The smallest
state of India, Goa harbours
some of the most exciting nightlife options in the country. The after sunset Goa livens up with dizzy neon lights,
great music, delectable food – that makes for the perfect ambiance you’d wish
for. While nightlife
in Goa undoubtedly
beats that of the other states of the country, that’s not all of what Goa
nightlife entails.
Goa is a classic infusion of varieties and it quite literally has
something for everyone to do at night. So be it crazy partying with people from
different continents, playing your luck at the casinos or having a beach-side
bonfire-barbeque night, Goa has
everything that you can think of under nightlife. And we have got you covered
for all these and more in compilation of ‘Must
do things in Goa at night– The Goa nightlife essentials!
1. The Beach Shacks: Eat, Dance, Sing and
Drink – Facing the sea at night in Goa
One of the things you’ll find everywhere in Goa are
the beach shacks. At least, most of the beaches have beach shacks in the peak
season of Goa, i.e. October to March. While they are open
from morning, it’s after the nightfall when these shacks liven up with bright
lights, music and cocktails. The nightlife
in Goa on the
beaches are thankfully lively because of these shacks. The beach shacks at
night are for everyone, the couples, families, group of friends or even if you
are solo.
The Curlie’s beach shack located a little ahead of Little
Anjuna beach is a favorite among locals and tourists to head for after a last
swim – their plate of pate and onion marmalade is another reason why people
come here. The
Pine Shack on the
border of Canlangute and Candolim is also a great place to start your evening.
They’ll arrange a beach-side bonfire-barbeque for you and your friends, where
you can spend an evening relaxing with the rhythmic sounds of the waves.
2. Night Clubs
in Goa – Discotheques: For the party hoppers
Situated near Baga Beach, Club Tito’s is one of the oldest and most happening Night clubs
in Goa. Tito’s lane is the defining and top place for
nightlife in Goa. for A wide range of music is played here
with matching varieties of cocktails and alcohol with different cuisines,
leaving you spoilt for choices. The Club Tito’s lane houses most of the exciting clubs in the city, Café Mambo,
River Front Bistro are some of the popular places here. Club Cabana isn’t one to be missed either.
Goa has tonnes of discos
and clubs for nightlife, some of them include Temptations and
The Alcove at Vagator Beach, Ziggy’s and Johnny Cool’s near Colva beach and
Lido’s at Dona Paula Beach. Other popular nightclubs
in Goa are The World Famous
Decades Bar on
Calangute Beach and Club LPK – Love
Passion and Karma on
Candolim. Beach Discos are also a popular norm near in Goa at night, with so
many sprawling landscapes of beaches here, it’s impossible to find a beach
devoid of music and dance in some part of it at night.
The list of nightclubs
in Goa is a long
one and you will always discover a new corner on every trip. Some notable
hang-outs that will spice your Goa
Nightlife are Club M (Marbela Beach Resort, Morjim), Cape
Town Cafe (Tito’s Road Baga), Down the Road (Old Patto Bridge, Panaji), SinQ
(Candolim Beach), Drift Bar (Vivanta by Taj, Candolim), AZ.U.R (Miramar Beach),
Cavala (Baga Beach) etc.
3. Bars and Pubs: For the Goa Nightlife to be
spent ‘High’
You can practically get a drink anywhere in the Goa, till late night, thanks to its liberal
laws and lower taxes pertaining to alcohol. Most of the beach shacks have their
bars while some places exclusively serve alcohol. Some of the popular bars and pubs here are – Shores Bar and Guru Bar at Anjuna
Beach, Britto’s at Baga beach, Found Things at Palolem beach, Tamrind Tree near Sinquerim – Candolim
road, among others.
Also, the best thing about Goa is that there are plenty of
drinking options for everyone and for people with all kinds of budget. From
small scale bars to the posh holiday resort pubs, Goa has it all. But the
former is the one which is more popular among the tourists, owing to their
cheap alcohol, lively and happening ambience and the chilled out, casual
atmosphere. One of the most well known places to drink and chill out is Zanzibar at Baga
Beach, a happening place which offers great food and alcohol. Curlies is another great option to have some
great and it’s known to be the hub of hippies and foreigners.
Among some of the posher places to drink and get high, one can
visit Mambo’s which has a pretty fabulous feel to it
with electronic music and a really extensive food and bar menu. If you’re
looking for something more elite, then Aqua at the
Leela is the
place for you. A lounge cum nightclub, this place offers the ultimate nightlife experience in Goa.
4. Saturday Night Flea Markets: For the
shopaholics
The Arpora
Saturday Night Flea Market is
held every Saturday from 6 pm to midnight. A place which offers something to
cater to everyone’s tastes, it can truly be called a shopper’s delight. One can
find here everything – clothes,
shoes, herbs and spices, carpets, home decoration items. You
name and they have it all! The market is divided into 3 different parts and
every part is known for offering something different. The Lower Field offers the usual cheap local clothes, footwear, hammocks, carpets and pashminas while the Central Field is known for having beer, spirit & wine bars and food
stalls with several
of Goa’s popular restaurants. The Upper
Field on the
other hand has an array of international designer shops and boutiques and a few local merchants. There’s
also a popular Boutique
House Bar which
serves some of the best cocktails in the area.
A mini party on its own, the Saturday
Night Flea Market on Arpora Hill between Baga and Anjuna is a complete mix of live music, food,
bars, jewellery/clothes stalls, restaurant stalls of different cuisines and
much more. These night flea markets in Goa let you meet different people
from different parts of the world and experience their cultures while you
bargain for an old blue antique or enjoy a quiet drink and meal amidst them. A
little ahead along the Baga
beach, there is a smaller market called Mackie’s Saturday Night Bazaar in
Goa which has a relatively smaller crowd but equally good food, music and
things to shop for.
5. Party Cruises: Enjoy the nightlife in Goa on
a boat
Looking to have some fun while cruising in the ocean? Party cruises are something which no tourist in Goa
should never ever miss. It’s one of the most enjoyable things one can do while
in Goa. The feel of being on a cruise, dancing to the electrifying music,
having great food and drinks, or just simply breathing in the fresh ocean air
while sipping at your favourite drink, it’s a different experience altogether.
There are river as well as ocean party cruises offered, at different times in
the day. But the best time for a party cruise would be in the evenings when one
can enjoy the sunset as well.
Party
Cruises from Mandovi River, Panjim offers an exciting alternative to
spending the night in Goa. Rather than spending the night on beaches in a pub
or beach shack, you can choose to spend
your night in Goa on a cruise. There’s
music often live music, dancing and some delicious food while you cruise along
the Mandovi River. Some
cruises also offer sight-seeing options. A slightly fancier option available in
party cruises is the super ‘Solita’ luxury yacht which is an excellent way to spend an
evening floating along the Mapusa
River all the way
upto Mandovi River.
6. All Night Casinos: For The Great
Gambler in Goa Nightlife
A thing you must try your hand at while in Goa – gambling. It’s legal
and it’s fun as hell! With a large number of casinos, both onshore and
offshore, tourists are in for a great time. They can be found in the most
upscale hotels and resorts in Goa, as well as on the local beaches. But here
are restrictions on the onshore casinos, like they can only have electronic
games. So, the floating offshore casinos are the ones which dominate the gambling
life in Goa.
Casino
Pride is one
of the most popular casinos in Goa. On the cheaper side, it attracts a lot of
Indian crowd and is spread over a large area. It offers the usual Teen Patti and Poker
games, along with frequent
Bollywood styled live acts, which is a major crowd puller.
Apart from Pride, there is the Deltin
Royale Casino which
is a premium
luxury casino in Goa which
caters to the likes of all the high rollers. Along with numerous gaming options
it also has an excellent
gourmet restaurant and
some VIP gaming suites, where people can stay as well as play.
Goa has
India’s only live gaming offshore casino which takes place on cruises and luxury
yachts. The most popular casino in Goa is located on a luxury ship called MV Caravela at Mandovi River.
It takes two daily cruises – the dusk
cruise and the dinner cruise. There
are strict dress codes and live music all night to keep
guests entertained. On occasion live dancers also adorn the stage while
you play Black
Jack, Rummy, Stud Poker, Flash, among others throughout the night.
There are plenty of Casinos on ground as well for those who want to try their
luck at the game of money! Las
Vegas near Candolim Beach is one of the popular ones in the
nightlife of Goa.
7. Silent Noise Parties: Goa Nightlife Special
While most of the nightlife
in Goa (happening clubs and discotheques) are in North
Goa, Goa has something different to offer
as nightlife in South Goa, that has been catching up to be a
popular trend. Every Saturday night, near Palolem
Beach, a party takes place known as the Silent Noise. Here,
people mostly foreigners, teens and youngsters gather around, plug into the
headphones and listen to different genres of music like trance music, hard rock, pop music,
etc while they groove on the dance floor. Silent Noise parties are a popular
concept abroad and have quickly seeped into the party scene in Goa.
Though it’s a relatively newer concept. it’s being embraced by
quite a few clubs in Goa and is a major attraction for the foreigners. And it’s
especially a great option when there’s a sound ban after 10 pm. Places like the Laughing Buddha in Palotem beach are a great place to
witness Silent Noise Parties. Dance to the your favorite edm or pop tracks or
watch others getting high on booze and music. Totally your call.
8. Stargazing On The Beach All Night in Goa!
As if one really one needs more reasons to go to Goa. Away from
the pollution of the big cities, stargazing is something which can be done in Goa,
owing to it’s clear, pollution free skies. Stargazing is a perfect option
for the ones who want to take some time away from the loud music and
partying and drinking in Goa. Steal a few hours away from the hip and happening Goa, to enjoy the quieter and calmer side of
life in Goa. Lie down on a beach far from the noise and merriment, watching the sun set into the horizon
and as night sky takes its place dazzling with stars. Feel the soothing sounds of the
waves and gentle wind having a therapeutic effect on you. And listening to
Coldplay’s Yellow wouldn’t be a bad idea either. 
A night of stargazing on the beach should be on your list, you’ll
be grateful for it. You have our word.
