Visit these five new restobars in Goa for innovative cocktails and a panoramic beach view

Our round-up of Goa’s newest places for cocktails starring fresh, local and Indian ingredients, from jackfruit to a heady blend of Konkan spices

Blue Turtle, Morjim

Blue Turtle is a beach-front dining place with tropical vibes and a flavour-forward menu curated by chef Rohan D’Souza. In their line of innovative cocktails, there is the Mucha Cha made with tequila, pineapple and jalapenos that complement the sweet notes. The Dazzling Turtle, Blue Turtle’s signature drink, is a refreshing fruity concoction with fresh watermelon, kaffir lime leaf, Italian aperitif and vodka.

The Yuzu Blossom has whisky, yuzu marmalade, Campari and ginger spritz and is all about tasting liquid umami. The Instagram-friendly Lucent Co-Lada, made with tequila, pineapple, pandan, coconut milk and lemongrass is a favourite and is reminiscent of the tropics.

Occo, Vagator

This striking shorefront restaurant and bar, with refined décor and a relaxed vibe, houses a bar with pristine white interiors. Occo has a list of creative cocktails to choose from. The Shawshank Redemption, like its namesake, is dramatic with an intense mix of golden rum, pure honey and lemon juice, fragrant with saffron. The refreshing, but heady Muladhara (root chakra in Sanskrit) is a combination of white rum infused with lemon grass and a martini bianco infusion with lemon, accentuated with coconut and basil flavours. Or try the Goavian Vibe, which is a burst of fruity flavour thanks to the blueberries, fresh cream, mango, pineapple and basil, which encapsulate the spirit of Goa.

Recca by the Beachfront, Vagator

Along with a view of the sea and sky, Recca by the Beachfront serves fresh cocktails using foraged Indian ingredients and natural house-made mixers. “In keeping with our philosophy of celebrating fresh and clean Indian produce, from across the country, our cocktails too, are made with foraged ingredients and natural house-made mixers,” explains Bartender Makvin Farrao. ‘Normal is boring’ is clearly the mantra here.