 Club
Cabana:
In Goa, you can't get much ‘higher’ than Club Cubana - " the nightclub in
the sky ". This party heaven stands on Arpora Hill, towering over North Goa,
beckoning one and all with its pulsating strobe lights.
You walk up the steps carved into the hillside, and enter the first level.
Niiice. You go up another level, to be greeted by the sight of wet bikini
clad women in the pool, a free massage table, white comfy beds, bucket
chairs and a fantastic view that stretches for miles. It ain't over yet -
the dance floor and open bar's on the third level. Trip to the DJ's tunes -
hip-hop, pop, trance whatever your poison - or lounge around, enjoying the
top-of-the-world feeling. You've got all the time in the world - the club's
open till 5 am. And with a range of themes across the week - including
Tequila Tuesdays, and Hip-Hop Mondays - you can never get bored. They used
to have a bikini night earlier, but the moral police clamped down on those.
Ah well, with its perfect blend of babes, booze and booty shakin beats,
Cubana still remains the perfect club. Damages: Rs.1000/couple (includes
unlimited drinks all night). Single Women: Rs.400/-
 Bottle
Bay:
Sergey George is the man who 'looks after' Bottle Bay, the newest and most
happening shack on the Baga beach. One look at Bottle Bay and you know a
great deal of thought and passion has gone into making it look and feel
different. From everything else.
Instead of regular cane chairs Bottle Bay has 'harem beds' on the beach (the
kind where you can sit on gaddas, with the curtains blowing in the wind).
Even the tables inside the shack have been carefully designed, with
seashells and sand sandwiched in between two layers of glass. That's a shack
with class!
The guys who've started and who run Bottle Bay are ex-managers and employees
from Tito's. That experience certainly shows. But standing out from the
crowd is not an indulgence, it's necessary. As Sergey explains, " There are
over 600 shacks, restaurants and establishments angling for business in
north Goa, close to the beaches."
Of that six hundred, Bottle Bay is certainly worth a visit! Especially at
night.
 La
Terrasse:
Merci. Champagne. Zinedine Zidane. French kiss and ..err..that's pretty much
the extent of my French repertoire. But that didn't stop me from going gaga
over La Terrasse. A French restaurant in the middle of nowhere (actually on
the shortcut between Baga and Anjuna), it's owned by Eric, a Frenchman with
piercings that make him look like a slab of Swiss cheese. But far from being
cheesy, the man exhibits class and hospitality, personally greeting patrons
at the entrance.
Done up in pristine white, with sleek furniture and flickering candles, it
offers a mostly-outdoor seating, with an inner room for a more intimate
dining experience. Visit this place at least once - it's the stuff romantic
movie dinners are made of !
P.S. This is a restaurant by night and Eric's home by day. That is also the
scene at Club Cubana. Cool, ain't it? You live and you work, both in the
same place!
Curly's Shack:
The name's spelt out in psychedelic shades, but even then Curly's isn't the
easiest place to locate. Even after a friend had specified the location, I
had to traipse through Anjuna Village, asking for directions, before I
reached the shack, situated at the south end of Anjuna beach. The walk was
fun though, because hippies slumming it out in tiny Indian cottages, with
cows and buffaloes for company, is quite an amusing sight. Anyway, moving on
to Curly's...
There's Cobra, Kingfisher and Kings for company. And at 60 bucks for a large
peg of whisky/vodka/rum, it's definitely easy on the pocket. But the best
part has to be the rooftop seating, with its red mattresses to lounge around
on. During the busy season, it's the perfect spot to chill after partying.
 Some
Other Night Spots:
Paradise (Anjuna) and Nine Bar (Vagator): For their sunset dance parties,
where you can get a taste of the 'high' life..
Underground raves Location: hush-hush, usually disclosed just hours before
the party. A veteran trippie's tip: Keep your eyes and ears open, and just
follow the music.
 On
the Rocks (Baga, just next door to Mambo's ) Be there on any Saturday Night.
Kingfisher Beer Garden (@ Baga: Go straight down the road from Tito's,
towards Britto's) The name says it all.
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