As you approach the coastline from the highway, the noise in the neighborhood of Candolim increases. Sleepy lanes dotted with villas give way to bustling streets filled with people heading to restaurants, bars, local shops, and finally, the beach. Both locales have their own appeal, but that doesn’t mean you have to choose just one. Are you wondering if you can strike a balance between the two? Looking for a location that doesn’t bother you with noise and crowds, but doesn’t take you too far from the action? We recently discovered one such option: Astor Goa. Staying at this hotel in Candolim allows us to have the best of both worlds, while also eating delicious food.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
Astor Goa is Archer Hospitality’s second hotel after The Astor Kolkata. Opened in 2023, the Candolim hotel is an all-suite property located about 2 kilometers from the beach, on a quiet lane surrounded by quaint houses and trees. Like most hotels in this part of the city, it can’t have a large yard or a large open space. But the layout of this Hotel seems to be designed to ensure that you do not feel weighted down by compactness. Accent design is understated, but the warm tones and pops of color add to the holiday vibe we’re most looking for.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
Step inside the lobby and you are enveloped in warm hospitality while cooling down from the humidity. When we checked, we caught shimmering, inviting glimpses of the open pool that forms the center of the property. We can’t wait to dive in and take the worry out of our busy city life. For me and my friend, the Goan interpretation of susegad has always been associated with pools, poies and playing in the sand and sun. In this regard, The Astor Goa hits the nail on the head, and then some.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
We fuel ourselves for the day’s activities at the breakfast buffet, laid out in the all-day dining restaurant of the Hotel and bar, Deck 88. The lavishness of the spread was understated and satisfied our cravings without making us hark after the dishes we missed. We were impressed by the thoughtful curation of the spread ranging from regional Indian delicacies to classic Continental options. South Indian breakfast dishes are served, but the chefs have gone a step further by including niche options like Uttarakhand-style kala channa and Bengali-style aloo bhaji – both made using hometown recipes by different chefs on the team. We also enjoyed the quintessential Goan Ros Omelette with Poie and the aromatic Bedmi Poori with Goan Patal Bhaji.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
We filled our plates with this meal, along with delicious herbed sausages, healthy Bircher muesli and freshly made waffles. There’s more – and we need a second plate! Those who are not staying at the hotel can stop by for this delicious breakfast buffet. If you do, remember to sample the bounty of bread, with bread, croissants, muffins, Berliners and other treats. This part is nothing to think about in the hotel, because all the offers are from the Astor Baking company in house. We especially love carrot muffins and banana cake. You can also order online through popular food delivery platforms.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
For lunch, we split our indulgences between the poolside table and the comforts of our AC Astor Suite. We have plenty of room to enjoy a room service party, paired with drinks from the (free) minibar. All four types of suites in the hotel provide an aesthetically pleasing living space, with beautiful interior design and great amenities. We are told that the hotel plans to launch Penthouse Suites with jacuzzis soon. The in-room kitchen is also equipped with basic cutlery as well as a microwave. We were thankful for this because we could just reheat the food between swim sessions. There is no need to wait for someone else to curb our hunger. After lunch, we took a quick siesta on the swing in our room’s balcony. After all, why not embrace the Goan way of life?
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
For those looking for a non-aqua workout, head to the hotel gym to get those endorphins going. You can also take your relaxation to the next level at the spa. It offers a variety of massages and scrubs that will leave you refreshed. A 1-hour deep tissue massage sends you into a restful sleep later. If you are traveling with children, the hotel has special activities planned for certain days. This is a family-friendly property and the staff ensures that little ones are not neglected in the curation of the experience. Children and adults can also take advantage of the gaming consoles set up in their own rooms.
Want to get out of the hotel but not venture too far? Astor offers free buggy rides to and from the beach. The vehicle drops you near Candolim Beach which is relatively safe and clean. We got to see a beautiful sunset and some waves. Since we didn’t have our own vehicle, the buggy service allowed us to visit the seaside without worrying about hiring external transport – which is not easy and affordable in Goa.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
For dinner, the open section next to the main restaurant offers an intimate setting. But we would not recommend it in the height of summer. The menu includes a mix of dishes with Indian, Italian and Asian flavors. We highly recommend the Mushroom Croquettes, Chakori Chicken Kebabs and Goan Xacuti with Poie. Among the desserts, you can’t go wrong with the Classic Tiramisu, White Noise and Decadent Chocolate Delight.
Photo Credit: The Astor Goa
The Astor has a well-stocked bar and cocktail menu perfect for vacation sips. We tasted some libations with interesting local ingredients. The Goan Red Rice Negroni is a fascinating twist on the classic cocktail and is made using Goan Red Rice-infused Cinzano Rosso. You should also not miss tasting feni, a famous local spirit made from cashew nuts. The Zen cocktail mixes this local drink with the flavors of hibiscus and chamomile to create a powerful and sophisticated concoction that tempts you to drink more.
Goan Red Rice Negroni. Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
Astor also gives you the opportunity to have a unique Chef’s Table experience. 7-course meal based on answers to questions from Chef Divyanshi Patel. “We wanted to do something different from the standard style of tasting menu. Doing the Chef’s Table like that allows us to make meals for guests that are unusual,” said Chef Divyanshi. “After getting the feedback, the kitchen team spent hours brainstorming ideas and creating the menu together. It’s a creative process that we also enjoy.
Yoghurt Pani Puri Bomb & Thalassery Biryani. Photo Credit: Toshita Sahni
There’s an element of mystery here that we don’t want to give away. But suffice it to say that this exclusive experience rooted our meal in the beautiful memories of the past, and later became another addition to their treasure trove. For example, we have mentioned the love for chaat, which translates into the presence of Yoghurt Pani Puri Bom flavorful as the first course. A delicious Handrolled Spaghetti brought back memories of our family members’ favorite homemade Aglio e Oilo (which also appeared during the Q&A). His beloved journey to South India is evident as it includes Thalassery Biryani and spicy Mushroom Sukka.
Those looking for a niche culinary experience can take advantage of other types of Chef’s Table. It features delicious food from the Baghelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, where Chef Divyanshi hails from. It promises a feast of highlight dishes such as Kaleyba, Gulgule with Rabri, Dopahri Dal Bhari Puri with Aamchur Chashni, Baghelkhandi Chicken and many more.
Astor Goa offers a charming escape from the city blues despite its location in the heart of Candolim. A delicious food menu, thoughtful service and a wonderful atmosphere make it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Try it for your next family trip to North Goa!
location: The Astor Goa, 22/7, Bammon Vaddo, Candolim, Bardez, Goa 403515.
