with handpicked pours and cocktails, and an art gallery and shop that houses art from around the country.
Day 1 was mostly spent gobsmacked by what the place had to offer while we settled into our room. Each room here is curated and decorated differently, offering its own charm and vibe. The lights are soft, the mattress even softer. The best part? All of them face the pool, palm trees, and come with balconies minimally decorated for you to sit and unwind at and you best believe that's what we did while we soaked in the Goan air, quiet Aldona evening, and listened to the wind weave through the palm trees, all while sipping on a perfectly brewed cup of coffee from TPC's café.
When it comes to the food at The Project Café, it is something that will stand out. Everything is vegetarian-forward, seasonal, with a European hint to it. It's the kind of food that is thoughtful, layered, and subtle. The menu itself is fluid and ever-changing, which is also what makes everything worth savouring. The food is flavourful, nicely portioned and is clearly made with love.
A thought that repeatedly popped into my mind was how the place felt like I was at a stylish friend's house. Everything was open for me to roam around and explore, while I was thoroughly taken care of. On some nights, TPC also has visiting chefs take over the kitchen, or the bar uproars after nine at night.
Day 2 began with breakfast at the café, where sunlight was welcomed with open arms, along with our French toast and fruits. The rest of the day was spent walking around the property, lounging by the pool, and soaking in what the property delicately handed to us, through a staff who were ever helpful, engaged, and warm.
When I left The Project Café, I realised I wasn't leaving a hotel. I was stepping out of a story — one written by dozens of hands, but one I got to live in, however briefly. And that's the magic here, you don't just visit Aldona, you inhabit art, memory, and imagination, all housed within an old Portuguese villa that's still very much alive.
Social Media: @theprojectcafegoa
Price: Stays range from INR 10,000 per night to INR 12,000
Google Rating: 4.3/5
