TOP ROW: COURTESY OF ROCK POOL AT W GOA (2)BOTTOM ROW: COURTESY OF ANTARES (3)beach bars/
58 MAY 2017 / TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM
ROCK POOL AT W GOA
From the hippie enclave of the ‘60s
to the playground of the fashion-
forward that it is today, North
Goa’s Vagator beach has gentrified
considerably, thanks to a clutch of
new swish spots that have set up
base here. The W Goa opened at the
end of 2016, the brand’s debut in
India, and is home to the oh-so-cool
Rock Pool bar. Set on a dramatic
cliff in the shadow of the 16th-
century Chapora Fort, it overlooks
the cobalt waves of the Arabian
Sea. Settle in for sundowners on the
billowy cabanas, poolside sunbeds
or pop-colored thrones scattered
through the 4,500-square-meter
space. As the DJ spins some beats,
arm yourself with a Goan port wine
or local feni-based house special
cocktail, and pick a vantage point
to watch the salmon skies turn to
indigo above an arc of red cliffs that
staggers into the sea. All set to
up the ante on Goa’s music scene,
Rock Pool’s DJ stage has, in the
short period since its inception,
already seen top talent from Spain,
Moscow and across India. w-goa.com;
cocktails Rs500–1,200, non-guests
typically pay a cover charge on party
nights of Rs3,000 per couple.ANTARES
Model-turned-Masterchef Australia
contestant Sarah Todd brings
classic Aussie surf and turf to Goa’s
Vagator beach at this breezy hilltop
bar. With uninterrupted views of the
Arabian Sea, sunsets here are quite
ethereal, set to experimental live
music and lit by fairy lights.
Sandy toes are moments away, as
stairs lead down the cliff to the
water. Australian barbecue staples
meet Goan flavors on a menu that
features glazed ribs, crab xacuti,
and poi bread. Sip on Australian
whites, or cocktails infused with
Indian touches, such as the Kokum
Margarita, or the Spicy Mango
Martini with green chili and lime.
antaresgoa.com; cocktails Rs425–FROM TOP: The newly
opened W Goa is set on
palm-lined Vagator
Beach; the hotel's
Rock Pool bar lives up
to its name.FROM TOP: Chef
Sarah Todd; her
famed surf and turf;
the view at Antares.GOA
BY MALAVIKA BHATTACHARYA