While the sandy shores of Goa truly never disappoint, there’s also no denying that each visit unravels a part of the beachy state you’d never discovered on your previous trip. On that note, if you’re on the lookout for a place that caters to your different moods, Occo is the place to be.
Housed on the Ozran beach in Little Vagator, the newly-launched beachside restaurant exudes a laid-back vibe, egging you on to soak up the idyllic beauty of Goa.
How It All Began
There’s an interesting history to Occo: On a balmy afternoon, founders Gaurav Parikh, Ketul Parikh, Anuj Chugh, and Varun Chugh— the directors of Richboyz Entertainment— decided to get on with a wild vision: disrupt the hospitality industry in Goa by delivering a one-of-a-kind experience to their patrons. Going by their history, this didn’t seem like an impossible dream to achieve—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 ambiance. So, it was only a matter of time until they decided to work on their next big dream and unleash magic. One step at a time.
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.”
Highlights
Drawing inspirations from travels across the globe—Dubai, Greece’s Mykonos, Bali, and of course, Goa, the décor features wooden-hued flooring, wooden chairs and tables, and cushions that lend a refined yet rustic touch to the space. 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. “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.
Complementing the calming vibe of the place is the Occo Sunsets Boutique Festival, a disco event that aims at awakening the party animal within you.
In keeping with how a visit to Goa isn’t truly complete without a great drinking sesh, the picturesque shorefront houses a fully-stocked bar that serves everything from gin, rum, and tequila to beers and breezers. 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, (a combination of white rum infused with lemon grass and martini blanco infusion with lemon, accentuated with flavours of coconut and basil), Marry Marry (a sweet, sour, and spicy blend of guava, tomato, Indian spices, and chili), and Goavian Vibe (a delicious blend of blueberries, fresh cream, mango, pineapple, and basil).
Foodies can nosh on plates Turkish Kuzu burger, which has a minced lamb patty topped with a cheese slice, fried eggs, and served with fries; Miso garlic tofu served with crunchy mushroom, homemade Turmeric Potato Gnocchi pasta drenched in a cilantro goat cheese sauce, and the likes. Dessert lovers can dig into their signature fusion dessert, Wasabi white chocolate cheesecake, Baklava roll, which consists of layered filo sheets loaded with dry fruits and Goan coconut cream; a fluffy Japanese cheesecake drizzled with Yuzu sauce. “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,” concludes Rodney Ryan Morais, partner.
P.S: Don’t forget to switch off, and soak up the idyllic views of the sunset, with a concoction of your choice by your side while you’re here.
Address: Ozran Beach, Little Vagator, Near Club Waters, Anjuna, Goa
