The Best places for sundowners | Goa | Pallavi Pasricha

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Discover the best watering holes and picturesque sunsets

👤 Shikha Tripathi 🕐 4 min

I LOVE Goa – maybe a bit too much. No matter how hard I resist, it’s become an annual ritual to soak in that quintessentially Goan vibe along its alluring beaches. In fact, I even decided to bring in my 40th birthday in the sunshine state by partying till the wee hours of the morning. And it couldn’t have been a better decision because I discovered new bars that were perfect for sipping sundowners as the setting sun cast its magical glow on the sea and sand.

Based in North Goa, I explored those lying along the meandering shorelines of Anjuna, Vagator and Morjim.

Titlie Culinary Bar by Chef Tarun Sibal is where I bid farewell to my thirties and said hello to a new decade in my life. I was here on my birthday eve and brought in my birthday at midnight. The choice is a no brainer – it is one of the best places for a dreamy view of the blue sea on one side and green rolling hills on the other with some innovative cocktails. My favourite is their Gold Long Island Trip cocktail (their version of the Long Island Iced Tea), which I had with some delicious butter pepper garlic prawns and the hummus that comes topped with kurkuri bhindi. I usually sit here for hours watching the sky and sea light up with the orange rays of the sinking sun and then dance the night away.

One evening I went to Pisco - by The Beach, a stylish restaurant located on Anjuna Beach where I chose a table in a quiet corner and happily sat with my friend watching the horizon turn gold. They even have hammock style seating right on the sand in front of the restaurant, but one needs to reach early to get those coveted places. I went for their signature cocktails like Pisco Sour and Pisco punch that literally lend a punch to the evening. There are different menus for the day and night with dishes ranging from tacos and pizzas to burgers, sandwiches and seafood.

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Its stunning setting in Delhi launched my love affair with Olive Bar & Kitchen so I just had to head there for sundowners after it opened in Goa – after all Olive always lives up to its promise. And it did. Located on a clifftop, with the beach sprawled below, it has a dreamlike setting with its classic white and blue décor merging perfectly with the Goan backdrop. I spent a couple of hours gazing as the sun slowly cast its saffron spell while I sipped some well-made cocktails. Coconut Cooler for example comes in a coconut shell and has coconut water (of course) with jasmine tea, passionfruit syrup and vodka. Goa Trance is not for the weak hearted as it’s got gin, vodka, tequila, feni, white rum, dark rum and orange liqueur – now give that a shot. The food is European with a few Goan touches like sandwiches made from local poi bread, Goan chorizo sausages and more.

The drive to Saz On The Beach, tucked away in Morjim, one of the northernmost beaches in Goa, may be long, but the stunning views of the palms lining the shore here and its relaxed vibe are well worth it. I was here on my birthday evening – sipping bubbly in their outdoor setting and giggling away with my friends. It’s the kind of a place where you can let your hair down, the kids can build sandcastles on the beach, and you can eat and drink at leisure as you watch the play of lights from a setting sun. Pastas, pizzas or burgers, you can’t go wrong with the food here, it’s top notch.

The sunset from Purple Martini is absolutely heavenly - so I am told. By the time I reached, it was already dark, and I was greeted with the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline. Located on a cliff, it is really stunning and if you manage to reach it in time, make sure to get a table near the edge. Do order their signature cocktail named after the restaurant and get that perfect Instagram picture.

Truth be told, Goa has many more, but these are my favourites and I highly recommend them – after all the drink in your hand takes on a whole new meaning in the ambience of a sun leaving behind its golden legacy on the Arabian sea and sands.