6 Best Bars in Goa (That Locals Actually Go To)

Let’s be honest: the best bars in Goa aren’t the flashy ones with neon signs and LED bottle menus. Those are for weekend tourists and bachelor/bachelorette parties.

If you want to know where locals actually unwind (and by that, I mean the places we hit up after work), you’ve got to walk right past the beach belt and potter about in front of centuries-old heritage buildings. Fair warning, though: you won’t always find a signboard!

If you want the good stuff –  and by that, I mean a cold King’s, a house Feni, and proper fried bombli to soak up the booze– here are six bars in Goa that locals actually go to.

1. Joseph Bar: For Old-Goa Vibes and Seasonal Urrak

Joseph Bar is tucked along Gomes Pereira Road in Panjim’s Fontainhas Quarter. One of my favorite neighborhoods in Goa, this quarter is a quiet residential stretch lined with old Portuguese-style homes and azulejo tiles.

 It’s pretty compact inside. There are a few high stools, a narrow wooden counter, and shelves stacked with old soda bottles and local liquor. What makes Joseph Bar stand out is its casual, no-rush feel. The bar opens in the late afternoon and is especially popular during Urrak season (roughly April to early June).

This fermented cashew liquor is a local favorite, especially in the summer. The bartender usually mixes it with salt, lime, Limca soda, and green chili.

Local tip: The street is narrow, and parking can be an absolute nightmare. I recommend you park near the Old Patto Bridge or the nearby post office and then stroll over to the bar.

2. Cantare: Best Bars in Goa for Live Jazz and Goan Sausage

Cantare (also known as Misfit) sits in a 100+ year-old Portuguese bungalow and is famous for its jazz nights. You’ll often spot local legends jamming with whoever’s in town. No cover charge. No formalities either.

What I love the most about Cantare is that it usually attracts an eclectic crowd of tourists, young local professionals, and older Goans who remember what Assagao was like 15 years ago. If you want to mingle with the locals and learn more about the Goan way of life, this definitely is the place for it!

Along with great vibes and music, this place is especially known for its Goan sorpotel, which is a classic local dish consisting of pork in red vinegar sauce. Personally, I like to pair mine with Old Monk (an Indian dark rum) with just a splash of Thumbs Up (the local version of Coca-Cola).

For something spicier, I can also recommend their mackerel fish curry. It goes down a treat with their Cantare Panty Dropper cocktail that features a blend of seven spirits topped up with dark Indian beer.

Local tip: Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are live jazz nights, and it fills up fast. Arrive before 8 pm to snag a seat upstairs.

3. Bar Tesouro: Best Bars in Goa for Local Drinks

Bar Tesouro has made it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, but it still feels like a typical village tavern. Expect serious mixology, traditional Goan vibes, and zero fluff.

This South Goa watering hole uses classic local ingredients, such as kokum, coconut, vinegar, and hibiscus, in some of its specials. Locals don’t go there for cosmos or margaritas. We’re there for drinks that taste like Goa. By that, I mean something that’s distilled, aged, and shaken – not unlike their Cha Cha Laca, made from grapefruit juice, salt, and hibiscus. Their cocktails are organized by theme. As such, you’ll find sections like Herbaceous, Goan, Mad Science, Sweet Sour, and Intense on the menu.

This is probably the only place in Goa that offered to pour my leftover drink into a bottle to take back home with me!

Popular bar bites include bacon-wrapped dates and mushroom sambusek (my favorite).

Local tip: Mondays are low-key but ideal for actually chatting with the mixologists. If you sit near the spice shelf (yes, it’s a thing), they’ll sometimes give you tasters of their experimental blends.

4. Soro – The Village Pub: For Salsa Wednesdays

Locals usually avoid Soro on Saturdays (too many tourists), but come midweek, it’s one of the best bars in Goa for live music and craft drinks. Like most nightspots in Goa, Soro is housed in an old traditional house. The inside’s got an old-school pub feel, with exposed beams and walls covered in local gig posters. There’s also a courtyard, although it can get mosquito-heavy.

Expect retro rock, indie bands, or fusion sets. But beyond the music, the food here is excellent. They’ve got burgers, beef fry, pizzas, calamari…the works! It’s also the only bar in Goa where I was able to have some good ol’ pani puris, an insanely popular Indian street food.

On Wednesdays, the bar usually hosts salsa, bachata, or kizomba evenings.

Local tip: If you’re coming from Anjuna, use the back road through Badem for fewer potholes and better parking options. They don’t actually use cash at the pub. You’ll need to get a card and top it up to pay for your stuff. Bear in mind that any leftover money on the card will not be refunded.

5. The Southern Deck: For Beachside Beers and Proper Goan Seafood

Located smack dab on Colva Beach, the Southern Deck is known for its seafood and beach-facing bar tables. Travelers go there for the views, but you’ll notice most locals come for the food. That’s because the Southern Deck is especially known for serving scrumptious Goan staples. When it comes to their fresh fish, you can ask them to prepare it any way you’d like, including masala fry or stewed in Goan recheado curry.

The bar menu is pretty extensive, and you’ll find just about everything from local to international liquors or even cocktail pitchers to share.

Local tip: Ask for the corner beach-facing table just to the left of the DJ console. This spot gets the best breeze without blasting the speakers in your ear. In my experience, the butter garlic squid comes out quickest when the kitchen’s backed up. You can also call ahead and request fresh catch availability.

6. Antonio@31: Best Bars in Goa for Gin and Muted Elegance

Set in a tastefully restored Heritage House, Antonio@31 is a cocktail-focused bar that’s also known for its small tapas plates.

Just around the corner from Joseph’s, Antonio@31 is a more polished affair. It’s housed in a teal blue building with tall ceilings, local art, and bartenders who know their way around feni, tamarind, and kokum.

The menu includes small plates like prawn rissois and rava-fried bombil, plus a rotating cocktail list that usually features one or two Goan gins (Stranger & Sons, Matinee, and Tamras).

What sets this place apart is that it serves up classic homemade Goan dishes like crunchy veliyo (tiny, whole fried fish), snapper ceviche, and crab poppers served on a fragrant banana leaf. Personally, I always order a portion of poppers alongside their special whiskey sour which features tamarind, orange, and lime.

Local tip: The bar’s quite small, so I highly recommend that you make reservations during the weekend to avoid long waiting times. Visit on Monday evenings for the special cocktails, small plates, and discounts.

Best Bars in Goa: Local Drinking Tips

• Urrak is a local favorite in Goa, but it’s only available from April to June. Always ask if it’s first or second distillation. The first one is always smoother.
• Wednesdays and Thursdays are big with locals, so most bars offer specials then.
• Want to drink like a Goan? Ask the bartender to add a pinch of rock salt and a green chili to your cocktail.
• Feni and Urrak are undeniably moreish, but bear in mind they’re quite strong.
• Even though you’ll probably see tourists tossing back beers at the beach, it’s good to know that public drinking is illegal in Goa. To be safe, you may wish to stick to restaurants, bars, and other designated areas.

---

Read more of our best insights from around the world

• 
  6 Best Bars in Goa (That Locals Actually Go To)
• 
  10 Traditional Serbian Food Highlights You Must Try
• 
  10 Bangkok Street Food You Must Try: Markets & Street Food Vendors
• 
  8 Best Belgrade Restaurants for 2025: Traditional to Modern Serbian cuisine
• 
  Best Traditional Estonian Food: 10 Dishes You Must Try
• 
  Nightlife In Seville: 10 Best Hotspots From Flamenco to Live Music