MEET MARIA
The Crown Goa is a Boutique Hotel situated on a historic hillock in the centre of Panjim. Besides being located in one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, The Crown Goa offers the most breath-taking views of the River Mandovi.
Opened in 2010, I was delighted to receive an invite from Mr. and Mrs. Rajesh and Bhakti Dempo back then as they launched their first hotel in Panjim. So when I got to visit the hotel again this November I was really excited. Greeted by the GM Nikheel Brid on arrival, I was happy to be out again visiting hotels now in the new normal. Before I even began, I was met by his team and taken through the new Covid SOP’s in place at the hotel.
Its strategic central location provides easy access to all the local facilities, shopping areas, casinos, beaches and churches. Located on Jose Falcao road in a quaint street, The Crown Goa is surrounded by traditional houses and the charm of Old Latin Quarter of Goa cannot be missed.
With two amazing restaurants for dining, the food at Crown Goa is apt to tingle all kind of taste buds. The poolside Hanging Garden Restaurant serves barbeque and Indian dishes with amazing river views. It’s an ideal place to enjoy some drinks and bites as you watch the sun go down behind the Mandovi or catch the city lights with cruises and casino ships adding to the charm at night, with their vibrant presence.
While Harbour Cafe was our venue for lunch and we were delighted to be sitting with a sweeping view of of the River Mandovi and probably one of the best spots to enjoy the magnificent Atal Setu Bridge.
Chef Kanchan Desai, joined us to go through his lunchtime menu and the fresh catches of the day. We were served Tandori Bites with Salad, Grilled Fish & Fresh Vegetables and for the main course, Tiger Prawns. As we paused for a while, desserts of fresh pastries with coffee
followed.
With a couple of hours to rest in our suite room with a great balcony with the best views, it was time for a spa treatment at their in house Spa, Ved Tatva, with a great number of different treatments on offer. From massages to facials and manicure, pedicures and even royal baths, the spa was indeed one of the best I have visited and offers solutions for complete rejuvenation. I opted for the signature massage, the Ayurveda Retreat, which left me completely relaxed and refreshed.
The hotel also offers banqueting services and is perfect to organize meetings, conferences, parties or even weddings. They have a regal room, a river front banquet and even the pool side available for hosting events and gatherings. The banquets are equipped with professional essentials required for conference and seminar needs and makes for a great choice to organize your events.
It also features an outdoor pool for that perfect dip overlooking the greens and glimpses of Mandovi.. Guests can relax in air-conditioned comfortable rooms equipped all modern amenities and enjoy views of the garden, city or river. All rooms include a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a refrigerator with minibar. Entertainment options at The Crown include a children’s park along with indoor games.
I was thrilled to hear that the hotel is back in full swing and with enthusiastic staff looking after your every need I so enjoyed visiting one of my favourite city hotels and look forward to returning again soon perhaps for a night out in the big city.
