Daman and Diu

Daman

Places to Stay

Hotel Marina

A Charming heritage hotel set in an old converted Portuguese mansion, this hotel features old world charm, complete with antique furniture, wooden floors and high beam ceilings, and makes for a perfect setting for the romantic soul.

Off Seaface Road

Tel: (0260) 225 4420

Cidade De Daman

One of Daman’s Swankiest hotels, this Resort features smart, spacious rooms, a swimming pool as well as tennis and badminton courts for those wanting activities on their holidays.

At the Bay View Restaurant sample the scrumptious lobsters, prawns and other sea food specialties. They also arrange candle light dinners on the beach.

www.cidadededaman.com

Must Eat in Daman

Daman Delite

Easily one of the best places to eat at in Daman, the restaurant at Hotel Gurukripa comes closest to offering authentic Damanese Cuisine. Try the fish fry or the Portuguese style pomfret curry. The place is also known for its stuffed pomfret. You must also try the Dara fish, a local delicacy that tastes great when cooked in a fiery curry.

Hotel Gurukripa, Sea face Road

Tel (0260) 225 5046

Papri and Jetty Rolls

The Daman Jetty area is a hot favorite among travelers and locals seeking chaats, bhel and pau bhaaji. A Specialty of the area is the “Jetty Rolls”, a local version of the kathi kebab rolls that is said to have been bought here by Bengali cooks working at one of the hotels and adapted to local tastes. In the month of February, you will find hawkers selling papri wrapped in colorful newspapers. Papri is boiled sweet and salty beans that are cooked in a pot over charcoal fire. This makes for a delicious snack in the long evenings.

Martha’s Place

Opposite the museum, Martha’s Place provides for an easy going, laidback atmosphere with excellent home cooking on offer. Try the prawn curry and rice.

Tari (Palm Wine)

Tari, a locally made palm wine can give you a real kick. Preferred by locals, this is an essential at local festivals. However at first, Tari should be strictly sampled for taste and not drunk in copious quantities because of its strong, intoxicating nature.

Diu Options

Hotel Kohinoor

Designed to look like a grand Portuguese Villa, and set in lush green lawns, this is one of Diu’s plushest options. It may be about 4 Kms from the beach, but it makes up for this with its aquatic facilities including a huge swimming pool, Jacuzzi and a water park that both children and parents will enjoy. Enjoy cocktails on the lawns and dinner in the Restaurant Rio Bar, popular with the locals as well as tourists. Here you will also discover Diu’s lone Disco, Footloose- go here if you want to party with Gujrati students on a merry night out, but it’s probably better to unwind by going for a massage at Ayura the Ayurvedic Spa instead.

www.hotelkohinoordiu.com

Heranca Goesa

Come here for fantastic lip smacking Goa- Portuguese Cuisine at affordable prices. You have to book dinner by 10 am so that the owners can get you the freshest sea food. After you have polished off your spicy prawn curry, try the sweetly rich Bebinca.

Behind Diu Museum

Tel: (02875) 253851

Apana

This rooftop restaurant offers a real feast for sea food buffs with a great sea view to match. Their seafood platter with squid, prawns and crab is highly recommended as is the pomfret pulao, shark tikka, kingfish curry and tandoori lobster. Top it off with Fresh Fruit Salad.

Apana Guest House, Fort Road

Tel: (02875) 252 650