On a Goan cocktail trail

Try a High Tide sangria sundowner at newly launched Li.Lo.La in Ashwem, urrak cocktails at Grumps in Sangolda, and end with a heady dodol at Petisco

Li.Lo.La

We watch the sunset while sipping on a Wave. The chilled, bracing cocktail, inspired by the view of the beach, is a blend of steeped Meyer lemon gin, laced with bracing kaffir lime sous vide vermouth and citrus oil. Wrapped in the golden glow of the setting sun, and relaxed house music, guests stretch on lounge chairs as they order dinner, choosing between spiced grilled prawns, wild mushroom risotto and peri peri chicken juicy with a citrus pimento reduction.

Goa has come a long way from lukewarm beer and soggy french fries in a seaside shack.

At newly opened Li.Lo.La, set right opposite Ashwem beach, yet to be discovered by the tour bus tourists, the vibe is relaxed but chic. Not surprising given that Shweta Gupta, the founder of Koox Chennai, is one of the copartners.

“We wanted to create a chilled out space. There’s a cafe downstairs with specialty coffee, and we just introduced breakfast,” she says, explaining that the beach bustles with surfers, runners and people doing yoga in the mornings.

The bar is deliberately set away from the party areas of Anjuna and Vagator, says Shweta, adding that people who are done with the tourist and party scene tend to gravitate towards the quieter northern beaches. The area around is also residential, so the cafebar is planning weekly events to draw locals. “We started with a sundowner salsa night, and it was packed,” says Shweta.

Kishore Tadikamalla, the talented mixologist who runs the space, says they tailor the cocktails to the spectacular sunset views, keeping them cool and refreshing. “We do sophisticated cocktails using techniques like clarification, fermentation and distillation, but what people order the most are the sundowners: spritzers, bellinis, sangrias...”

Like the team, the cocktails are inspired by the views of the sea — You can order a Shore

Sip, made with tequila, acacia honey, jalapenos and cilantro oil, or a High Tide sangria, with cognac, red wine, berries and apple chunks.

There is also a nod to old hippy Goa here, right in the name: Li.Lo.La, or Live, Love, Laugh.