Local Goan Bars where you can get a real taste of Goa life!

Goa is one of the top tourist attractions in our country, whether it is international or domestic crowds – everyone loves to flock to Goa! So if you’re planning a trip and want to stay away from the overpriced drinks, fancy restaurants, noisy bars and other touristy perils, to get a real taste of nightlife, you have got to check out the local bars in Goa. 

These eclectic but tiny bars are nothing like the ones you expect in metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Bars in Goa are the true melting pot of culture where locals and people who have moved to Goa for good, spend the most susegad moments in their life. These legendary bars in Goa have been around for years and give you a true taste of local Goan life, without all the touristy drama! 

Whether it is Joseph Bar or Antonio’s @31, at these places you can bite into delicious homestyle food and enjoy pocket-friendly alcohol and truly the best vibes Goa has to offer!

1Enjoy Local Feni at Joseph Bar 

A tiny and extremely popular Feni bar in Fontainhas, Goa’s Latin Quarter. This cosy little nook is always bustling with merry drinkers. This fabulously grungy bar is always well-stocked. You’ll find local gin, fine whisky and Goan craft on tap or go local and do a Feni with Limca, salt, and a dash of lime. Joseph Bar is a super cute, super local bar in Goa that you will love if you’re looking for something away from the usual tourist trap places.

Address Joseph Bar Goa Gomes Pereira Road, Altinho, Panaji, Goa

2The Hippie Escobar

The quaint village of Assagao is one of the hippest neighbourhoods in Goa, and one place that deserves credit in the mix of many pubs in Assagao is Escobar. Try this local bar in Goa for a more hyperlocal drinking experience, instead of the crowded touristy bars. When you’re headed to Assagao, stop and fuel up. They open at 5 every evening and are around till about 11:30 pm on weekdays. On weekends, their doors are open till midnight. They even have a little skate park where you can really mingle with like-minded people in Goa. Don’t miss out on the local dishes on the menu, which are just perfect to go with your drinks! 

Address Escobar Junction, Badem Rd, Badem, Assagao, Goa

3Get Crazy at Guru Bar

Guru Bar on Anjuna Beach is the hip place to satisfy all your hunger pangs with a tall glass of chilled beer and has been so for decades! This well-known establishment acts as a one-stop destination servicing locals from across Goa as well as visitors from all over the globe. Known for their full-service breakfasts one can relax and dig into a classic Israeli breakfast with coffee at noon. While trance is their choice of preferred music, the premise also includes a guesthouse and a nightclub for non-trance music and it’s open all year round making it one of the best local bars in Goa. 

Address Guru Bar St Anthony Prais Waddo, Anjuna-Bardez, Goa

4Get Cosy at Cajy Bar

Looking for the susegad life in Goa? Cajy Bar is the right place to find it! Offers a calm ambience and serves some lip-smacking Goan delicacies and affordable liquor. This is a favoured place for a lot of young Goans, who flock to Cajy Bar in big groups to soak in the calm vibe, socialise, play games and just binge on the delicious homemade Goan food that you can eat here. It’s a place where you can see people from different cultures and backgrounds come together in the magical palace we all love – Goa!

Address Cajy Bar Mello Rosa Resort Road, Arpora, Goa

5Gin with a twist is a must at Antonio’s@31

Complimenting Fontainhas’ colourful vibe, Chef Pablo Miranda’s rainbow-shuttered eatery on Panjim’s 31st January Road (named after the date of Portugal’s Independence from Spain in 1640) is built with such aspirations in mind. His menu presents Feni and gin cocktails with a twist, and staples of Goan cuisine (such as the recheado) extended into experimental territory with mouth-watering results. Here you get that global vibe while keeping in tune with the beauty and simplicity of Goa.

Address Antonio’s @31 Rua 31 de Janeiro, Altinho, Panaji, Goa

by Prapti Tar

Writer at Things2do