Loungefly Goa

Close to the sea, almost at the end of a lane leading off the Calangute-Baga road, the buzz gets us as soon as we enter this nightclub. The nervecentre of the party are two long bars that double up as catwalks for models at the frequent fashion shows. The bars extend out of the base of a large professional stage that hosts a variety of major performances.

The setting is decidely dramatic; wherever we are in the vast space, we get an unobstructed view of the stage back-drop which is a 24 ft high wall inspired by Portuguese architecture, with gothic windows and a 17 ft high solid wooden door sprayed with the aqua colour of the sea.

Huge pristine white leather couches, divans that are made for sinking-in and cushions in vibrant hues lend a charming Mediterranean nuance. To the right of the bar is a more casual set-up, on a deep-blue wooden deck and slicker, yet comfortable furniture make it complete and friendly. Facing the stage at the other end of the bar is what is aptly called the barbeque garden. One can laze around on bean-bags while sipping on cocktails and sampling grills, barbeques and tandoors from the live console, which fills the air with the aroma of herbs and spices and the anticipation of a sumptuous bite and a great evening ahead.

We climb a long way up to the sun-deck and are rewarded with an aerial view of the whole lounge where candles begin lighting up tables; on the other side we are rivetted by the view of the beach and the Arabian Sea. As the sun sets on a long day, a little breeze blows up to ruffle hair and frills and we drink deeply from pretty cocktail glasses.

For all its relaxed atmosphere, Loungefly takes food seriously and tempts us with flavours from Morocco, Jerusalem, Portugal, The Orient, South Asia, Mexico and the Mediterranean. With a seafood fetishist amongst us who found himself in heaven, we found the vegetarian dishes fresh and scrumptious too.

On most nights, the resident DJ Vijay reigns over the nightclub which is a thing of beauty behind a 2,600 sq ft glass wall. Often he invites fellow DJs from India and around the world to share the cutting-edge sound and lighting system that enraptures a thousand pairs of hands and feet.

If indulging in retail therapy is sheer necessity, then you can wend your way to the corner store and shop for colourful accessories and souvenirs of an evening well spent.

Says Amardipta Biswas who conceptualised this nightclub, “Loungefly is a dream that has become a commercial success as we work hard to put our guests at ease. From an unknown first-time visitor to our celebrity patrons from big cities, we are genuinely interested in giving them an unforgettable evening.”

Text: Sanjana Mendes