Casa Menezes - A Heritage Goan Homestay

The beauty of the 300 year old heritage building is breathtaking. It's like stepping into a different time and place - a past that I thought was lost. The long corridors, comfortable and elegant antique furniture, the relaxing Planter's chairs where one can sit and view the serene views of coconut palms and fields... every bit contributed to a feeling of homeliness and old world charm. The hosts, David and Nicole were lovely - always helpful and gracious. They and their team (a special mention here of Laxmi) made sure we were well looked after throughout our 4-day stay. Whether booking a local car to finding the not very well known Reconciliation Chapel with stunning Portuguese 'Azulejos' tiles, David shared his tips and knowledge graciously. His collection of art scattered all over the property brings a sense of wandering into a museum... The food served is quintessentially Goan with strong Portuguese influences. All very delicious that goes down well with a glass or two of the local 'Urak' and Feni. When we wanted something different, they didn't hesitate to accommodate our requests. We are looking forward to being back here! Can't recommend the place enough.

We had an amazing stay at this property. The host, David, and his staff ensured that our trip was comfortable and memorable. It’s a beautiful place, away from the chaos of Goa, yet still well-connected. I’ll definitely recommend this to anyone planning to truly enjoy Goa.

The whole experience from the room to the surrounding to the Menezes family that made our stay possible everything was an absolute delight to be a part of. The ambiance was calm and friendly. Food was a great experience for the taste buds.

Lovely stay in a traditional Goan house that is at least 500 years old. Of course, the toilets and facilities are modern, including good wifi. David, his wife Nicole, and his mother, Pamela, welcomed us with the old world Goan charm. We had requested a Goan dinner in advance. David cooked us a delicious Pork Solankala, Chillu Beef, Feijoada, and Seradure, with a cocktail sipping session after it. Friends of ours who are settled in Goa for the past 8 years said it was the best Goan meal that they had ever had. We couldn't savour the famed Goan breakfast because we had to leave early next morning. It is set in a village and a short walk takes you past the nearby Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Batim Lake. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Cannot speak highly enough of Casa Menezes as a place to stay in Goa. David and Nicole make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive, and no matter how long your journey it is like you have returned ‘home’. The homestay is well located in Goa with easy access to both the North and South, the rooms are extremely comfortable and authentic to traditional Goan decor, the breakfast quite frankly the best Goan food we ate throughout our whole trip, and David’s knowledge of Goa with arrangement for taxis makes for a fantastic stay. Oh and did I mention the pool to allow you to mellow if you wanted to stay in?! I stayed as a Goan-Australian and was with my Australian fiancé, her parents and my Goan mother. No matter our nationality, we all had a fantastic stay and look forward to returning!

I am so glad we booked this place. It really is the real deal authentic experience. The hosts David and Nicole Menezes were without doubt the most attentive and helpful hosts I have experienced in all my time travelling. They care about their guest's experience and went above and beyond ensuring our holiday was enjoyable and memorable. The accommodation is impressive; a colonial style Portuguese home situated in rural Goa and surrounded by paddy fields and Goan villages. The room was fantastic with effective air conditioning (and it is needed); a lovely comfortable four poster bed and all we needed. I was a touch concerned about the isolation of this place. But I had no need as our hosts always ensured we had drivers available - and they were so cheap. As a general guide you could have the services of a driver for a day for about £25 (25000 Indian rupees). And the drivers always got us safely to our destination no matter where - and looked after us ***** the way. But the stand-out thing with this place is the service and hospitality. Nothing was too much of an effort for the Menezes family and their team. From the tour around a local village during a Hindu festival - to the cold beer given to us on arrival - to the cooking of a traditional Goan dinner on our last night - to the invaluable local knowledge and things to do and places to see. One piece of advice is that as this is rural Goa you should ensure you have adequate (and effective) mosquito repellent. They are out in their droves the moment the sun sets!! This place is a gem. And I have no doubt this place will grow and thrive in the years ahead. We will certainly be back! A truly memorable holiday!