Casa Jaali’s luxury sea-front huts are South Goa’s best-kept secret

The cacophonous noise of metros and day-long honking in traffic make city-dwellers starve for some peace and quiet. Taking a nap to the sound of waves crashing against pebbles or waking up to the vast expanse of the sea feels like a distant dream for them. 

South Goa’s best-kept secret, Casa Jaali, brings life to that dream. 

Owned by Kate Abramovitz and Eli David, Casa Jaali is seated on the rocks of the quaint and tranquil Patnem Beach—close to the more famous Palolem Beach—and opened its doors to guests in January 2021. When Kate invited YS Life to experience the magic of the resort, we couldn’t let the offer go.

The stay 

It takes about two hours to drive down to Casa Jaali, about 73 kms from Panjim, Goa’s capital city. Sitting at one corner of the Patnem beach, the sea comes to greet guests at Casa Jaali. 

“Casa means home, and Jaali’s are the Indo-Islamic geometric designs found in the forts and palaces of Rajasthan,” Abramovitz briefs me. And rightly so. Casa Jaali does feel like a home away from home—one you would never want to leave! 

The property houses 12 rooms across three categories: fishermen-style cottages, huts, and the best kind—which Abramovitz was kind enough to offer me—are the luxury huts. 

All the rooms are sea-facing and have a similar set-up. The walls are painted bright pink and green, the furniture is made from wood and bamboo cane, and each room is adorned with plants. 

Abramovitz reveals, “I was inspired by the bright pink bougainvillaea growing in the resort when I took it over, and a little bit by the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel in LA!”  

Each hut also features a patio with lounging chairs. The luxury hut boasts a spacious deck featuring sun loungers opening towards the sea. On this deck, I ended up spending the maximum time during my one-night stay—admiring the waves in the early hours of the day, watching receding boats and kayaks in the evening, and reading in the night’s solitude. 

Usually, most beach-front properties in Goa are shut during the monsoons—also the off-season to visit the beach haven. However, the season is when Goa is at its most charming self—greens outgrow, a wild sea, and the least tourist crowd.

Abramovitz agrees, and unlike other beach-front properties, Casa Jaali remains open throughout the year. “The location is our USP. If you want a beach holiday with lots of swimming, October to March is optimum…I love the monsoon, though; it’s very special,” she adds.

What to eat

As my visit was during peak summers, my stay involved indulging in many summer coolers, salads, and refreshing citrus cocktails. The in-house restaurant, Jaali Kitchen, offers a limited but well-curated menu that reflects Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences. Guests can either order in or enjoy meals at the restaurant while soaking in the breathtaking view of the sea. 

The menu at Casa Jaali features healthy soups, salads, paninis, and both local and international favourites—prawn koliwada to buffalo wings. For mains, one can opt for risottos to various kinds of pasta, indulge in a steak, or feast on Goan fish curries. 

The restaurant takes pride in baking its cakes and desserts in-house, and one must try the basque cheesecake or order a chocolate raspberry brownie with an evening cuppa. 

The expansive cocktail menu at Jaali Kitchen ensures one doesn’t have to step out of the property during their stay. It features a variety of martinis, infused gin cocktails, and variations of classic cocktails with a local twist—curry leaf and ginger martini, jaggery old fashioned, and a pickled bloody mary, among others. 

The resort also offers an expansive selection of complimentary breakfasts, featuring pancakes with fresh fruits, omelettes, fresh juices, toast, coffee, and porridge, besides the usual Indian parathas and puris. Notably, the menu is dominated by vegetable and vegan options. 

YS Life recommends chicken tenders with herb potatoes, fettuccine with prawns, omelette with spinach, and french toast with strawberries.

Exploring around

Casa Jaali is located in the heart of South Goa, around several points of interest, allowing guests to be a traveller and a tourist at their convenience. 

Guests can rent a kayak or a boat tour for dolphin trips or drive 30 minutes to the Bhupar waterfall. Also, visitors at the Tanshikar spice farm and bubble lake can opt for a guided tour.

I spent my short time at Casa Jaali, taking in the property’s offerings and finishing my quota of the weekend read. Alternatively, one can laze around on the beach and enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea. 

Surrounded by lush greenery and with the sea a few steps away, time truly stops at Casa Jaali. 

Address: North-end Patnem Beach, Canacona, Goa

Cost per night: Rs 5,000 to Rs 17,000 (depending on the room and time of year) 

Best time to visit: June to October. Prior booking is recommended.