Goa, once mostly known for its beaches, is today more popular for its vibrant culinary scene, boasting fresh seafood, rich coconut curries, and cashew infused delights, making it a prime destination for food-driven tourism. This small state is packed with amazing things to eat and drink and wander; what’s more? The Feni buzz is real!

Goa is making the most of its famous cashew harvest season (March to May) by offering deep-dive tours. These experiences cover everything from picking the fruit and processing the nut to the main event: feni tasting.

This little foray into Goa’s regional offering as seen in The Godrej Food Trends Report 2025, is the second in our year-end travel special edition of the Culinarian’s Take. Where we look at what’s new and happening, seasonal and regional.

Local Goan spirits like feni and its lighter version, urak, are in trend. This comeback got a boost when Goan Cashew Feni snagged its official GI tag back in 2009, which legally protects its history and how it’s traditionally made.

Today, feni is shaking off its old "local hooch" vibe and starring in sophisticated craft cocktails, often mixed with other local favourites like kokum and teppal. You can spot this modern movement at hip places like Miguel's, which gets props for its sleek, modern takes on Goan spirits; it has a drink menu that perfectly mixes classic 18th and 19th-century cocktails with fresh, modern creations, both local and international.

You'll definitely want to come back for their expertly made drinks, like the 'Quente Toddy', which is a blend of brandy, fresh tea, spices, local unfiltered honey, ginger and Angostura bitters. Everything from the drinks to the food is made right in front of you. Plus, the food showcases 450 years of delicious Konkan-Portuguese fusion.

A popular name in this scene is Hansel Vaz, often called ‘The Feni Doctor’ and the guy behind the premium feni brand, Fazenda Cazulo. At his South Goa cashew farm, Vaz hosts a unique ‘Floating Feni’ experience. This widely-featured outing includes a farm and distillery walk-through, followed by a masterclass and tasting of feni, feni cocktails and snacks all served at a table literally set in a natural spring under a tree canopy.

The Saraswat comeback: Real home cooking

Travellers are also vying for authentic, home-style Goan food, especially the complex, layered flavours of Goan Saraswat cuisine.

This love for deep culinary roots is perfectly preserved at restaurants like Mum's Kitchen in Panjim. Since 1997, their whole goal has been to save and serve those "lost" traditional recipes from both Goan-Saraswat and Portuguese kitchens.

If you want something more hands-on, Shubhra Shankhwalker of Goa from Home puts together unique cooking classes at her North Goa farm, focusing on authentic Saraswat cooking. She's been featured in major food mags, and her commitment to local sourcing is intense. Every single ingredient, from fresh seafood and seasonal veggies to spices and oils, is either fished locally, grown, or made right there. Her menu is completely spontaneous; she personally buys the day's catch and produce, leading to her approach: 'depends on what I find, but it will taste good.'

This dedicated farm-to-table mindset is also a long-time tradition at Savoi Plantation. Considered one of Goa’s first eco-tourism spots, Baburao Shetye and his family have been running guided spice plantation tours on their 40-hectare organic farm in Ponda since 1985. The tour shows off kulagar (traditional mixed farming) and wraps up with a traditional Goan Saraswat buffet lunch at Sadauli, their on-site restaurant.

Goa's culinary scene is rapidly evolving beyond tourist fare, driven by a revival of Feni as a craft spirit and a comeback for authentic Saraswat cuisine. This focus on heritage and innovation, seen from sophisticated cocktails at Miguel's and Hansel Vaz's 'Floating Feni' experience to traditional cooking at Mum's Kitchen and Shubhra Shankhwalker’s, establishing Goa as a prime destination for food-centric travel.

Which of these places are on your list this holiday season in Goa? Let us know in the comments!

Stay tuned for some exciting region-specific culinary insights across India.