Boutique homestays in Goa are reshaping the way we holiday

Insia Lacewalla

In an era where travel is increasingly about meaning rather than mileage, Goa is seeing a quiet shift. The party State’s once standard hotel fare with loud music, crowded beaches, and cookie-cutter resorts, is giving way to something far more intimate and grounded. 

From heritage homes to forest retreats, here’s a curated list of distinctive homestays in North Goa that are worth checking into for your next trip.

BIRDSONG, MOIRA: A VILLAGE STORY IN BRICK AND WOOD

Originally built in 1804 and lovingly restored by the family that now calls it home, Birdsong is a soulful villa that offers a serene, art-filled escape in the heart of Moira. Sisters — Tiya and Cara Tejpal — run their home like clockwork with a quiet attention to detail. 

With six uniquely designed guest suites, each featuring spacious bathrooms and thoughtful details, this retreat is equally suited for intimate getaways and large family reunions.

Surrounded by flowering trees and alive with birdsong, the property features lush gardens, a courtyard pool, a cosy pool house for shared meals, and ample lounging spaces that invite guests to do as much or as little as they please. 

ONE OF A KIND: Birdsong in Moira has six uniquely designed spacious guest suites.

Whether you're curled up by the bay window in Room Six, enjoying a sunlit breakfast prepared by the in-house kitchen, or spotting orioles and fantails from the veranda, Birdsong delivers the rare luxury of stillness. 

 Add to that a sustainability-focused team, a lovingly curated art collection, and the calming hum of, and you have a stay that feels both grounded and gently elevated.

DETAILS

WHAT: Birdsong homestay

LOCATION: 

RATES: Starting at Rs 13,700 per room per night (including breakfast and taxes)

PARIJAAT GOA: WHERE TIME STANDS STILL

Tucked away in a quiet part of Anjuna, Parijaat is a thoughtfully crafted two-room boutique B&B that invites guests to slow down and savour life’s quieter pleasures.

Kavita and Manoj Nair left their corporate jobs and moved to Goa to build a balanced life with their daughter Devaki. 

Designed in harmony with its natural surroundings, this tranquil offers a blend of old-world charm and modern comfort with red oxide floors, vintage windows, handpicked books, and the gentle rhythm of birdsong. 

Whether you're lounging by the pool, swinging under a , or sipping tea in the gazebo, Parijaat wraps you in a cocoon of calm.

The two distinct rooms — Magpie Robin and Drongo — each echo the spirit of the birds they’re named after, combining elegant aesthetics, luxe bath amenities, and Parijaat’s signature heavenly scent. 

TRENDY, YET TRADITIONAL: Parijaat offers a blend of old-world charm and modern comfort.

Perfect for a restorative solo retreat or a peaceful escape with a loved one, Parijaat is more than just a stay — it’s a quiet celebration of nature, design, and soulful hospitality.

DETAILS

WHAT: Parijaat Goa

LOCATION: 

RATES: Starting at Rs 10,900 per room per night (including breakfast and taxes)

CAPELLA FOREST RETREAT: PARRA’S HIDDEN GEM

Perched on a quiet hill in Parra, Capella is a four-room that blends the warmth of a family home with the elegance and privacy of a boutique retreat.

Surrounded by flowering gardens and shaded verandas, it offers sweeping countryside views, a serene swimming pool, and the gentle company of peacocks, butterflies and a few affectionate resident pets. 

ONE WITH NATURE: Enjoy countryside views, peacocks and butterflies at Capella, a four-room homestay in Parra.

Host Ayesha, along with her son, Zal, and a charming mix of cats and dogs, welcomes guests into a thoughtfully curated space filled with books, photographs, and personal touches that make Capella feel lived-in and loved.

Each of the four rooms — Frangipani, Magnolia, Heliconia and Jacaranda, has its own unique character, from antique furniture and open balconies to sun-drenched terraces and cozy corners.

The large living room opens into a courtyard filled with tropical plants and a tranquil fishpond, while the front veranda offers a perfect perch for spotting birds or sipping a cool . 

Capella also goes beyond the typical homestay, offering curated experiences like village walks, kayaking and food trails — ideal for travellers seeking both comfort and connection in Goa.

DETAILS

WHAT: Capella Forest Retreat

LOCATION: Parra

RATES: Starting at Rs 6,500 per room per night (including breakfast and taxes)

Whether it’s a morning spent identifying butterflies, an afternoon exploring Goan islands, or an evening exchanging stories by the barbecue, Fishtail Creek invites you to experience a slower, more intimate Goa

FISHTAIL CREEK: JUNGLE VIBES, RIVERSIDE CALM

In the quiet village of Moira, Fishtail Creek offers a soulful counterpoint to Goa’s usual bustle. Conceived by former Tata executives and lifelong travellers, Alka and Vivek Talwar, this nature-focused retreat is rooted in a deep love for offbeat adventures, community, and the wild beauty of Goa’s riverine landscapes. 

Set along the Moira River, where fishtail palms sway and hornbills perch, the property features two cozy en suite bedrooms in a standalone cottage surrounded by tropical gardens, a lily pond and a flourishing food forest. 

Guests can kayak, birdwatch, hike or simply lounge by the bar with a drink in hand and the company of Oliver, the affectionate resident dog.

Whether it’s a morning spent identifying butterflies, an afternoon exploring Goan islands, or an evening exchanging stories by the barbecue, Fishtail Creek invites you to experience a slower, more intimate Goa — where nature, culture and thoughtful hospitality come together effortlessly.

DETAILS

WHAT: Fishtail Creek

LOCATION: Moira

RATES: Starting at Rs 5,000 per room per night (including and taxes)

DUDHSAGAR PLANTATION

Nestled near the majestic Dudhsagar Falls, Dudhsagar Plantation is a soulful farmstay set within a thriving 50-acre spice and cashew plantation in Goa’s hinterland.

Built on once-barren land by Indo-German couple, Ajit and Doris Malkarnekar, and lovingly expanded by their son Ashok, this eco-conscious retreat offers a back-to-nature escape rooted in traditional, organic farming. 

PLANTATION EXPERIENCE: Dudhsagar Plantation features six rustic cottages shaded by coconut palms and arecanut trees,

Guests stay in six rustic cottages shaded by coconut palms and arecanut trees, with access to a natural swimming pool, yoga shala, and scenic nature trails.

Whether you're birdwatching at dawn, soaking in the Sacred Cove, or sampling farm-fresh vegetarian and house-made urrak, the plantation offers immersive experiences that go far beyond your average holiday. 

A guided spice trail introduces you to cinnamon, cardamom, triphal and more, while visits to the heritage distillery reveal the secrets behind their celebrated feni and golden-hued spiced variant, Ouro. 

With dogs for companions, homemade ghee and pickles for souvenirs, and the monsoon as the perfect season for mushroom foraging and soulful solitude, Dudhsagar Plantation is where slow living and sustainability thrive — just a short journey from Goa’s more trodden paths.

DETAILS

WHAT:  farmstay

WHERE: Sanguem

RATES: Starting at Rs 3,500 per room per night (including breakfast and taxes)

What these places have in common is a commitment to personal hospitality, sustainability, and a deeper engagement with . They’re not just places to stay, but places to be.

In stepping away from mass tourism models, these boutique homestays offer something increasingly rare: connection — with place, with people, and with oneself. 

For travellers weary of crowds and craving authenticity, North Goa’s boutique homestay scene is quietly rewriting the rules.