Goa has been home for nearly 15 years now, and even though I have lived up north for the last few years, the south will always have a special place in my heart. And when I say south, I really mean Agonda, for this picturesque little seaside village has forever been warm and welcoming.
On a recent visit back there, I was charmed to discover this same sense of warmth and love from the good folks at Cinnamon Agonda, the newest baby only a furlong from the beach but with enough panache to blow away the old-timers.
As you head towards the southern end of the strip, a nondescript earthy laterite wall with Balinese-style entrance way breaks the colourful chaos of the street. The mix of chattai, stone and mud creates an immediately relaxing feel, one that you’re looking for as soon as you reach the beach.
Within, Cinnamon Agonda is a superb reflection of the paradise-like Indonesian island featuring lots of lush greenery, natural building materials, calming water bodies and the meditative gaze of Buddha statues.
Rows of wooden cottages overlook gardens filled with young banana saplings, palm trees and other plants in their early years. All lead along a common pathway to a pristine blue pool and then on to the beach. In between it all, are palm trees shooting up towards the azure skies and a curtain of woven thatch that cocoons the resort from everything else.
Each pathway is lit by cute little lamps hung on wrought iron fittings which when turned on at dusk create a surreal ambience.
At the entrance, you are welcomed by a stone Buddha in prayer, accompanied as always by a small lotus pond and the ever-present, sweet-smelling frangipani tree. It immediately sets the tone for the rest of the peaceful resort, and by extension your vacation too.
It is quite evident that Cinnamon Agonda has laid great emphasis on unintrusive design along with comfort. Each of the 19 cottages has a bedroom, spacious verandah with a sit-out and a semi open-air bathroom. Nature finds its way into each cottage, by way of pretty orchids, house plants or even the odd coconut tree making its way through the bathroom roof.
For the comfort of its guests, the resort provides a large bed with mosquito nets, separate towels for the bath and pool as well as a safe. Some cottages even have air-conditioning. To adhere to local environmental laws, the swimming pool is actually a submerged metal frame pool, but one couldn’t really mind the difference for there is hardly any at all!
It’s worth noting here that the management is well-versed in hospitality. Cinnamon Agonda is the newest addition to its resort kitty, alongside Agonda Beach Resort, Agonda Cottages, Agonda Villas, Agonda White Sand, and The Cape Goa, the last located at Cabo de Rama.
An outstanding feature at Cinnamon Agonda, however, is its complimentary breakfast. It’s a simple menu but each option is more mouthwatering than the next. There’s the Breakfast Comfort featuring eggs, chips and baked beans and the Breakfast Sandwich, a whopper with chicken sausage, fried egg, mushrooms, a bread roll and marmalade.
For something a little more Indian, there’s a thick luscious aloo paratha served with curd and pickle. You can go easy on your stomach with the Cinnamon French Toast flavoured with banana, honey and cashew. Or choose a simple fresh seasonal fruit salad with some toast, butter and jam.
For those who need their cereal, there’s Homemade Muesli – a hearty mash-up of oats, dried fruit, seeds, nuts, fresh fruit, curd, and local honey. And for that everyday jam, you can have eggs your favourite way with toast and butter. All of these delicious options come with a choice of tea, coffee or seasonal juice. Nothing more you could ask for!
There may not be a fully functional restaurant for lunch and dinner at Cinnamon Agonda, but you’d never miss it, considering the village’s fabulous variety of excellent eateries and bars.
I’m always asked for recommendations of places to stay at this beach, and Cinnamon Agonda is one I would certainly put high on my list.
Contact Details: http://www.cinnamonagonda.com & info@cinnamonagonda.com
There’s something unique and spectacular about salty air, cool breeze and nature for miles in front of you. Now imagine all of this in your wedding photograph. The quickest way to make this real is hosting your dream beach wedding in Goa at La Cabana Beach & Spa in Ashwem.
The beach resort also has its own in-house spa services so you can take advantage of rejuvenating treatments in the comfort of this very relaxing space. 
Are you in search of an eclectic dining experience or an un-pho-gettable affair? Then look no further, as 
traditional delights. Take your taste buds on a culinary tour by beginning your meal with the famous Vietnamese Pho – rice noodle soup with aromatic infusions of herbs, vegetables or meat.
Lemongrass Sauce and others. To enjoy the subtle flavours of the region choose the Vietnamese Style Noodles or Steamed Jasmine Rice with Bok Choy, accompanied by your choice of vegetables, prawns or chicken.
What makes Indian food famous all across the globe are the mixes of its organic spices & the scintillating aromatic smells, allowing its guests an unforgettable taste for its local cuisine.
spices and the dishes are made with fresh ground masalas. Most of the dishes are eaten with rice or rice-based accompaniments such as appams, dosais, Iddiyappams, idlis and adais. The most essential spices used In Chettinad Food are Anasipoo (Star Aniseed), Maratti Mokku (Dried Flower Pods) and Kalpasi (A Lichen Known as the “Black Stone Flower). There are more than hundreds of Chettinad recipes which one can delight while visiting Tamil Nadu.
dishes like MURUNGAI KEERAI PANAYARAM, a shallow fried Moringa leaf dumpling with tempered mustard, dry chilli and cashew nut. PALLIPALAYAM KOZHI VARUVAL a slow braised chicken with red chilli, garlic, fennel and spice & LAMB PEPPER FRY, slowly cooked lamb curry with coriander seed, garlic, chilli, ginger, shallots and whole spices, this was only for starters.
It’s a delight to know of restaurants and cafés nearby that serves delicious & healthy food sometimes just the requirement after a crazy party weekend. Natti’s Naturals is one such hangout for me. Whether it be a quick meeting with a client, or a healthy meal, or an exotic smoothie, Natti’s Naturals is my preferred little haven. A bunch of us working folks decided to kick away our Monday Blues this week at Natti’s Naturals.
For the main course, we had a French-inspired chicken ballotine with a creamy mash quenelle, their signature mushroom patrao sauce and a side of chilled zesty orange quinoa salad!
She has a weakness for colour but her strength lies in style. Stylist and interior decorator Isabel Hernandez Lelli works from the heart. Her fashion and interior design creations stand testimony to a perpetually ignited love for beauty.
Sinéad McManus 