Nightlife of Goa

Goa is the party capital of India. It has often been said that Goa comes to life after dark. During the daytime, it is lazy and laid-back with many tourists relaxing and sunbathing on a beach. After dark however, many areas transforms magically into party zones. Goa’s nightlife is thrilling, colorful, and incredible. The north is the epicenter of entertainment as most of the nightclubs are located in the Baga, Candolim, and Calangute belt. There are a few also in Anjuna, Vagator, and Arambol. You will find the trendiest clubs and bars in these neighborhoods.

But the nightlife of Goa is not just about the nightclubs and parties. There are so many other ways to enjoy as well. For example, you can go to a casino – there are both land-based and overwater casinos here. The games on offer include blackjack, baccarat, slots, roulette, poker, and more. There is live entertainment too with food and drinks.

There are cruises too minus the casino. Most river cruises leave from Mandovi and offer food, drinks, and traditional Goan cultural programs. There are also sunset cruises with champagne. You can also rent a yacht for a daylong cruise on a Goa river or the Arabian Sea.

Guests can spend time in a beach shack with live music, food, and drinks. The sea, its gentle breeze, and the starlit night, together with the ambiance of the shack will be a memorable experience. Finally, there are many markets in Goa, which are best visited in the evening.

The Best Nightclubs in Goa

There are many party places in Goa. Here are the top choices – ‘

1. Tito’s Bar and Club – Located in Baga, Club Titos is one of the most famous nightclubs in India. There are three clubs inside – Club Titos, Café Mambo, and Bollywood Discotheque. The Tito’s Restaurant is next to the beach. Tito’s hosts both Indian and international DJs. There are special event nights like Desi Swag, Coyote Night, Bunny Night, and others.
2. Club Cubana – This club is in Aropra, close to Baga. It has multi-level dance floors, dazzling neon lights, and an open-air bar. The outdoor area has a large pool. There are pool parties, special ladies nights, and tequila fiestas. Club Cubana has a more refined crowd.
3. LPK Waterfront – LPK or ‘Love, Passion, Karma’ is located next to the Nerul River in North Goa. This high-end nightclub plays Bollywood music and the latest commercial hits on their dance floors. It has a rock carving interior design with many sculptures.
4. SinQ – The name SinQ comes from the Sinquerim Beach as it is located nearby. It is a chic nightclub and lounge with an outdoor bar, private poolside cabanas, and DJs.
5. Cafe Mambos – Also in Baga, Cafe Mambos is owned by the Tito’s Group. There is a dance floor and outdoor terrace. The music is pop, house style, hip-hop, techno and retro. There are special karaoke parties. Mambos have a large variety of hookahs.
6. Shiva Valley – For trance parties, head to Shiva Valley in Anjuna. It is a beach shack away from the crowds below a hill. The hypnotic vibe of the parties goes deep into the night during the weekends.
7. Hilltop – Hilltop in Vagator is legendary for parties. There is no nightclub here. It is an open-air enclosure on the top of a hill surrounded by trees. Hilltop hosts many international DJs. Thousands attend their New Year's Eve parties.
8. Silent Noise Club – Located at the far end of Palolem Beach, this is the only notable nightclub in the south. The silent discos are held every Saturday from 9 PM till 4 AM at Neptun Point. There are headphone dancers and fire dancers. The DJs play house and trance.

Beach Shacks

You don’t necessarily have to go to a nightclub in Goa for a party. The beach shacks are lazy during the day. You will find people relaxing and sunbathing with a drink and getting a massage. There is music and dancing in the evening and it goes deep into the night. Some of them even have dance floors and dazzling lights.

Curlies in Anjuna is particularly famous. Cafe Lilliput, also in Anjuna and Little Vagator’s Chronicle are also well-known. The Pinakin Beach Café in Vagator has been throwing big parties for a long time. Other shacks where you can party in Goa are La Plage, St. Anthony’s, Johncy’s, and Pina Colada.

Bars and Pubs

There are bars and pubs throughout Goa. Some of them are special because of their food, ambiance, music, dancing, and parties.

1. Cantare, Saligao – Head to Cantare for its rustic ambiance and Goan vibe. You will be taken back to Goa’s Portuguese heritage. There is live music every night. Jazz performances are held on Mondays and Fridays. Thursdays and funk nights.
2. Hideaway Café and Bar, Vagator – The café was started by the owners who love food and music. Both local and international artists perform gigs weekly. The café has a lawn and is surrounded by many palm trees, which gives it a very nice ambiance.
3. Cohiba, Candolim – Located in the busy North Goa area, Cohiba has the maximum live music bands. There are Superstar Wednesdays, Reggae Fridays, and Retro Saturdays. Every Wednesday, you can also sing along with the band.
4. Guru Bar & Restaurant, Anjuna – Located in Anjuna, this is one of Goa’s oldest restaurants. You can listen to funk, rock, soul, and also Indian traditional music like folk and Carnatic. It has a psychedelic ambiance. The walls are painted with surreal imagery.
5. The Patio, Arpora – Tucked in a quiet corner of Arpora, The Patio hosts Latin Tuesdays, Afro Latin Affair Thursdays, and Starry Saturdays. The jazz performances here are some of the best in Goa.

Casino Gaming in Goa

There are 15 casinos in Goa, which is India’s only state that allows legal gambling. Some of them are offshore casinos on ships that are anchored on the Mandovi River, while the others are land-based casinos in large hotels and resorts. Casino gaming has really picked up in Goa as visitors from all over the country and even from abroad come here to try their luck.

Some of the best casinos in Goa are –

• Casino Royale (Deltin)
• Carnival Casino
• Pride
• King's Casino
• MV Caravela
• Maharajah

You can play classical board games, slots machines, blackjack, teen patti, American roulette, baccarat, Indian Flush, poker, rummy, and more. There are VIP Rooms, whiskey lounges, bars, and some of them even have helicopter platforms. Many casinos organize poker tournaments. There are dancers, live bands, and DJs too.

Goa Markets

Goa has many interesting markets you can visit, such as Anjuna’s Flea Market, Mackie’s Night Bazaar, the Mapusa Fish Market, Baga Tibetan Market, and the Arambol Street Market. For nightlife, you should visit the Saturday Night Market at Arpora.

The Saturday Night Market has many stalls run by both Europeans and the locals. The ambiance is cosmopolitan. You can still feel the hippie culture here. There are many pubs, cocktail bars, and restaurants offering salads, roast chicken, continental foods, Konkani, Greek, Russian, Turkish, Italian, and Indian dishes.

Many foreign bands and a few local Goa bands play in the central field. There is EDM, trance music, rock, and pop music. The wide empty field is packed with dancers. You will also see jugglers and flame dancers.