Boilermaker, Goa

Venues & Concepts

Dec 1

Written By Nicholas lin

Inside the Experience

You don’t really arrive at Boilermaker so much as you roll into it. Maybe you’ve just turned off the main Siolim road, headlights catching that familiar Goa dust in the air, passing the church and the wine shop and that unmistakable feeling that the night could go anywhere. Then you spot it: a low-slung, grungy box glowing from within, music spilling out in waves of bass and laughter.

Inside, it’s all corrugated metal, aluminium pendants, and mood lighting—like someone took the idea of a dive bar, scrubbed off the grime, and kept all the soul. The bar front looks industrial, but the energy is pure house party. People are on their feet, leaning on high tables, shouting greetings, clinking glasses, or breaking into half-dances between sips.

There’s beer everywhere, but not just any beer. Tap handles pour Great State Aleworks: IPAs, crisp lagers, draught ales, and a smoked-malt Scotch ale that feels like Goa’s answer to a campfire. Whisky bottles line the back bar in quiet formation, waiting for their cue. This is, after all, a bar named after the humble boilermaker—the classic whisky-and-beer combo that started it all.

You order something off the cocktail list—maybe a Siolim Salsa, jalapeño and gochujang leaning into tequila and citrus, or the Biso-Manana Karamel, an old-fashioned built on overripe Moira bananas and local feni—and suddenly the room sharpens into focus. Plates of prawn chorizo gambas, kokum-buttered fish, choriz peanuts, and pork belly rice cakes float past. Friends are sharing bites, trading glasses, and arguing about which beer to order next.

It’s loud. It’s warm. It’s messy in the best possible way. And somewhere between the first pint and the boilermaker shot ritual (yes, there is singing involved), it hits you: this isn’t just another “IT” bar in Goa. This is the susegad version of a serious cocktail spot—laid-back, unpretentious, and built for people who want to stay.

What People Say Most Often

“One of the best bars in Asia—no exaggeration.”
“The energy is insane; the crowd is young, loud, and full of life.”
“Cocktails are unique but the crew is what really makes the place.”
“Feels like walking into an invited house party, not a commercial bar.”
“Food is way better than you expect from a ‘dive’—especially the Goan-inspired bar snacks.”
“Service can struggle at peak weekends; it gets packed, and drinks can take time.”

Editorial Snapshot

Overview

Boilermaker is Goa’s reimagined neighbourhood dive bar—where beer meets whisky, cocktails meet coastal spice, and the region’s easygoing susegad spirit is bottled into one high-energy room. Co-founded by craft beer entrepreneur Nakul Bhonsle and acclaimed mixologist Pankaj Balachandran, it’s part modern cocktail bar, part community hangout, and entirely a love letter to Goa’s original, unfussy bar culture.

The Experience

From the moment you walk in, Boilermaker feels like being dropped straight into the middle of a party that’s already in full swing—but somehow, there’s still a seat for you. The crowd skews young and animated; there’s always someone mid-story, mid-laugh, or mid-chorus.

The design cues are deliberate and unpolished in the best way: corrugated steel bar front, aluminium pendants, raw edges. A dive aesthetic, but with serious thought behind sightlines, flow, and comfort. The lighting walks that sweet line between “everyone looks great in photos” and “you can still see your menu.”

Music is a constant character. On some nights it’s feel-good, EDM-adjacent; on others it leans into throwback singalongs or themed nights that make the whole room feel like a single table. The staff press through the crowd with trays of beers, boilermakers, and plates of food, but still somehow find time to check in, banter, and recommend something based on “I don’t know, just give me what you think I’ll love.”

Stay late enough and you notice the bar’s dual nature. Early evening, it’s a comfortable place to catch up over excellent food and crisp pints. As the night rolls on, it shifts into something more kinetic—the kind of place that hijacks your plans and keeps you there till closing. More than a few people who planned to “bar hop” end up never leaving.

Signatures & Standouts

Beer & Boilermakers

Great State Aleworks lineup – Rotating IPA, lagers, draught ales, and Goa’s first Scotch ale brewed with smoked malt.
Boilermaker Shot Experience – A house ritual involving a shot, a pint, and group participation. Expect singing, laughter, and at least one person filming it for Instagram.

Cocktails
Curated by Balachandran’s consultancy Countertop, the cocktails lean modern, flavour-forward, and clean. Standouts include:

Siolim Salsa – Tequila, jalapeño, gochujang, citrus. Spicy, savoury, and bright—very “Goa meets Seoul in one glass.”
Biso-Manana Karamel – An old-fashioned riff layered with overripe Moira bananas and local feni, a smart nod to place and produce.
Midnight Brekkie (Gin-based) – Comforting, playful, perfect “second or third round” material.
Melancholy Cocktail (Tequila & Mezcal) – Smoke, agave, and mood in equal parts.

Beyond the signatures, regulars rave that “every cocktail is top-tier—creative, balanced, beautifully presented.”

Food
The food isn’t just there to soak up the booze; it’s a proper part of the experience. Expect Goan bar bites reimagined alongside global comfort:

Prawn Chorizo Gambas – Garlic, chilli, and Goan chorizo wrapped around plump prawns.
Kokum Buttered Fish – Tart, buttery, and sharply coastal.
Pork Belly Rice Cake in Coconut Milk – Comfort food with serious depth.
Pickled Cucumbers in Balchão – Bright, spicy, and addictive with beer.
Choriz peanuts, meatball hummus, smashed chicken, chilli chicken, chicken fried rice, scallion parathas, prawn toast – The kind of plates that have people coming back just for the food.

Portions aren’t massive, but the flavours are dialled-in and perfect for sharing around a busy table.

Why People Love It

It feels like “old Goa” energy with a new-school bar brain.
Serious drinks, zero attitude. World-class cocktails and craft beer without any stiffness.
The staff are consistently singled out as the heart of the place. Guests describe them as warm, fun, and “like family.”
Vibes for days. High energy, consistently “lit,” and often the highlight of an entire Goa trip.
Food actually matters here. Many guests rate the food as highly as the drinks.
It’s a place you plan to stop by—and end up staying the whole night.

Good to Know

Location: In Siolim, near the church at Vaddi Siolim, en route to Thalassa and directly opposite Vailanka Wine Store.
Reservations: Very wise, especially on weekends and peak season. It gets packed and you may end up in a long wait or not get a table at all.
Crowd & vibes: Young, energetic, loud, and lively. Ideal for groups, dates, and friend meet-ups; not kid-friendly.
Noise: Generally loud but still conversation-possible; expect full bar energy, not a quiet lounge.
Service: Usually praised as warm and attentive, with guests calling out staff by name. On very busy nights, drinks can take time and the end-of-night clear-out can feel abrupt.
Food: Strong across the board, with both non-veg and vegetarian options getting love from regulars.
Accessibility: Not particularly wheelchair-friendly.
Parking: Plenty of parking nearby, often free or valet-supported.