View of the beach in Goa from a table at a shack with the sun setting beyond palm tree fronds in the thatched roof and people in the distance on the beach.

Discover The 13 Best Beach Shacks In North Goa

ByMelissa Kruse Hours Posted on

If you’re looking for the best beach shack in North Goa to pass the day, read on!

Beach shacks are what give Goa’s beaches their legendary status amongst travelers from all over the world. Beach shacks started as temporary structures built on the beach, with eco-friendly materials, generally bamboo and straw, that shut down during the monsoon season (June – August). Today, many shacks are also beach resorts with cottages, enabling them to stay open through the monsoons. 

Beach shacks first propped up in Calangute, Candolim and Baga in the 1930s, started getting more popular through the 70s, 80s and 90s. Today, there are over a 100 shacks in Calangute, Candolim and Baga with numerous others along the spectacular Goan coastline. As the three most visited beaches have become more commercial, North Goa (beaches north of the popular 3) offers some amazing, relatively quieter beaches and shacks. 

Beach shacks offer you amazing Goan, Indian and international food, with liquor, beach beds and volleyball nets enabling you to sink your feet in the sand, take a dip in the ocean and watch the day pass by.

Best Beach Shacks in Morjim

Goa’s most popular beaches are Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Vagator and Anjuna, running south to north. Morjim beach is the first beach towards the north once you cross the Chapora river from Anjuna. It is a long beach, offers watersports, surfing lessons, shacks and beach clubs. This beach is also a turtle nesting site and offers you the opportunity to see turtles laying their eggs between September to March. 

1. S2 Beach Shack and Cottages, Morjim

Location: Morjim Beach

If you’re looking for a no-frills beach shack, S2 wins hands down. Right by the beach and associated with a surf school, this shack is a local surfer’s favorite. You can rent body boards and learn how to surf here. It also has a pool table, very friendly staff and beach beds for hire, making it a perfect choice for a no-frills beach shack experience. You can also stay here at the beautiful cottages. Try their sweet and milky cold coffee after a refreshing dip! 

View of white tables and chairs under a thatched roof at S2 Beach Shack with Morjim Beach in the background.

2. Silver Sand Beach Shack, Morjim

Location: Morjim Beach

Right next to S2 is the Silver Sand Beach Shack. It has similar vibes, services and facilities to S2 and a really nice ambience. There are low tables with mattresses on the floor that give you a glimpse into the rustic shacks Goa began with. 

3. antiSOCIAL Goa, Morjim

Location: Morjim Beach

This would classify more as a beach club rather than a shack, but if you’re looking for a more premium experience with pumped up (techno / trance music) rather than laid back music, this would be a good choice. While much more expensive than traditional shacks, they also have a private pool here, and offer a great after dark experience if you want to shake a leg. 

Nightime view of the pool at antisocial in Goa with colorful lighting and people chilling the water.

Best Beach Shacks in Ashvem

As you head north from Morjim, the next beach you hit is Ashvem. You can actually walk from Morjim to Ashvem beach. This is a smaller and more rocky beach than Morjim, but less commercial, a trend you notice as you move north or south from Baga in Goa.  

4. Palm Grove Beach Resort, Ashvem

Location: Ashvem Beach

Palm Grove is a truly premium beach shack and cottage experience. To enter, you walk down stairs into a palm grove, with cottages hidden among the trees, onto the shack and then the beach, where there are beach beds for hire. It is a perfect setting to enjoy a beach vacation, or a day in a shack, within a well maintained property nestled in a palm grove. 

Inside Palm Grove shack on Ashvem Beach with thatched chairs at tables, hanging lights, and a roof made from bamboo and palm fronds.

5. Babu Beach Resort, Ashvem

Location: Ashvem Beach

Similar to Palm Grove, but slightly cheaper than Palm Grove, is Babu Beach Resort. This shack is perfect to watch the sun go down, either on the shack or laying on their beach beds. My personal favorite at Babu is their poi chicken sandwich after a sunset dip. 

View of beach at Babu Beach Resort in North Goa with people enjoying their time at tables under a thatched roof and loungers with umbrellas.

6. La Plage, Ashvem

Location: Ashvem Beach

One of the top rated beach shacks in Goa, La Plage is run by a French lady and you will see the French-Mediterranean influence in the colors, vibe and food here. Perfect for a full day on the beach, this place also offers beach beds.  

Best Beach Shacks in Mandrem

Mandrem is a small, isolated beach with a seaside stream running through it. Until recently, Mandrem barely had any accommodation or food options around. That has changed as other beaches in Goa have become more popular. 

7. Dunes Restaurant and Shack, Mandrem

Location: Mandrem beach

A standard shack with really good wifi, Dunes is a great option if you’re looking to get some work done, or need to get online while enjoying the white noise of a beach. 

8. Chia Lounge, Mandrem

Location: Mandrem Beach

Associated to and run by the same owners as Nalanda Retreat, Mandrem, a popular yoga retreat in Goa, Chia Lounge is full of positive vibes and food. It offers amazing, meditative spaces and also a vegan buffet in the evening. This place is a haven for vegetarians, while they also serve great seafood. They also offer beach beds and a meditative, soulful playlist. 

Best Beach Shacks in Arambol

Arambol is a long beach, perfect for sunset walks, which until recently was quite untouched. Now, there are many budget friendly resorts and shacks that have propped up on the beach. This is a favorite for many a free spirited traveler, with its silent disco beach parties. While there are many shacks you’ll find along the beach, offering a pretty standard experience, here are a couple you could check out. 

9. Pirates Cabin Beach Shack, Arambol

Location: Arambol Beach

Pirates Cabin Beach Shack is a no-frills shack with good food and beach beds. The fish curry is their most popular dish and is a place filled with regulars. 

10. MIR, Arambol

Location: Arambol Beach

MIR, which stands for Music is Religion, is an open air beach bar, rather than a shack. It is small, cozy and plays deep house, techno music, late into the night and is great for a more energetic beachside experience. 

Best Beach Shacks in Querim

Querim beach is the last, northernmost beach in Goa, after which the Terekhol river divides the state of Maharashtra from Goa. A few years ago, this beach would not figure in a Goa itinerary but now offers a few no-frills shacks along with a more isolated beach experience. There is also a garden, temple and a paved, seaside promenade along this beach. 

11. Sea Face Beach Shack, Querim 

Location: Querim Beach

A no-frills beach shack, probably the best in Querim. The prawns golden fry is well reviewed.

Best Beach Shacks in Anjuna

Anjuna used to be the go to beach till a decade ago for the Goan traveler who wanted to avoid the crowds of Baga, Calangute and Candolim. As Goa has become more popular, in my opinion, the beaches north of Anjuna now offer a much better beach and shack experience. Anjuna still has some amazing dining spots, but for shacks I’d probably head north. Yet, here are a couple of shacks if you’re strapped for time and want to spend time in Anjuna. 

12. Makani on the Beach, Anjuna

Location: Anjuna Beach

While not a beach, this bar / restaurant has as soothing an ambience as the waves you’ll see in front of you. Perfect for some sundowner cocktails, this place offers some great, premium food and drinks. It is also pet friendly. 

13. Curlies, Anjuna

Location: Anjuna Beach

Curlies is an OG shack in Goa with a legendary reputation. It was the only shack in Anjuna in the 90s and 2000s and became synonymous with Anjuna beach itself. It used to be hippie paradise, playing techno music and associated with things that landed it in some trouble lately. It was shut in 2022 and has recently reopened. It continues to be an iconic destination for first time Goa travelers, though the experience today can be a hit or miss. 

Beach Shacks in North Goa: FAQs

Which beach has the best shacks in Goa?

This has now become a very subjective question. You’ll find shacks on most beaches in Goa but the most popular ones like Brittos, St. Anthony’s etc are in Baga, Calangute and Candolim. However, in my opinion, shacks in the beaches in the north offer a more idyllic, Goan shack experience. 

Which beach has the most shacks in Goa?

Baga, Calangute and Candolim, the three most visited beaches in Goa have over a 100 shacks. 

Which part of Goa is touristy?

The most touristy spots in Goa continue to be Baga, Calangute and Candolim. While these are the OG Goa beaches that gave Goa its legendary status, due to excessive crowds, these beaches now offer a bit of a hectic experience. Thus, going further north or south might be advisable. As you plan your trip to Goa, you can check out this guide to North Goa vs. South Goa: BEST Places to Stay in Goa.

TL;DR: Best Beach Shacks In North Goa

My top recommendations are the shacks at Morjim beach followed closely by the shacks at Ashvem for a more relaxed day. So pack your beach bag, slip on your flip flops, and get ready for a day of chilling at a beach shack in North Goa.