Vagator makes room for a Stunning Beachside Restaurant-Bar That Will Make You Fall For Goa All Over Again
by Prashant Kapadia/NHN
January 30th, Goa: Sometimes you just need a change of view. Sometimes you need to let yourself unwind and reward yourself with the vacation you deserve. Sometimes you need to let the elements of nature rejuvenate you. And Occo is where you will get all of this and more. This stunning beachside restaurant exudes a charm of its own that’s hard to resist and will make you revel in the beauty of Goa to the fullest.
The story of Occo, the upscale indoor and outdoor beachside restaurant, began with Gaurav Parikh, Ketul Parikh, Anuj Chugh, and Varun Chugh, the directors of Richboyz Entertainment, had a vision to disrupt the hospitality industry in Goa. With the birth of Occo, they have gone beyond the boundaries in delivering a one-of-a-kind experience to their guests. Their expertise and passion for the F&B industry are evident in how they keep raising the bar with every venture they start. They are also the co-owners of All Saints, a contemporary, elegant all-day restaurant in Mumbai that has garnered praise for its impeccable delicacies and stellar ambience. Complementing the pleasant feel of the place is the Occo Sunsets Boutique Festival, a disco event that will awaken the party animal within you. This had recently happened as part of the New Year’s celebration last year and featured artists like Houdini, Audio Monk, and DJ Amaya.
Varun Chugh describes OCCO as “a coastal setup offering an artfully crafted culinary experience in a light and airy setting.” “As for the menu, it features modern dishes with a twist and handcrafted cocktails,” he adds. You can witness the sun kissing the sea from Occo’s elaborate dining area, which features wooden-hued flooring, wooden chairs and tables, and cushions that give it a refined yet rustic touch. The walls are creamy white, featuring a wave-like design running through their entire breadth. There is also a bar whose walls are bathed in pristine white and are dotted with intricately designed decorative items. All of this alone is more than enough to elevate your mood and create an exciting, refreshing atmosphere.
The cherry on top is relishing a great meal against the backdrop of a beautiful sunrise and sunset. And Occo’s menu only makes the whole experience an unforgettable and enriching one with its scrumptious range of fresh salads, soothing soups, juicy burgers, flavoursome appetisers, aromatic curries, lipsmacking sushi, varied pastas, and desserts that will transport you to another world. You will definitely enjoy their King Manchow Soup that contains the spicy goodness of king chillies, Turkish Kuzu burger which has a minced lamb patty top with a cheese slice, fried eggs and served with fries; Miso Garlic Tofu served with crunchy mushroom, Vermicelli Wrapped Prawns served with gochujang mayo, marinated Grilled Chicken Leg seasoned with sea salt, paprika, herbs served with hasselback potatoes and greens; homemade Turmeric Potato Gnocchi pasta drenched in a cilantro goat cheese sauce, and more. Don’t forget to satisfy your sweet cravings with some of their signature desserts, which include the Baklava Roll, which consists of layered filo sheets loaded with dry fruits and Goan coconut cream; a fluffy Japanese cheesecake drizzled with Yuzu sauce; and Occo’s signature fusion dessert, Wasabi White Chocolate Cheesecake.
“Everything you see at OCCO is carefully curated from the vibe to the design to the cocktails to our specially curated menu to give you an amazing, classy, fun sunset experience in Goa,” says Rodney Ryan Morais, partner. “Occo is designed to strengthen the ancient attraction of people to the beach, making this bond more powerful, memorable, and meaningful. It’s the perfect aesthetic place with food and beverages that’s surely going to strengthen all bonds,” says Anuj Chugh.
“We want Occo to be a place that permanently etches itself in the hearts and minds of all those who make an entry through its ever-welcoming doors. Occo has elements from Goa, Dubai, Mykonos, and Bali. With this, we wanted to make Occo a dynamic location where one can have an experience of a lifetime,” says Gaurav Parikh. Shedding light on the inspiration behind Occo, Ketul adds, “Occo is a progressive party place with the perfect dinner vibe and the best of electronic music and artists. Our main inspiration behind Occo is to cater to people who want to enjoy great food and cocktails in an aesthetic sundowner vibe. Hence, we have chosen Goa for our brand.”
The stunning shorefront houses a fully-stocked bar that serves everything from gin, rum, and tequila to beers and breezers. Some of their popular drinks include Monkey 47, Makazai, Sauza Gold, and Martell VS, among others. They also have an elaborate menu of some of their signature cocktails and mocktails that will go perfectly with their delicacies. Some of their in-house specials include Shawshank Redemption, which is a delicious mix of golden rum, pure honey, and lemon juice, aromatized with saffron; Muladhara, which is a combination of white rum infused with lemon grass and martini blanco infusion with lemon, accentuated with flavours of coconut and basil; Marry Marry, which is a sweet, sour, and spicy blend of guava, tomato, Indian spices, and chilli; and Goavian Vibe, which is a delicious blend of blueberries, fresh cream, mango, pineapple, and basil.
So what are you waiting for? An exquisite shoreside dining experience like no other awaits you at Occo! Soak up the sun, the sea, and the ambience of this place as it will make you want to come back!
Ozran Beach, Little Vagator, Near Club Waters, Anjuna, GOA, Goa 403509, Instagram: @occogoa