11 Best Restaurants in North Goa, Goa

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, crystal chandeliers, and wrought-iron decorative furniture.

Rugged Vagator Beach is the seductive backdrop for Mariketty Grana's popular whitewashed Greek restaurant, which is on top of a low cliff overlooking the rocky shores of Little Vagator. Thalassa's vibrant chef re-creates authentic food from her native Corfu, often served against a backdrop of live music and beautiful sunset views. Thalassa also has fairly reasonably priced rooms on offer---book them well in advance.

This charming little French pizzeria and bakery, in a sleepy residential lane off the busy Anjuna road, is open all day and well into the evening, but it's best for breakfast. The ambience here is laid-back, the views are noteworthy, and there are regular live music performances. It's closed all monsoon season, but usually reopens its doors in October.

At the helm of this delightful Italian restaurant---one of Goa's best (so get there early if it's a weekend)---are Mario and Simona, who are hands-on hosts who tend to customers as well as cook. Their personal touch is evident in every plate the kitchen sends out. Reservations are recommended in the high season.

Firmly established as the definitive destination for pizza (and giant calzones) in North Goa, Fellini is tucked away in the busy lanes of Arambol; it takes some finding, but it's worth the hunt. The interior is no-nonsense, with shack-style tables and seating.

Don't let the casual air of the palm trees and simple white tables of this down-to-earth shack fool you. Conceived in 2003 by three old friends, the restaurant has become a must-visit destination for any food lover passing through Goa, serving excellent French food as well as comforting burgers and grills. Dinner reservations are essential in the months of December and January.

Cross the river, and you arrive at picturesquely situated Lila Café, by the banks of the Baga River. The daytime eatery is the perfect antidote to any late-night revelry and is popular among locals and tourists alike for its continental cuisine and freshly baked breads.

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.

Established in 1932, and now managed by the third generation of the Lobo family, this large, airy, no-frills restaurant on hectic Calangute Beach catches the exuberant sea breeze. The seafood is excellent, with a good selection of Goan and Western dishes, so it's no surprise that this place is almost always busy.

This seasonal seaside restaurant, a bit above Baga's many beach shacks, serves an astonishing variety of dishes in a casual setting that draws big crowds due to its location at the mouth of the river. It hosts very popular karaoke nights; if you're keen to watch or participate, it's worth calling ahead to see when they're on.