What Are The Best Restaurants In Panjim? Know Where To Eat Like A Local
Panjim wakes up late, and this is what we found out as the salty air and whiff of the sea welcomed us to Goa. It was the bachelorette trip for a dear friend of mine, and the all-girls gang was really after some great food, sea fun, and of course, the naughty little things.
But unfortunately, no eateries were open, and so the gang of four decided to explore the Old Latin Quarter, and we were famished. We waited, and as soon as it was 10 AM, we started our Goan food journey, which continued till we boarded the return flight after 5 days!
And thanks to our love for food, we well exceeded our budget for the trip! And we don’t regret that the beach fun and food tour were the priorities in our things to do in Goa list.
For me, it was an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. I did not miss the chance, and here I am with the list of the best restaurants in Panjim.
Check out this Dream and Travel Guide for all the details. However, to begin with, I will give you a brief idea about Goanese food and food tourism in the state, and will then move on to the lists.
Food In Panjim: Knowing The Food Tourism Scene In Goa
What we cherish as Goan food today is a wonderful fusion of Portuguese Catholic style and Hindu Saraswat cuisine. You will find a variety of ingredients, including red chilies, coconut, kokum, coconut vinegar (Toddy), churros, tamarinds, and cashews, in the cuisine here.
The food scene here is so vibrant that the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has enlisted the best Goanese cuisine for the tourists, and the list includes Crab Xacuti or Goan Crab Masala, Kismur or a dry fish salad, Pork Vindalho, and Xitt-Kodi or steamed fish curry.
Furthermore, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) is now hosting a series of events and experiences in collaboration with the Yuva Tourism Clubs and SKAL International Goa to celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27, 2025.
These experiences focus on the rich culinary heritage of Goa, along with the biodiversity trails and inclusive cruising.
So, this is the right time to reminisce and share the restaurants in Panjim we loved and why they are so special.
What Are The Best Restaurants In Panjim? (Among The Places We Have Been To)
If you ask why Goa is famous, the food scene will only come second to the beautiful beaches here.
The list here is a good mix of restaurants we visited, those we fell in love with through beautiful Instagram reels, and the places we discovered all of a sudden.
1. Viva Panjeem: The Instagram Favorite
- Google Rating: 4.3
- Address: H, 178, Rua 31 de Janeiro, Behind Mary Immaculate High School, Near St Sebastian Chapel, Fontainhas (Quarter), Altinho, Panaji
- Contact Number: 0832 242 2405
- Hours: 12-11 PM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 600-700 Per Person
Viva Panjeem is the most likable kid in a classroom. From web to Instagram, everyone is talking about its setup in a 100-year-old Portuguese heritage house and its crabs.
We loved the monster Racheado crabs here, and the crabs were very meaty. We also tried the seafood platter, and the butter prawns in the platter were our instant favorite.
Further, the Tangy Chicken Cafreal here is to die for, and we had it with prawn fried rice. We ended our meal with caramel pudding, which is a must-try. You can even try special Goanese mocktails here.
2. Petisco: The Best Restaurant In Panjim Serving Goan Dishes With Modern Twists
- Google Rating: 4.6
- Address: Souza Towers, Dr. RS Rd, Opposite Municipal Garden, Altinho, Panaji
- Contact Number: 080105 21438
- Hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday: 12 PM to 12:30 AM, Monday – Closed, Friday and Saturday: 12 PM to 1 AM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 1200-1500 Per Person
Petisco is completely different from Viva Panjim. It impresses with its sleek and modern charm, and we ate a lot here! Still, we missed the cocktails, and we were cribbing a lot because of that.
The dishes we ordered at Petisco were pan-fried mackerel, beurre blanc, breadfruit fritters with their signature tomato kasundi, and flame-grilled chicken.
3. Fisherman’s Wharf: One Of The Most Romantic Restaurants In Panjim
- Google Rating: 4.6
- Address: House No 13, 139, 18th June Rd, beside Taj Vivanta, Campal, Panaji
- Contact No: 088884 93333
- Hours Open: 12 PM to 11 PM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 1600-1800 Per Person
As Instagram tagged it, we really found many couples in Fisherman’s Wharf, and it’s a cool place. Our food scene at Fisherman’s Wharf started with tempura-fried prawns, and then we gorged on their seafood bucket.
However, for us, the best attraction was the spinach and shrimp dumplings. Also, the burnt basque cheesecake was the chef’s kiss, and it was just perfect to end our meal in style.
4. The Black Sheep Bistro: Offering The Ultimate Farm-To-Table Experience
- Google Rating: 4.6
- Address: The Black Seep Bistro, 1st Floor, Villa Braganca, Dr Braganza Pereira Road, Above Fab India Store, Panaji
- Contact No: 093250 23565
- Hours Open: 12 PM to 12 AM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 900-1000 Per Person
Housed in a Portuguese Villa, the Black Sheep Bistro won our hearts with how it presented the local bounties in a global style. Furthermore, the owner, a certified sommelier, offers you the best curated cocktails and wines.
We loved the way the squids and prawns were done here. However, among everything we tried, my silent favorite was blackened Creole chicken. Also, you cannot just miss the churros here. They are amazing!
5. Casanoni Trattoria: Best Restaurant In Panjim To Have Authentic Italian Cuisine
- Google Rating: 4.7
- Address: 4207, Rua De Querem, Cortim, Fontainhas (Quarter), Panaji
- Contact Number: 078378 34207
- Hours Open: 12:30 PM to 11 PM
- Pocket Pinch: 1000-1200
Casanoni was the perfect dinner space for us. It was cozy, and it is an Instagram favorite with celebrities such as Nafisa Ali Sodhi and Puja Bedi sharing their photos at Casanoni with a mention.
We had Fritto Misto here, and the Pork Parma Ham pizza is something that I would love to eat every weekend.
What Are The Most Budget-Friendly Places To Eat In Panjim?
Along with those five brilliant restaurants, some quaint and more affordable places have also won our hearts. Try out these places if you want to travel to Goa on a budget.
1. Aangan Restaurant
- Google Rating: 4.5
- Address: House no. 4/24, near Community Center, opp. St. Francis Xavier’s Chapel, Portais, Mala, Panaji
- Contact No: 092093 37667
- Hours Open: 11 AM to 11 PM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 500-600 Per Person
We were unable to make it to the Aangan Restaurant as it started raining heavily. However, it serves excellent seafood, and we wanted to try the squid kismoor salad and roasted shrimps and crabs there.
Everyone talks about these specialties at Aangan Restaurant.
2. Kokni Kanteen
- Google Rating: 4.3
- Address: Dr Dada Vaidya Rd, Near Mahalaxmi Temple, Altinho, Panaji
- Contact Number: 095792 75664
- Hours Open: 12:30-5 PM, 7:30-11:30 PM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 200-300 Per Person
We visited Kokni Canteen to have some good fish thali, and Kokni Kanteen did not disappoint. The Fish Thali (Surmai Fish) just cost us INR 220, and we also tried the prawn papads and Kokum Soda.
3. Cafe Tato Since 1913 (Patto)
- Google Rating: 4.4
- Address: Tato Holdings, Gera Imperium Patto Plaza, 1, Patto, Patto Plaza, Patto Centre, Panaji
- Contact No: 080102 82947
- Hours Open: 8 AM to 9 PM
- Pocket Pinch: INR 400-500 Per Person
Cafe Tato, now in its 112th year, is one of the oldest cafes in Goa, and it requires no introduction, having been featured on social media by Sachin Tendulkar. It serves vegetarian food, and Sachin had also had a curry of black-eyed peas and a potato bhaji here.
We also tried the potato bhaji with puris, and it was perfect for our Bengali palate craving for Luchi and Aloor Torkari on a Sunday Morning, but with a twist!
Best Restaurants In Panjim: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the frequently asked questions and answers about the best restaurants in Panjim.
Crab Xacuti or the Goan crab masala, Bebinca or the famous layered cake, and Pork Vindaloo are some of the must-try dishes in Panjim.
However, every eatery here has something special to offer, and especially the fish and shrimp delicacies are flavor bombs.
There is no singular authentic cuisine of Panjim. However, if you want to try the real flavors of Goa, you must try Kismur salad or any side dish made of Kismur or dried fried.
Eating in Goa is not cheap, but reasonable. However, the cost of the food you have in Goa depends on the restaurants you choose.
You can see the difference in the prices of the restaurants I have listed here. So, one day, it can be INR 200 for a meal, and the other day, it can be INR 1000.
Cutlet Bread is the most filling street food you will have in Goa. The rava-fried meat cutlets here work wonders with Goan pao and vegetables.
Also, if you love pork sausage, you can have Choris Pav, a combination of buns and pork sausages.
We loved the cheese cakes and puddings we had at different restaurants in Panjim. However, tasting Dodol was again a kick to my Bengali palette. It tasted like Narkel Nadu but was way chewier. The rice powder and jaggery made it richer.
I also loved Fenori for its combination of crispy and flaky layers with sugar syrup. And of course, Bebinca is a classic, but I did not eat it as I cannot have Ghee.
