100 Things We Loved in the World of Food This Year
It’s been a delicious year in food. So exceptional, that we decided here at Goya to share the places we returned to again and again, in 2025. This is not a list, or a ranking, but a collection of all the places we loved eating, drinking, and things we loved shopping, this year. We’ve tried to go as granular as we could, by including our regular orders at our favourite spots. This compilation comes to you from the team: Joanna, Lobo, Mradula Hegde, Ranveer Aujla, Dhvani Solani, Anisha Rachel Oommen.
Places that fed us, entertained us, inspired us, and frequently drained our wallets. We don’t believe in gatekeeping the good stuff.
Nenapu Cafe, Bangalore
Good coffee, cookies that sell out regularly, and a delicious mosambi espresso (and other non-alcoholic coffee drinks).
Moira Coffee House, Goa
An old Goan home turned into a coffee shop with a library and games. They take their pastry, pie, and coffee seriously.
Kafenio Café, Leh
Cosy, relaxing space with friendly staff, and delicious coffee.
La Amistad Patisserie, Jalandhar
A self-made baker doing freshly baked pastries and French delicacies.
Bean Theory Coffee, Thane
A small specialty coffee shop with lovely bakes and great iced espressos.
Alag, Goa
Backyard coffee house brewing fantastic coffees from the Northeast, with fluffy cloud cheesecake, and delicious Shokupan sandos.
Dylan's Coffee House, Old Manali
A no-nonsense cafe with Bob Dylan memorabilia, a lovely little movie screening room, and a good Irish Coffee.
Sakura Matcha Bar, Bangalore
A perfect spot for the matcha-obsessed; we suggest their original matcha with oat milk.
Marzorin, Pune
The OG Pune institution on MG Road with a buttery yellow facade, iconic chutney cheese sandwiches, and cold coffee.
Maverick and Farmer Coffee, Bangalore
A cafe serving their own artisanal coffee (try the Ol’ Smoky pour over), espresso drinks, also selling coffee equipment and beans.
Black Baza Coffee
A sustainable coffee brand we love, selling small batch, ethically sourced beans from small farmers.
Maska Bakery, Mumbai
Chef Heena Punwani is our queen of pastry, doing creative and innovative baked stuff like mathri biscuits, croissant cake, and chutney babka (delivery only).
Larder & Folk, Goa
A cheerful and cosy space in Goa’s Latin Quarter. Go for the cookies, bombolini, that hot honey doughnut, and for chef Priyanka Sardessai’s sunny disposition.
Breaking Bread with Aaron, Goa
A low-cost, high-value spot that consistently serves up amazing products.
City Bakery, Pune
A Parsi-run spot on MG Road whose out palmiers, jam tarts, and hazelnut biscuits formed the culinary memories of generations.
Sour House, Bangalore
Local bakery doing gut-friendly sourdough, breads and baked treats.
Pumpkin Tales, Chennai
A restaurant and bakery with a lovely range of breads and biscuits, many of them in the SE Asian style of bakes.
The Good Butter Bakery, Pune
Their breads and baked desserts are crafted with equal amounts of care. We love their miso cookie.
SAPA Sourdough and Pastry, Mysore
Dina Weber’s cafe and bakery is most famous for their fat, fluffy donuts, breads, and a decadent Christmas stollen.
Daphi’s Bakery, Shillong
This local bakery celebrates its 14th year of cakes, pies, tarts and bread. Our favourite is the lemon sponge pie, and her butter shorts.
Kopitam Lah, Bangalore
Although technically a Malaysian restaurant, we’re making the controversial choice to put it in the bakery list because their bakery section is a show-stealer, especially their meat pies.
Juny’s Bakehouse, Bangalore
With their incredible cheesecakes, twice-baked chocolate cakes and playfulness with local ingredients, there is always something new to try at Juny’s.
Cinco, Goa
A variety of baked goods but the highlight is a gluten- and dairy-free bread that may sound boring but is crazy delicious.
Copper + Cloves Studio, Bangalore
A cafe and community space doing zero-proof cocktails, whole foods, and a fantastic oat milk cortado.
Padaria Prazeres, Goa
We are big fans of Ralph Prazeres and his delectable pasteis de nata — easily the bestseller at this popular bakery and patisserie.
Due Amici Pizzeria & Café, Goa
An Italian spot known for its pizza, but take our word for it, their tiramisu is a star.
La Amistad Patisserie, Jalandhar
Boutique patisserie doing baked treats. Their French toast with raspberry and vanilla ice cream just hits different.
Nutcracker, Mumbai
This contemporary café serves the most GOATed chocolate pancakes.
Bäcker & Charlie, Bangalore
Artisanal bakery and sandwich deli doing traditional German pastries — their Rhubarb & Kaffir Lime Berliner is to die for.
Maki Patisserie, Bangalore
It's hard to go wrong with anything on the Maki menu — we especially love their cheesecake, and never miss a limited edition drop.
Ether Atelier
The chocolate minis are a great set to snack on, and when we really want to treat ourselves, we order a smoked black forest cake.
Bakeree, Bangalore
Cloud kitchen whose bombolinis are lush and decadent, and worth every extra calorie.
Gatoh, Mumbai
We love their single-serve desserts, and when we’re craving something savoury, their parmesan crackers are nothing short of spectacular.
House of Sapor, Bangalore
Their celebration cakes have become our go-to for every special occasion: boozy, sophisticated, and impossibly beautiful.
Lupa, Bangalore
Chef Manu Candra’s luxury dining space has an excellent pistachio gelato, made with an in-house pistachio paste that lends it a deep umami nuttiness.
Milano Icecream, Bangalore
The Italian gelato chain where everything on their menu is excellent. We recommend just dive head first and order.
Benne-Heritage Bangalore Dosa, Mumbai
Dosa spot making an excellent filter coffee ice cream.
Pans Party, Bangalore
Ice cream but make it innovative. They do regular innovative flavour drops: expect flavours like Sichuan pepper and chocolate, stracciatella and olive oil.
Lick, Bangalore
From the house of Lavonne, Lick is a neon multi-sensory overload that has to be experienced; the ice creams are great too.
Ulo, Bangalore
Small batch, artisanal ice cream in fun flavours like Thai tea, cereal milk, and paalada payasam.
Amadora, Chennai, Bangalore
Small-batch ice cream, ice cream bars and sandwiches in familiar flavours.
Cream Choc Gelato, Goa
The best gelato in Goa; we’d stake our appetites on it.
Shubhra Shankhwalker, Aai's, Goa
Easily one of the best meals to be had in Goa, Shubhra’s a feast of seasonal, delicious fare and forgotten recipes.
Ammeez Kitchen, Mumbai
3 generations of women cooking little-known recipes from Konkani Muslim cuisine.
Housesourdough, Mumbai
Artisanal breads, including a bounty of fun sourdough like green chili and garlic sourdough (great with eggs), and cheddar and olives and sundried tomatoes.
Tiffin Journey, Pune
South Indian tiffin service in Pune serving homely food and versatile sides/ dips.
Knots & Crosses, Bangalore
Loaded, meaty and veggie sandos with fun sides; we especially like the eggplant and apricot relish sandwich.
Marina Balakrishnan, Mumbai
When we’re craving a true taste of Kerala, uncompromised by local flavour tweaks, we call Marina.
Symbai
This home-catering unit (they also do pop-ups) brings a truly unique experience of Khasi cuisine to your home. We suggest getting the pork every time.
NĀVU, Bangalore
We stan women-run kitchens, especially those doing innovative food that lives up to the hype. If only we could pocket that mustard ice cream and cauliflower creme brulee.
Oyas Umami, Goa
Good, honest North Eastern (especially Naga) flavours by Ati Aier — go here for the chilled black sesame noodles, pork ribs and mango sticky rice
Soul Chef, Goa
Beloved North Eastern restaurant, newly reopened but dishing up the same comforting pork ribs in black sesame, and choris momos.
Aragma, Pune
Progressive Indian food spotlighting everyday ingredients and Indian stories through a tasting menu. Their sober drinks menu is excellent.
Circa 11, Bangalore
Cuisine-agnostic space that is a café by day and restaurant at night, serving inspired cocktails and delicious plates of food. The fried chicken is a revelation.
Basaveshwar Khanavali, Bangalore
And old spot (with outlets across Karnataka) doing vegetarian Uttara Kannada cuisine , served on banana leaves.
Mylari Malgudi Mane, Bangalore
Home-style food from Karnataka, heavy on the meat. Their kheema dosa deserves special mention.
Dindigul Ponram, Bangalore
A legendary brand that is known for its unique dishes, its nose-to-tail culinary philosophy, and delicious, meaty biryani made with Seeraga Samba rice.
New Irani Restaurant, Ahmedabad
Getting a seat here is a victory, made sweeter by their stellar kheema, mutton korma and nihari. Wash these down with milky chai and bun maska.
La Loca Maria, Mumbai
Chef Manuel Oliveira does modern Spanish cuisine. Expect hearty paellas, stiff negronis and a most excellent saffron pisco sour.
Americano, Mumbai
The pizzas, pastas and sharing plates by Chef Alex Sanchez are bettered only by their stellar cocktails. The food and vibe take us back to busy London pubs.
Bomba, Gurgaon
THE spot to satiate those Mexican food cravings. Definitely try their hot sauce!
Praça Prazeres, Goa
For when you need a chicken live pate and picante that just hits the spot. Chef Ralph Prazeres does comforting European food.
Grumps, Goa
Inspired and fun Asian cuisine food in a tropical garden setting, with good drinks to boot.
Town Canteen, Chikkamagaluru
South Indian food worth waiting in line for, especially the benne masala dosa.
Surya Beach Café, Goa
More shack than café, ideal for fresh seafood, and oysters eaten with hot sauce while watching the sun set over Galgibaga Beach.
Sarposh, Bangalore
Kashmir's fragrant cuisine is perfected by Sarposh, especially their Gushtaba and Tabak Maaz. They also sell artwork, papier-mache objects and jewellery from the region.
We Idliwale, Pune
Local chain doing slight twists on South Indian food. We cannot get enough of their raw mango curry and raw mango soda.
Aeseo, Chennai
Sweet, small space doing typical Korean food.
Coracle, Bangalore
South Indian flavours with chef Tresa Francis twist that is wholesome and delicious.
Comal, Bangalore
A cosy, colourful Mexican cantina with an open kitchen and delicious plates of food.
The Johri, Jaipur
Indian vegetarian food gets an inventive upgrade, and is aided by lovely cocktails.
Bonita, Goa
Casual bistro doing modern European plates that are big on flavour.
Sama, Bangalore
A neighbourhood bar with a tiny but mighty menu, and small plates that are all worth a second visit.
Petisco Kitchen & Bar, Goa
Gastrobar doing some innovative drinks in the basement. We insist you get the ambotik with choris.
Dolphins Bar & Kitchen, Bangalore
A neighbourhood bar where the beer is usually flat and we don’t venture past the masala papad, but, it wouldn't be a trip to Bangalore without an afternoon at Dolphins.
SOKA, Bangalore
Cocktails that are worthy of their price: innovative, delicious and worthy of repeats.
Quinta Cantina, Goa
A tiny bar spotlighting the local Goan feni, and agave cocktails, matched with wholesome plates of food.
Cobbler and Crew, Pune
Innovative drinks at a high-energy bar; the only place we’ve found that does cocktail tasters.
Bar Cold Drinks, Goa
A cute, neighbourhood bar in Goa, with friendly prices, no-nonsense drinks and food, and lots of four-legged guests.
Uncles, Delhi
Desi khana and drinks, paired with an excellent vibe.
WIP, Bangalore
A relaxed, laid back wine bar with a good selection of wines and Japanese small plates.
Hideaway, Goa
It nails the holy trinity of good food, GREAT cocktails, and superbly curated live music. It’s a bar with a big personality.
Outrigger, Goa
High-energy, rum-forward bar with fun cocktails, and a priceless view.
Bismillah Kebab Centre, Aurangabad
The definitive place for good, crispy meaty, beef kebabs served with imli pudina chutney.
Azam’s Mughlai, Khan Market, Delhi
The only correct answer for mutton seekh rolls and kebabs in India.
Gupta Bhelpuri Centre, Bandra, Mumbai
Popular stall on Waroda Road serving all kinds of street food, but best known for their chaat.
Gajanan Vada Pav, Thane, Mumbai
A chain of vada pav stalls serving Mumbai’s favourite carb-loaded snack.
Rajan Tea Stall, Ooty
Cosy and homely chai shop doing South Indian dishes like dosa, idli and vada.
Sainath Dhaba, Mumbai
A tiny, old-school shop that’s been slinging buttery bhatti-fresh kulchas for decades.
Swiss Happy Cow Cheese, Goa
The spot for good, artisanal cheese, made by Barbara Schwarzfischer. Also try the dips, and kombucha.
Ground up
Gayatri Desai’s Fermentry and rooftop kitchen is an exciting space of misos, and wild ferments; she also hosts dinners available through pre-booking.
The Good Ocean
Goan-run brand highlighting local seaweed and its culinary uses, and selling a range of products made from seaweed.
Brown Koji Boy
Widely considered India’s first koji-based fermentary, Prachet Sancheti's miso and fermented sauces (soy sauce crafted from millets, miso made from poee) are a great addition to any kitchen.
Ishka Farms
An organic farm-to-table brand that transformed arid land in Tuticorin into a thriving sustainable farm whose bestseller is their capers. We add them to our salads and cheeseboards.
Grazefully Yours
New Goan-run company offering elevated but delicious grazing tables and charcuterie boards.
Peel’s Nut Butter
Peanut and almond butter, roasted and ground entirely in-house, making for delicious and healthy snacks (in moderation, of course).
La Folie, Mumbai
Chef Sanjana Patel does a variety of baked goods but shines when it comes to chocolates. We’ve always got a bar or two in stock.
Zero Posro, Goa
Walking the talk when it comes to organic, plastic free, locally sourced groceries.
Terra Artisanal Chocolate, Karnataka
Earth to bar chocolates, crafted from cacao grown on Varanashi Organic Farms.
Nari and Kāge, Bangalore
Artisanal cheese shop and fromagerie selling everything your cheesy heart craves.