25 of the Hottest Clubs, Bars and Beach Shacks in Goa

Hill Top

If you're after a classic Goa psychedelic trance party, Hill Top is where you'll find it. This iconic open-air venue has been in business since the hippie heydays of the 1970s. It has evolved from a small restaurant into a mecca for psychedelic trance that's hosted artists from around the world. A grove of neon palm trees and groovy art installations give it an appropriately trippy vibe. Parties happen every Sunday, as well as other special occasions such as New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve. Hill Top has also started hosting a funky new “Goa Collective” all-day market on Fridays. Plan to be there for the annual Hill Top Festival, which usually takes place in February.

• Location: Vagator Hill
• Open: October to April but also occasionally during the monsoon season
• Music: Psychedelic trance

Curlies and Shiva Valley

Goa's most iconic beach shack, Curlies, was one of the first shacks in the state. It used to be the place to be at sundown after the famous Wednesday Anjuna flea market, although it's mellowed greatly these days. The big party nights there are Mondays (for techno) and Thursdays (for trance). Shiva Valley, next to Curlies, is renowned for its Tuesday trance parties starting from 4 p.m. 

• Location: Anjuna beach
• Open: All year round
• Music: Psychedelic trance and techno

Cafe Lilliput

Another long-running Goa beach shack, Cafe Lilliput has been in business since 1986, in the center of the Anjuna beach stretch near the Wednesday flea market. Chilled-out beach shack by day and cool party place by night, events happen there regularly and often go on until dawn. Comfortable beach hut accommodations are available for those who don't want to leave.

• Location: Anjuna beach
• Open: All year round
• Music: Techno and house

UV Bar

UV Bar opened in 2008 and hosts killer psy trance parties Fridays through Sundays, even during the monsoon season. Events often take place on weekdays too. This spacious beach shack is spread over two levels with two dance floors -- one right on the sand. Cool artwork and visuals add to the experience.

• Location: Anjuna beach
• Open: All year round
• Music: Psychedelic trance and some techno

Purple Martini at Sunset Point

If laid-back live music is more your scene, head to Purple Martini cliff bar on the weekends and settle in with stunning views by the water's edge. There's sitar at sunset on Fridays, and saxophone on Saturdays and Sundays. The live music is followed by a DJ set into the night.

• Location: Anjuna beach
• Open: All year round
• Music: Live music and commercial

Guru Bar

What began as a chai stall and canteen in 1967 has evolved into one of Goa's most legendary venues that's still rocking as much as ever, and has retained its roots. Guru Bar gets its name from its founder, a Goan native from a local farming family who saw the potential in catering to the hippie foreigners that came with their musical instruments and reveled all night. He provided them with food and mattresses to sleep on, and the rest is history! The vegetable cheese toast he served is still sold at the bar today.

• Location: Anjuna beach
• Open: All year round
• Music: Live reggae, soul, rock, indie, fusion

Chronicle

Not surprisingly, Chronicle quickly established itself as one of the trendiest places in Goa after it opened in late 2013. Part Italian fine-dining restaurant and part cocktail bar with a huge open-air dance floor, Chronicle is spread over five levels and carved out of the rocky cliff next to its own private stretch of beach. The creative cocktail menu was crafted by a London mixologist. Sundowner sessions start from 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, featuring top DJs and musicians from around the world. Plus, there are daily happy hours from 5 p.m. to kick the party off.

• Location: Little Vagator beach
• Open: November to March
• Music: Deep house, techno, and trance

Titlie

Titlie means butterfly in Hindi, and you'll feel as free as one at this gorgeous partially open-air culinary bar perched on the cliff overlooking the sea at Little Vagator. Mixologists, DJs and musicians all come together to facilitate a metamorphosis of the everyday into the eclectic and exquisite, against the backdrop of the most spectacular sunsets in town. The feni, craft gin and local whisky cocktails are a hit, while the food menu features "collaborative cuisine" -- a creative fusion of Indian and international ingredients. Don't miss the Sunday Sundowners!

• Location: Little Vagator beach, above Chronicle
• Open: All year round
• Music: Varied, including live music

Larive Beach Resort

The website of Larive Beach Resort comes with a warning -- "We are a party place and we play music till 4 a.m." They are serious about it too, and consistently pull in a crowd with well-known DJs. The resort provides a fabulous setting for dancing the night away under the stars. When you're done, crash out in your sea-facing cottage and recharge to do it all over again. Or, chill by the swimming pool.

• Location: Little Vagator beach
• Open: October to May (shut during the monsoon)
• Music: Mostly techno

Antares

Antares sprawls down the cliff and on to Little Vagator beach, and is both a restaurant/bar and beach club with guest accommodations. It's owned by Australian celebrity chef Sarah Todd, who has put together a menu of Australian-inspired cuisine with a hint of Asian influence. Sunset parties take place from Friday to Sunday, and go on late into the night with music and and crafty cocktails.

• Location: Little Vagator beach
• Open: October to May (shut during the monsoon)
• Music: Varied, including live music

Pinakin Beach Cafe

Pinakin Beach Cafe has been pumping out music and throwing parties on Big Vagator beach since 2015. The shack has proven to be remarkably resilient, recovering from busts and demolition for illegal construction, and is back again for another season of full-power beach raves.

• Location: Near the viewpoint on Big Vagator beach, north of Little Vagator
• Open: October to April
• Music: Psychedelic trance, techno

Thalassa

This famous Greek fine-dining restaurant moved to a gorgeous new location in late 2018 but is just as awesome as ever—and continues to throw fabulous parties every night of the week, with live dance performances and DJs. Its apt name Thalassa means "sea", and the restaurant sure offers a breathtaking sunset view of it from its picture-perfect waterfront setting facing the Chapora River. If you're there to party, glamp (glamorous-camp) on the property in one of their seven luxury air-conditioned tents and enjoy your own private waterfront deck.

• Location: Teso Waterfront, Siolim
• Open: All year round
• Music: Varied

Marbella Beach Resort

White Mediterranean-themed Marbella Beach Resort is a luxury beachfront resort that's renowned for its weekend vibes and all-night parties, particularly its iconic White Party. Accommodation rates jump from Friday to Sunday during the season. Even when there's no event on, good music flows along with the drinks at the bar. The resort also has a swimming pool and wellness spa -- perfect for a hedonistic vacation. Stay and play!

• Location: Morjim-Ashwem beach
• Open: November to May
• Music: Techno and progressive

Soro, the Village Pub

There is action away from Goa's beaches! One place you'll find it is Soro, a new take on the retro pub experience with the rustic ambience of a quaint Goan bar. The industrial chic tavern occupies the revamped ruins of an old corner store, and gets its name from "alcoholic beverage" in the local Konkani language.

• Location: Assagao village
• Open: All year round
• Music: Varied

Cape Town Cafe

The pick of the many places to party on Tito's Lane, Cape Town Cafe has the same owners as Club Tito and Cocktails & Dreams. It's a hip place to hang out and attracts a predominantly Indian crowd. The focus is on good food and fun, and there are happy hours until midnight. Football fans, note that there are large LCD screens for matches too. An entry fee is charged on weekends and single guys are not allowed.

• Location: Baga
• Open: All year round.
• Music: Commercial

Cavala Seaside Resort

Cavala is renowned for its live music and older crowd. This unpretentious and friendly resort is a landmark in Baga, having been there since 1979. It's set in a characterful heritage house with rambling garden and courtyard bar. There's live entertainment most nights, with Friday being the biggest party night. Go for the mouthwatering Goan seafood too.

• Location: Baga
• Open: All year round
• Music: Jazz, blues, retro, rock and roll

Cohiba Bar and Kitchen

Classy Cohiba is another top live music venue, where the party goes on way into the morning (with the music switching up a notch at around 1 a.m.). Its vibrant Cuban flair, fusion cuisine, and signature cocktails will transport you to Havana. There's karaoke on Sundays for those who like to sing. If you perform, you'll get a free mojito!

• Location: Candolim
• Open: All year round
• Music: Everything from retro to reggae on different nights

Club LPK - Love Passion Karma

Unique wedding venue LPK Waterfront is home to "India's first super club" -- Club LPK (Love, Passion, Karma). Set on the banks of the Nerul river and surrounded by two lakes, its unusual architecture is quite astounding. The venue has been made almost entirely of mud and stone, and has a cavernous dance floor. Add to this, terracotta statues and a 400 year-old Portuguese church in the background. A strict entry policy ensures a decent and classy crowd. It's comprised mostly of Indians. Single guys are not encouraged. The party really gets going after midnight.

• Location: Inland from Candolim
• Open: All year round
• Music: House, Bollywood and commercial

SinQ

A one-stop party destination, SinQ consists of a party resort with 20 suites, and a beach club with expansive indoor and outdoor areas for night and day partying. It has a capacity of around 4,000 guests. Facilities include a state-of-the-art nightclub, swimming pool with lounges and bar, and a tavern. Notably the resort's suites have sound systems with live feeds from the DJ consoles! This is another club that caters to a mostly Indian crowd.

• Location: Candolim
• Open: All year round
• Music: Mostly commercial, including some Bollywood club nights

Soho - The Capital Bar

Partying in Goa's capital Panjim stepped up a notch with the opening of Soho in 2018. This lively and fun designer venue sits above a music store in a 19th century building that used to be a lodge. It's part of an urban renewal project, and occupies two levels -- the first is a semi-casual dining space with touches of old world charm, and the second a trendy bar with dance floor. It gets packed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

• Location: Fontainhas Latin Quarter, Panjim
• Open: All year round
• Music: Mostly commercial

For The Record Vinyl Bar

For the Record, India's first and dedicated vinyl bar, will take you back in time as you listen to audio in the analog format on a handcrafted high-end vacuum tube sound system. Sound specialist, Gypsy Jazz musician, and architect Buland Shukla recently opened this extraordinary bar after moving to Goa. It an intimate space based on the vinyl bars of Tokyo. The music is accompanied by Indian craft spirits and beers -- albeit limited but the best of what the country has to offer. Feni cocktails are a specialty.

• Location: Fontainhas Latin Quarter, Panjim
• Open: All year round
• Music: Retro classics

Re:FRESH Club

Re:FRESH Club is yet to reopen or the 2020-21 season.

Fresh nightclub re-invented, or rather refreshed itself, into Re:FRESH Club in 2017. It's always known to have banging parties with international DJs, underground sounds, and an up-for-it crowd. The breezy beach-side location tops it off.

• Location: Morjim beach
• Open: November to March
• Music: Electronic/techno

Leopard Valley

Leopard Valley is yet to reopen or the 2020-21 season.

Want to party in South Goa? Leopard Valley is a huge outdoor venue for up to 3,000 people, situated in a jungle quarry between Palolem and Agonda beaches. It's a futuristic place with lasers, pyrotechnics and costume-clad dancers. It's also the only major club in South Goa, so the Friday night events really go off until 4 a.m.

• Location: Palolem-Agonda Road
• Open: October to April
• Music: Psychedelic trance

Ash Arambol

Ash will remain closed for the 2020-21 season.

Ash is where the action happens on Arambol beach. This popular art venue and collaborative space and hosts live music performances, DJs and other entertainment in the open-air under the stars.

• Location: At the far south end of Arambol beach, near Cabo Wado Beach Hotel
• Open: November to March
• Music: Varies

Sundowner

Sundowner will remain closed for the 2020-21 season.

Possibly South Goa's best bar, Sundowner is, as its name suggests, the place for a sunset cocktail (or few). This picturesque, secluded bar is high on bohemian vibes. Their restaurant serves up mouthwatering predominantly vegetarian global cuisine, including wood-fired pizzas, too. Sundowner hosts monthly full moon parties. Check their Facebook page for details.

• Location: Across the estuary at the far northern end of Palolem Beach.
• Open: November to April.
• Music: The "freshest beats straight from Ibiza".