This winter at Goa? Stop by at The Tamarind.

This piece is very close to my heart for more reasons than one. Hence I'm going to do what I generally don't with my other blog articles - less of gyan so that the pictures do most of the talking. 

It was winter. It was my honeymoon. It was my husband's birthday and it was GOA! 

How can that go wrong? Well it didn't. 

January 19. 2015. It was one of the best trips we've made together and I wouldn't hesitate a bit to give one big chunk of the credit to the resort we stayed at. 

Tamarind Hotel at Anjuna, North Goa

The cool blue can be spotted from a distance

The Pool View from our Suite on Floor 1 

Entry to the Honeymoon Suite

Want the rush of Goa but not exactly the 'Baga' kind? Love the peace and quiet but not the death like silence of the South beaches? Want to have your own space and be up all night at the pool side bar? Need a huge breakfast spread and a Vespa at your doorstep post that? Want to try authentic Goan cuisine and match it up with the craziest cocktails ever? And once you're dead tired at the end of the day after Goa has hit you well, all you care about is passing out on a bed that's comfy. pretty and makes you feel at home?

Welcome to Tamarind. :)

The restaurant entrance - Cafe Cotinga

The garden and lounge area - the best part of the hotel I feel

The hotel has a huge garden all around it. White and blue is the color code. The place gets it's name from the huge Tamarind tree that is located right at the center of the garden. Well you must try the Tamarind jam that they serve with their elaborate morning spread. Lip-smacking good! I also got them to pack me some for carrying back home. 

I promise I brushed. Get me my breakfast please.

The dessert spread - a must try!

Grillen Chicken with vegetables & fries. 

Golden fried prawn

We reached at around 11 in the night on Day 1, thanks to SpiceJet for being 5 hours late. But the hotel manager was constantly in touch with us and assured us we'd get food whenever we come in. 

In an hour's time it was my husband's birthday and I had not planned a cake at all. So at 11:30 I walked into their restaurant, Cafe Cotinga and inquired if something could be arranged. Sachin, the restaurant manager took it forward from there. Cotinga had a full service bakery and I was spoilt for choices!

Sharp at midnight, a tiramisu giant slice was sent into our Suite with candles and a message. We added 2 pints of beer and a plate of grilled fish to that and we were one happy couple :)  Sachin the Manager was an absolute delight to be around for the next 5 days that we stayed at Tamarind. 

Coming to food now - Cafe Cotinga is believed to be one of the best restaurants in the Anjuna - Vagator - Mapusa stretch. And it's quite famous for the desserts it has to offer. Well the Tiramisu was excellent. 

Sachin made us a lot of cocktails, something different every night. We loved his 'Planter's Punch'. With a strong fruit blast, it's refreshing and gives you a mild kick at the same time. 5 star for that drink. I think we had that every night. The seafood is good, the grilled chicken is decent and the breakfast, like I mentioned, is to die for! 

Planter's Punch - their signature cocktail

More cocktails

Great Hotel + Good Food = Happy me!

Besides the room and the food, the pool area is fun too. There's bell at one end; once that's rung, a stewart would come to take your order. Quite fancy :)

View before you jump into the pool

They have a car shed where bikes and bicyles and jeeps can be rented. We had taken a Vespa for 4 days @500 per day & an Activa 1 day @300 per day. 

My man on his ride.

There's a huge recreation room right next to the bar where you can indulge in pool. They play good music. The DJ sits right behind the Games room. You can go up to him and request songs. 

Fancy a game?

They even have a store at one end of the garden 'Carousel' selling quite fashionable 
dresses, some head gears and sarongs for the beach.

My favorite hangout

Overall we had the time of our lives at Goa and loved the stay at Tamarind!
Will definitely go back. 

She's Hitched

He's hitched

Goa at a glance. The sea, the sand and the shack :)