06 Jun GOA’S TOP 5 PICKS FOR SINGLE WOMEN
Over the past few years living in Goa as a 30+ single woman, I’ve realised that I feel safer and more independent here than anywhere else I’ve visited in the country. Granted the bulk of my comparison is with Bombay, where I’ve lived the longest, but I would stand by my opinion that Goa is a better place to live as a single woman than metros like Delhi and Bangalore as well. Another reason I say this is because it can’t be a coincidence that I am surrounded by beautiful, independent single women friends who have all moved here from metro cities.
With that in mind, I decided to compile a list of my favourite hangout spots, that my friends and I tend to frequent in north Goa…
1. Cantare – All year round, this charming restobar tucked away in Saligao, fits just the right number of people to keep things intimate. The off-the-beaten-path location makes it so that the customers generally hear about it through word-of-mouth. They have a nice selection of eclectic snacks, sumptuous burgers if you’re hungry and their Sangria pitchers are affordable. Besides, there’s almost always interesting men, young and old, to start a conversation with.
2. The Black Sheep Bistro – The newest entrant into Goa’s nightlife scene, BSB is every chic woman’s dream destination. With a long list of great wines, served as ‘flights’ so you don’t have to commit to a whole glass or bottle until you really fall for it, single ladies of all income levels are in luck here. The cocktails are all deliciously experimental too, besides the fabulous array of small plates and mains, that don’t pack on the calories unnecessarily. There’s also a cosy little bar area where you can perch up and chat with acquaintances that you run into.
3. Cavala – I had to include this uber-popular staple only because so many girls nights out end up here. As one of the few dance-friendly venues on Friday nights, Cavala tends to attract single ladies from Goa as much as visiting tourists from the rest of the country and abroad. So it’s a good melting pot where one can get quite drunk, hit the dance floor and regret the Facebook tagged pictures the next day.
4. Cheenos – A welcome addition to Goa’s nightclubs because of its live music events, rather than the electronic and commercial hits playlist you hear at other clubs on Tito’s Lane and Sinq. Cheenos is fun-packed on Saturday nights with band members from ‘Alcatrazz’ luring people on to the dance floor and even teaching coordinated steps on top of the long bar counter! The pub-like atmosphere is a bit more casual than other night clubs of the same size and the ambiance is not creepy with player types.
5. The Backyard – Run by power lady Shannon and her daughter Erin, and located in lovely Sangolda behind the stunning Paperboat Collective store, the Backyard always has a casual vibe with fun live music on most nights, ushering the shyest of dancers, like myself on to the dance floor. The BBQ steaks and all other meats are scrumptious as is the Aam Panna cocktail. You’ll almost always see a healthy number of Goa’s most independent women here shaking their bootay.
So that’s my list. Please feel free to disagree or compliment the list 😉 Additions are welcome too, as are experiences being a single woman out in Goa. Cheers!
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