Whoever told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day clearly never indulged in the best Sunday Brunches in Goa. In my opinion, brunch adds a little magic to mealtimes, combining the very best of breakfasts – such as Nutella croissants, cheese and fruits – with the highlights of a celebratory lunch – with its roast chickens and pork chops, making it the perfect way to kick start the weekend.
What makes brunch even more exciting, you ask? Well, it starts late enough so that you can sleep in on a Sunday, and ends early enough so the rest of your day is still full of possibilities. Also, when else is it appropriate to begin drinking before noon!?
Best Sunday Brunches in Goa
I’ve listed out the Sunday Brunches in Goa that I’ve tried so far and while most of these are at resorts, I will keep updating the list to include the not-so-fancy ones as I get around to trying them out. Until then, this list of the best Sunday brunches in Goa will have you sorted.
Wicked Liquid Brunch, Grand Hyatt, Bambolim
The mother of all Sunday Brunches in Goa, the Wicked Liquid Brunch at Grand Hyatt features a flamboyant spread in a luxurious setting, with upbeat live music, views of the sea and a dessert spread that will have you at a loss for words. Sure, you’ll find the usual breakfast suspects here, but you can also over-indulge in your favourite picks from their live counters such as Mumbai-style chaat, their grills, and their buffet section that spans Italian, Continental, Pan Asian, Middle-Eastern, Indian, Goan, South Indian and more, so whether you feel like Eggs Benedict, Sushi or Goan curry and rice, you’ll find it all. I’ve not even touched upon the items they offer on order, such as Pizzas! Let’s not forget the beverages like wine, in-house spirits, beers, sangrias, cocktails and non-alcoholic options. Phew!
The food at the Grand Hyatt Goa Brunch is prepared on the spot, in the kitchen behind the food counters so you can see all the live-action. Additionally, the food is cooked and served in small quantities to avoid food wastage, a necessity, given their elaborate spread. Their dessert section warrants a blog post of its own as that alone matches the size of all the savoury items put together – you’ll have to see it to believe it.
Grand Hyatt Brunch – 12 noon to 3:30 | Rs. 1800 +Tax (Non-Alcoholic) and Rs. 2400 +Tax (Includes Alcohol)
Best Sunday Brunch in Goa at DoubleTree by Hilton, Old Goa
Brunch in style as you take in views of the river Mandovi and the Goan hinterlands from Comida, the DoubleTree by Hilton restaurant. What makes this an enticing place to spend quality time on a Sunday is that you can take a dip in their stunning infinity pool overlooking the fields and valleys below.
Between Mum and me, we tried 4 different mocktails at DoubleTree by Hilton and each one was better than the next – so if you’re a non-alcoholic, you’ll find fab drinks apart from the boring Virgin Mojitos and Pina Coladas that you find at most Sunday Brunches in Goa.
The Middle-Eastern section with a wide selection of dips, cheeses and crackers is hard to ignore and you can stuff yourself at this counter alone! There’s live music, access to the kid’s zone and a well-curated menu that ranges from various regional Indian cuisines to some interesting Continental and Asian mains. The great produce that they use in their dishes is definitely something that stands out. If there was anything I’d improve upon here, it would be the desserts as most of them were very similar to each other – some variety would be nice.
DoubleTree by Hilton Brunch – 12 noon to 4 PM |Rs, 1550/- + tax (Non-Alcoholic) and Rs 1990/- + tax (Includes Alchohol)
Sunday Brunch at Cidade de Goa, Taleigao
Breathe in the fresh ocean air as you dine in what is possibly the brunch with the most laid-back vibes. When the skies are blue, Cidade de Goa has a charming Sunday Brunch in the open air, at their restaurant ‘Barbeque’. This seaside brunch in Goa lets you enjoy sweeping views of Vainguinim Beach as you sit on rustic wooden benches and chairs set under a canopy of shady trees, serenaded by a live musician. During the monsoons, the brunch moves indoors into their all-day dining restaurant.
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The Brunch menu features a chaat counter, dim sums, sushi, grills, hummus, salads and other light bites. For mains, a live counter prepares pasta the way you like it, and you can also choose from Chinese food, Indian and Goan fare. There are no breakfast items – eggs, pancakes, cheeses etc – making it more of a lunch than brunch. I’d prefer a more exciting spread of food, but the charm of it all makes up for it. It’s a prime example of a spot where you’ll sit back and say to yourself, “You really can’t beat Goa on a good day.”
Cidade de Goa Brunch – 12:30 noon to 4 PM | Rs 1950/- + tax (Includes House spirits and cocktails)
Best Sunday Brunch – Marriott Resort and Spa, Miramar
The Sunday Brunch at Goa Marriott Resort and Spa is another favourite of mine. Overlooking Miramar Beach, you can tell that a lot of love goes into organizing this cheery Sunday Brunch, and it shows. The staff is absolutely delightful, there’s live music that people inevitably get up and dance to, and to top it off, there’s a little ‘hippie market’ arranged right outside the restaurant for brunch-goers. Shop for junk jewellery like earrings, anklets and sparkly necklaces; Indian clothes, spices, teas, toys and other knick-knacks that you’d find at the Anjuna Flea Market or Arpora Saturday Night Bazaar – all at very reasonable prices, and no, there is no ‘luxury resort mark-up,’ in the prices as you would expect.
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Cidade de Goa Brunch – 1 PM to 4 PM | Rs 1800/- + tax (non-alcoholic) and Rs. 2300 (includes alcohol)
Sunday Brunches in Goa at Le Meridien, Candolim
Held at Le Meridien’s restaurant, Latest Recipe, their Sunday Brunch features a spread that is a bit smaller than the other star resorts featured above, but a fun one, nonetheless. The salad counter spans one side of the buffet section, while the Indian and Continental main courses feature on the other. At one corner, a chaat and biryani counter is set up, while the desserts are given pride of place on a large counter in the middle of the restaurant.
But what about starters? Glad you asked. The Le Meridien brunch is a fusion of buffet and a la carte format. Starters like kebabs, tempura, stir-fries and more are served at your table. My only qualm about this brunch is that due to the small(er) size of the restaurant, the live music is too loud for comfort. That said, you can also sit outdoors and use the pool below, as part of the brunch offering.
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Le Meridien Brunch – 1 PM to 4 PM | Rs 1400/- + tax (non-alcoholic) and Rs. 2000 (includes alcohol)
Sunday Brunch at Hilton Goa Resort – The Zodiac Brunch, Saipem
A mentalist, a tarot card reader, a legit ROOM FULL of desserts and what is possibly Goa’s biggest spread of cheeses and cured meats! All this and more makes the Zodiac Sunday Brunch at Hilton Goa Resort the fanciest one of them all.
Here, the food each weekend depends on the ongoing Zodiac sign, for example, during Aquarius season, you’ll find food that Aquarians’ are supposed to like. There’s food and cocktails that match their personality (lotsss of seafood for the ‘water bearers’ of the Zodiac), decor designed around the star sign, and what’s cooler is that a staff member who is also of the same Zodiac sign displays a talent – such as selling their paintings! What a brilliant way to promote talent at the resort! FYI, I bought 3 of the staff’s paintings which now hang in my office. At the end of the brunch, all the Aquarians line up to do a penguin dance, champagne is popped and a cake is cut for them! Did I mention that there’s fantastic live music, too?
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Hilton Goa Resort brunch – 12:30 PM to 4 PM | Rs 1950/- + tax (non-alcoholic) and Rs. 2250 (includes alcohol) If you are one of those whose birthday falls during the Zodiac sign being celebrated, you’ll get a 20% off, and if your birthday is on the day of the brunch, you dine absolutely free!
Sunday Brunch at The Leela, Cavellosim
It’s difficult to say what’s better – the stunning Leela Goa property or its luxurious brunch. The Leela Brunch seating itself spans 4-5 (or more!) rooms, and the food does, too. From a massive bread counter to a sushi spread that could span the length of the living room in my Goan home; finger foods, Indian, Continental, Italian, Hams and Cheeses, Chaat, South Indian – and even a chosen region cuisine for the day (it was Bengali, on the Sunday I visited.) – you will be truly spoilt for choice.
The Leela Goa easily has the largest buffet spread in Goa by miles, and you will be burning off all the calories you consume, by walking from one end of the spread to the other. Not to mention, the hospitality is fantastic, as one would expect from a resort of this stature!
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The Leela Sunday Brunch – 12:30 PM to 4 PM | Rs. 2200 + tax per person with unlimited beer.
W Does Drunch – Spice Traders, W Hotel, Vagator
There are a lot of things that make the Sunday Brunch (or rather, ‘Drunch’) at W different from the rest. Firstly, they serve only Pan Asian cuisine – one of my personal favourites! Live counters dish up really very good sushi, satay, flatbread, flavourful salads and Thai curry alongside roast fish and chicken. To compliment that is an a la carte menu of baos, dumplings, Pan Asian starters, a handful of main course options and desserts, which change every week.
The food really is stellar and artfully presented. The drunch starts at 2 PM and goes up to 6 PM, which is perfect if you’re someone who wakes up for lunch, but for someone like me who treasures an afternoon nap, you will need to skip your Sunday siesta for this late brunch in Goa. Take a seat upstairs on the open-air deck and enjoy the view of the sea, or indoors in the a/c section. Wonderful live music wraps up the experience.
W Does Drunch – 2 PM to 6 PM | Rs. 2000 – non-alcoholic, Rs. 4000 with cocktails and hard drinks, Rs. 6000 with bubbly.
Sunday Graze – Barfly, Assagao
There’s nothing quite like the Sunday Graze at Barfly Assagao. Tbh, I delayed going to Barfly because, since I don’t drink alcohol, I assumed that the experience at the restaurant, touted as Goa’s first Agave bar, would be centered around liquor. But it was quite the contrary. This century-old Goan home is beautifully transformed into a luxurious space, offering a communal table filled with mouthwatering delights every Sunday. Delight in a spread of mezze, cheeses, antipasti, cold cuts, salads, ceviche, and more.
Apart from the communal table, the Sunday Graze includes a brunch menu with a selection of innovative and perfectly presented plates that taste as good as they look. Every room is interconnected and each is a space where the vibe shapeshifts from morning to night. There are romantic candlelit corners, wide verandas that transport you back in time, garden seating, two bars, and a wine room for connoisseurs. Brunch lovers, bump this one to the top of your to-brunch-at list.
Hope you enjoyed this post, guys! I’ll be updating this list in a bit. Until then, you can check out my posts on the best food trucks in Goa. If you’re not really a brunch person but could do with a great breakfast, you’ll find that Caravela Cafe, Mojigo and Artisan Backeri are good places for just that! Bye!
Interesting, I wish our lives can back to normal as soon as possible and I can enjoy once again my old Sunday brunches. Most needed thanks for sharing.