Bar Outrigger

In some alternative universe, there's a version of this bar that could have been a gimmick. It’s a nautical-themed rum bar in a sleepy fishing village after all, complete with a treasure-hunt-style map and striped wallpaper. In this universe, Bar Outrigger is one of the most talked-about bars in the country. 

Set right on the water in Dona Paula, it’s climbed fast through India's serious bar rankings on the strength of a deeply thought-through rum programme and a total commitment to its own theatrical bit.

The setting does a lot of the early work: a cosy, comfortable room by the Dona Paula jetty, decorated with model boats, striped fabric, worn wood. The view at sunset is breathtaking, almost as if you’re at sea. The communal table at its centre is the heart of the place, a deliberate nod to seafaring camaraderie that gets strangers talking within a round or two. But the reason bartenders and cocktail lovers keep returning to Bar Outrigger is what's actually in the glass: a menu built entirely around rum, ranging from age-old classics to genuine curveballs like the Tiki Negroni and a drink simply called Walking Dead. Rum-tasting flights let you go deeper if a single cocktail doesn't cut it, working through the spirit's range from light and grassy to dark and funky.

Food, from the kitchen, leans into fresh seafood and Goan home cooking. It's a smart pairing with the rum-forward drinks list: nothing on the food side competes for attention, but it does ground the night. And then there's the bit that turns a good bar into a genuinely memorable one - stay late enough, and you'll find yourself pulled into the bar's unofficial Titanic singalong, a tradition regulars will tell you about with real affection.

Bar Outrigger has picked up serious recognition on Asia's 50 Best Bars list, and deservedly so.

Getting there: The final approach from the main Dona Paula road can confuse GPS apps. Make a reservation and the team will send precise instructions and maybe even an escort to get you there. 

Time Out tip: The walk from the parking lot can be a trek for some. Wear comfortable shoes and carry your stilettos along.