It was Independence Day, and like any self-respecting Goan resident who takes public holidays as a personal challenge to eat and drink well, I set off in search of Bar Outrigger in Dona Paula. Now, I’ve attempted this before, but the place is tucked away in such a spot that Google Maps starts to get nervous. Today, however, I was blessed with daylight, and as it turns out, it’s not that hard to find—just a 5 minutes walk from the parking zone, albeit through a tiny lane flanked by little cottages.
The bar sits right next to a charming little chapel, the kind that makes you want to hum hymns while clutching a gin cocktail (I resisted, but only just). In the afternoon, it offers an enviable sea view—rain dancing off the water like a Bollywood dance sequence filmed during a monsoon.
Come nighttime, though, the view is less “sparkling ocean” and more “impenetrable inky abyss.” Still, with the right drink in hand, who cares if you can’t see the sea?
Inside, the décor is pure seafaring fantasy. Hardwood floors, thick ropes wound around posts, and the kind of marine detailing that makes you half-expect a pirate to wander in and order a mojito.
There’s a bookshelf tucked in the corner, board games scattered about—UNO, chess, and a Game of Thrones board game that we didn’t fully decode but admired nonetheless.
But let’s be honest, you don’t come to Bar Outrigger for the ropework or the bishop’s gambit. You come for the cocktails. With a seafaring theme and a bar that practically smells of molasses and mischief, Outrigger lives by one creed—it’s in rum we trust.
Yes, it’s a rum-forward bar, but in true contrarian spirit we veered starboard into gin territory with a Punk’s Not Dead and a classic dry martini—proof that Outrigger’s cocktail game sails smoothly well beyond rum.
I began the Punk’s Not Dead—a gorgeous blend of Punk gin, Mastiha honey, and lemon juice that was so smooth and crisp it could have been served to me by a debonair spy. In fact, so good we ordered it twice, once with ice and once without. Both versions passed muster.
My companion ordered a dry martini—classic, unfussy, and absolutely on point.
Food-wise, we dipped into the “Bar Bites” menu, starting with fries that were better than ordinary, but best when dunked in the accompanying sauces.
Then came a turnip-based dish (unusual, intriguing, and surprisingly tasty) called Turnip the Bass followed by the Crispy Korean style fried chicken sandwich. The latter was more “good solid lunch” than “life-changing epiphany,” but it hit the spot.
For dessert, we went for a Crepe Suzette which, while not the most flamboyant version I’ve ever encountered, delivered enough orangey warmth to end the meal on a sweet note.
The service was spot-on—shout out to the bartender, who clearly understands that cocktails are an art form, and to the manager on duty, who floated around with the kind of charm and attentiveness that makes you feel you’re in the right place. I didn’t catch his name, mostly because I was too busy gazing at the horizon and plotting my second gin.
As for the atmosphere, it struck a perfect balance: enough people to give the place a buzz, but not so many that you had to elbow strangers just to order a drink. It was laid-back, unpretentious, and the kind of place you could happily lose a whole afternoon in—particularly if you’re a fan of good drinks and coastal breezes.
Will I be going back? Oh, without a doubt. In fact, I’ve already booked a table for Saturday night. There are still cocktails on that menu I haven’t tried, and frankly, I see it as my patriotic duty to get through them all.
Final verdict: Bar Outrigger isn’t just worth the five-minute walk—it’s worth plotting your entire day around. Come for the rum or gin, stay for the view, and leave with the smug glow of someone who’s just found one of Goa’s not so best-kept secrets.
Honest Reviews 