Goa's picturesque beauty and laid-back atmosphere draw tourists all year round, but between Christmas and New Year's, the state becomes a joyous haven. Goa, which is renowned for its Portuguese ancestry and vibrant Christian community, commemorates these events with unparalleled fervour and grandeur. Goa comes alive with a feeling of excitement and unity around Christmas. Homes and churches are exquisitely decorated with nativity scenes, lights, and stars. Large crowds attend midnight Mass at cathedrals, including Se Cathedral and the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
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As both locals and visitors join in, the streets are alive with celebrations. Vibrant markets are brimming with Christmas goods, and feasts showcasing Goan specialities and desserts are an essential part of the festivities. Goa's Christmas and New Year's celebrations blend spirituality, tradition, and joy, making it a wonderful place to close out the year and usher in the new one. Everyone can enjoy a variety of experiences as the celebration spreads to coastal shacks and historic hotels. You will have an abundance of options, but this could also be intimidating and perplexing if you're seeking a wonderful Christmas feast in Goa. But don’t worry, here is a list of the best places you can celebrate and indulge in delicious festive meals and have a gala time with your family and friends.
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Jugnu, Assagao
Set in a 160-year-old Portuguese house, Jugnu is more than just a restaurant, where every corner tells a story. At Jugnu, Christmas is all about prolonged, unhurried meals, warm beverages, and comfort food. The restaurant offers a Christmas menu this holiday season that is inviting, filling and excellent for slow nights spent with loved ones. From an Affogato Martini that doubles as dessert to a thick Spiked Hot Chocolate with rum, the wintertime libations keep things snug. Warming spices and nostalgic tastes are brought in by traditional favourites, including Mulled Wine, Hot Toddy, and Smoked Old Fashioned. A calming Mushroom Cappuccino with garlic miso bread and the Jugnu House Salad with black sesame, pomegranate, and parmesan are served as starters. Cheesy roasted potato skins, crispy panko prawns, and an Indo-European-inspired tandoori chicken roulade are examples of festive appetisers. Warm apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and live music begin at 8 PM to cap off the evening in a laid-back, joyous, and Christmas fashion.
Address: 140, Bairo Alto, Assagao, Goa 403507
Timings: 12 PM - 12 AM
Price: Call on +919766669304 or +919766669305 for more details
The Westin Goa, Anjuna
The Westin Goa is located in Anjuna, one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Goa. The rooms are all white with simple furnishings, from the Penthouse suites to the guest rooms. With food, beverages, and social get-togethers, The Westin Goa maintains the laid-back vibe of Christmas in Goa. Its Christmas Goodies & Hampers, which start on December 12, feature handcrafted goods that are ideal for thoughtful, easy gifts. A Christmas Eve dinner buffet with seasonal classics and live entertainment is held at The Market on December 24. A lively brunch and bar takeover by House of SamSara, complete with cocktails, seasonal snacks, live counters, kid-friendly games and Christmas music, kicks off the festivities on Christmas Day. T&A offers a lovely Christmas supper with an Asian-inspired set menu for a more sedate evening, completing the day in a leisurely manner. Furthermore, you can rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul at Heavenly Spa by Westin, take a swim in the pool, hire a bike, go sightseeing, or indulge in some retail therapy at the gift store.
Address: Survey No 204/1, Sub Division 1, Bardez, Dmello Vaddo, Anjuna, Goa, 403509
Timings: Christmas Eve Dinner - 24 December, 7 PM–11 PM, Christmas Day Brunch - 25 December, 12:30 PM–4:00 PM and Christmas Dinner at T&A - 25 December, 7 PM onwards
Price: Christmas Eve Dinner, ₹3,500++; Christmas Day Brunch, ₹4,000++ (₹4,500++ with alcohol); Christmas Dinner at T&A, ₹1,800++
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Como Agua, Vagator
With wood-fired pizzas, freshly made mozzarella, coastal-global platters and a sundowner-friendly bar that perfectly complements North Goa's vibe, Como Agua keeps things delightfully merry this holiday season. Burrata, mushroom pizza, seafood linguine, and fun, flavourful cocktails made with Indian ingredients—the kind where one drink doubles organically as the sky becomes pink—are among the audience favourites. It's a great choice for Christmas catch-ups, sunset plans, and that final week before the year ends since there are no themes, no craziness, just delicious food, excellent beverages, and a laid-back Goan vibe. It's already a favourite among the locals. And Como Agua is the perfect venue for anyone travelling to Goa this season who wants to find a place that feels festive without going overboard.
Address: Under Sry 597/1 & 597/2 situated at Vagator, Anjuna, Goa 403509
Timings: 12:30 PM - 1 AM
Price: ₹2,800
Fireback, Siolim
The Fire Festival, a two-day event that combines Thai cuisine, open-fire cooking, and a festive vibe, is Fireback's new way of closing out the year. It combines cuisine, music, and street-style energy into a year-end celebration that is as much about the atmosphere as it is about the flavours. It is intended to be vibrant and inviting. Live singers dominate the afternoons on both days, creating an atmosphere until things ramp up in the evening. With open-fire grills providing skewers, satays, and other snackable meals, as well as a special Fireback grill station for speciality finger foods, the area transforms into a Thai-style street party as the sun sets. The nights conclude with a DJ performance that keeps the energy going until closure, and local pop-ups add to the mix.
Address: At Irada Home, House No. 60/1, A1 Near St. Anthony’s Church, Vaddy, Bardez, Siolim, Goa, 403517
Timings: 4 PM - 12 AM
Price: ₹2,000
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Hosa, Siolim
Instead of using the typical holiday clichés, Christmas at Hosa tends to be a more subdued celebration with roots in South Indian seaside cuisine. The Syrian Christian community has inspired Hosa Goa's special Christmas menu, which brings the flavours of Kerala to your table. The cuisine, which takes place over two days, is inspired by Kerala and the Konkan, where slow-cooked comfort food, coconut, and spices are key components of Christmas tastes. Seasonal dishes like Patchakari Cutlet and banana leaf-steamed Prawn Kizhi are served first, followed by classics like Manga Mappas, Kadala Curry with Vattayappam, Kozhi Malli Pirlan, and a mildly spicy Chemmeen Moilee. The menu is curated by Brand Chef Harish Rao. It's a Christmas cuisine that seems exclusive to the coast; it's comforting, heartfelt, and perfect for long, communal lunches in Siolim.
Address: House no.60/1, Irada Home, Vaddy, near St. Anthony’s Church, Siolim, Bardez, Goa 403517
Price: ₹2,000++
Timings: 12 PM - 4 PM and 7 PM - 11 PM
Cucina Rosetta At Elements By Rosetta, Varca
Through a month-long gastronomic event, Elements by Rosetta, Varca, Goa, brings the vibrant spirit of Mexico to Goa. Executive Chef Somnath Porel has curated this festive menu. It features well-known Mexican favourites with an emphasis on strong, soothing flavours and is based on traditional methods and high-quality ingredients. A variety of Mexican street food-inspired tacos, loaded nachos topped with melted cheese or chilli con carne, and delicious quesadillas cooked with fresh local veggies are all to be expected. These include refried bean tacos, fish and chips, cottage cheese with jalapeño, and seven-layer chicken chipotle. Rice bowls with BBQ or peri-peri chicken over herb rice are also available. The experience is completed with a variety of delightful non-alcoholic mojitos, from the traditional lime and mint to tropical fruit-infused variants with a slight Goan twist, making it ideal for leisurely family meals and easy lunches.
Address: Survey No. 94, 3-H, Langottem Rd, Varca, Salcete, Goa 403724
Timings: 7:30 AM - 10:30 PM
Price: ₹3,000++
Heliconia, JW Marriott Goa, Vagator
Heliconia blooms in Vagator as darkness sets. The Nikkei restaurant at the JW Marriott Goa transitions from dinner into rhythm, where Peruvian warmth blends with Japanese elegance, and the music changes the atmosphere. Hamachi Ceviche, Misoyaki Black Cod, and the earthy Hongos Ceviche replace the spicy Crab Roll and Tuna Tataki on Chef Arturo Salazar's menu, which unfolds like a silent narrative. Tropical and precise cocktails follow, lasting long after the initial sip. Heliconia is more than just a restaurant by the end of the evening. It's a location where people, tastes, and the night come together in a relaxed, lively, and festive way.
Address: Vagator Beach Rd, Coutinho Vaddo, Bardez, Vagator, Goa 403509
Timings: Mon-Thu: 5:00 PM to 1:00 PM, Fri-Sun: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Price: ₹3,200++ for two
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Unseen, Assagao
In Goa, Christmas is sometimes calm, cosy, and subtly decadent rather than boisterous and glamorous. Unseen, a coffee-focused boutique hotel in Assagao, is ideally situated for this more subdued festive beat. This place is a great place to visit during the holidays because winter settles in slowly. The cocktails in their Spice Craft Collection, made with CC Origins, have a cosy Christmas vibe. The Himalayan Melt Cacao, with a hint of pink salt and honey, provides the kind of warmth you crave on chilly December evenings, while the Vanilla Cloud Cacao is light and creamy, feeling like a merry hug. The Cardamom Silk Matcha adds a seasonally appropriate, nostalgic, spicy touch. Cascara, the Spiced Brûlée Flat White, and the Shortbread Snow Cake Latte are easy additions to any Goa Christmas drink list since they become the tastes that define the festive celebrations in Goa. If you're looking for something a little slower and drinks that feel like the best hugs, try visiting Unseen for a Christmas that's different from usual!
Address: SURVEY NO 90/3, SORO RESTAURANT, near VILLAGE PANCHAYAT LANDMARK, BARDEZ, Bouta Waddo, Assagao, Goa 403507
Timings: TBA
Price: ₹200 - ₹500