Nobody is going to the big, flashy bars in Goa anymore. Cosy, intimate spaces are packed

It’s a tiny room, so dimly lit that phones are needed to read the menu. There’s a grand piano in one corner. Plush sofas that sink in upon being sat on. Jazz strains over the speakers. It could be someone’s living room. LouLou, an 18-seater speakeasy, occupies the attic of The Assa House, a modern European restaurant in Assagao. One of the many new, experience-forward drinking spaces in Goa, it has become popular for its jazz nights.

Today, bars in Goa aren’t content with just revolutionising their cocktail programmes and highlighting lesser-known ingredients. They are changing faces, too. Living rooms, attics, old garages, tiny basements, gardens—nothing is off limits. These small, intimate venues are designed to offer comfort and style with privacy and something beyond just drinks.

If you’re seeking a tipple in Goa, throw a stone and you will find a well to drink from. But what defines a good bar? If the old TV sitcom Cheers is to be believed, it’s where ‘everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came’. In the Sunshine State, these spaces were once known as local watering holes or tavernas. And the new bars in Goa are trying to revive that bustling culture by foregoing swish lounges for friendly neighbourhood pubs like Pablo’s, Peter Tavern, Makim’s, Cajy Bar and Miski.