Best Overall: Artjuna & Bean Me Up.
Best Budget: Saraya & Natural Health Food Store.
Best Views: Thalassa & Antares.
Rule #1: Avoid street food during intensive training to stay healthy.
Someone asked me yesterday: "Where do you actually eat in Goa when you're teaching?"
Good question. Because honestly? Most of the "healthy food" content about Goa is written by food bloggers who visited once, took photos, and left.
We live here. We teach yoga teacher training here. We eat here daily. And we've gotten food poisoning here (despite our best efforts).
So this isn't a polished "top cafes" list. This is: here's where we actually go, here's what actually works, and here's what'll make you feel good on the mat versus what'll have you running to the bathroom mid-practice.
Let's get into it.
Quick answer: North Goa. Specifically Anjuna, Arambol, Assagao, and Morjim.
These areas built up around the yoga scene over the last 10-15 years. Where yoga people go, healthy cafes follow. It's just economics.
South Goa (Palolem, Agonda) has some options but way fewer. Panjim has almost nothing unless you know where to look.
If you're staying inland or in random beach towns, you'll struggle. The healthy food scene isn't evenly distributed across Goa—it's very concentrated in specific neighborhoods.
Expect to pay: ₹300-600 ($4-8 USD) per meal at decent places. More if you want fancy. Less if you know the budget spots.
Because heavy breakfast before morning asana means you'll feel nauseous in twists.
Because fried dinner the night before means your body hasn't digested it by 7 AM practice.
Because questionable street food means you might miss three days of training with your head in a toilet.
We see this constantly with new students. They arrive, eat whatever looks good, then wonder why they feel sluggish in practice.
Yoga philosophy talks about three types of food:
For intensive practice, sattvic makes sense. Not because other food is "bad"—just because it serves your practice better.
Light breakfast 60-90 minutes before practice. Substantial lunch when you have time to digest. Early, lighter dinner. Lots of water. Minimal alcohol if you're serious.
That's it. You don't need to be perfect. Just mindful enough that food supports rather than sabotages your practice.
Our Goa yoga programs emphasize this because we've watched too many students learn this lesson the hard way.
These aren't ranked "best to worst." They're ranked by how often we send students there.
This is the default answer when students ask where to eat. Beautiful garden. Extensive menu. Breakfast through dinner. Consistently decent quality.
Simple. Clean. Affordable. Does breakfast really well. If you're practicing at 7 AM and need something light at 5:30 AM, this is where you go.
French-inspired, organic ingredients, beachfront setting. This is where you go for a nice meal, not daily eating. Too expensive for that.
Goa's original organic restaurant. Running since 2009. Completely vegan. Own farm.
Greek restaurant on a hilltop with insane sunset views. Not yoga-focused but the Mediterranean style works well for practice.
Relaxed beachside cafe. Popular with the Russian yoga community.
Burmese-inspired. Super fresh ingredients. Smaller portions.
Hidden gem in Panjim serving organic food in a Portuguese house.
Cliff-top location with incredible views. Known for nightlife but surprisingly good healthy options exist.
Simple, clean, affordable. Near the sweet water lake.
One of the few dedicated healthy cafes in South Goa.
Beachfront cafe. Popular with long-term wellness travelers.
Clean, simple, attached to small yoga shala.
Japanese-inspired. Incredibly fresh. Lighter portions.
Part health food store, part basic cafe.
Yes. But you need to be strategic. Not everyone can drop ₹500 on every meal. Here's what actually works when money's tight:
Where budget-conscious students actually eat: Saraya Art Cafe (Arambol), Natural Health Food Store (Anjuna), Local thali places in villages, Self-made breakfast + one cafe meal daily. This works. You just need to plan.
This matters more than people think. Heavy breakfast before asana = nauseous in twists. Every single time.
Now you can handle heavier stuff.
Heavy smoothie bowls before practice. Fried foods any time the day before early practice. Large portions before practice. Dairy-heavy items (for many people). Very spicy curries before practice. Coffee on empty stomach. Late dinners (they affect morning practice quality).
This isn't theory. This is watching hundreds of students learn these lessons.
Not all of Goa is created equal for healthy eating.
10+ healthy cafes within small area. Mix of budget and premium options. Can walk to multiple choices. Our top recommendation for month-long stays.
Price range: ₹300-600 average meal
6-8 good healthy cafes. More affordable than Anjuna. More laid-back, less commercial. Popular with yoga teachers on budgets.
Price range: ₹250-500 average meal
5-6 cafes but higher quality. Fewer crowds. Beautiful beaches. More expensive.
Price range: ₹400-800 average meal
3-4 options only. Much quieter than North Goa. Need scooter to access variety.
Price range: ₹300-500 average meal
2-3 healthy cafes total. Mostly local Goan restaurants. Visit for culture, not for health food scene.
Price range: ₹350-550 average meal
Bottom line: Stay in North Goa (Anjuna, Arambol, Assagao, or Morjim) if healthy food access matters to you.
We need to talk about this honestly. Most yoga students get sick at least once during month-long trainings. Even with precautions. But you can minimize it.
Only drink bottled or filtered water. Always. Ask at cafes: "Is this filtered water?" It's a normal question here. Avoid ice unless you completely trust the place. Ice is usually made from tap water.
Look for: Clean visible kitchen, good reviews mentioning cleanliness (not just taste), busy with foreigners (indicates safe track record), proper refrigeration visible, staff wearing gloves.
Red flags: Food sitting out unrefrigerated, dirty bathrooms (if bathroom is gross, kitchen probably is too), empty during prime hours (why isn't anyone eating here?), flies everywhere.
"Less spicy" means different things. Say "mild" or "Western spice level." "Less oil" is always worth requesting. Goan cooking uses tons of oil by default. Ask about ingredients if you have restrictions. Most yoga cafes are good about this.
During intensive training: avoid it. Your digestive system is already stressed from practice changes. One bout of food poisoning derails a week of training. Stick to established restaurants. For casual visitors with normal schedules: some street food is fine. Just choose carefully.
Because you probably will at some point.
Let's get specific with numbers.
Ultra budget: ₹400-600 (Self-made breakfast, lunch at local thali place, light self-made dinner, one cafe coffee).
Moderate budget: ₹800-1000 (Breakfast at affordable cafe, lunch at mid-range spot, self-made or early cafe dinner, drinks/snacks).
Comfortable budget: ₹1200-1500 (Breakfast at good cafe, nice lunch, restaurant dinner, multiple drinks/snacks).
Monthly totals: Budget: ₹12,000-18,000 ($150-225). Moderate: ₹24,000-30,000 ($300-375). Comfortable: ₹36,000-45,000 ($450-560).
These are real numbers from actual students staying here.
Compared to local food, yes. A local fish thali costs ₹150-200. A smoothie bowl at a yoga cafe costs ₹400-500. Compared to Western countries, no. You're paying $5-8 USD per meal at quality places. The "expensive" feeling comes from seeing local food at ₹150 and yoga cafe food at ₹500 side by side.
Very easily in North Goa yoga areas. Every cafe on our list has extensive vegan options. South Goa and Panjim are harder but manageable. Just say "no dairy, no ghee" to be completely clear. "Vegan" isn't universally understood.
Most yoga cafes have gluten-free bread, rice pasta, alternatives. Bean Me Up and Artjuna are particularly good. Always confirm because "gluten-free" understanding varies.
During intensive yoga training: yes, avoid it. For casual visits: some is fine, just choose carefully. The risk isn't worth it when one bout of food poisoning can wreck a week of training.
Depends on your tolerance. Some people practice fine with coffee. Others get jittery. If you do: small amount, with food, 60+ minutes before practice. Herbal tea is generally safer.
Organic markets: Ingo's Saturday Night Market (Arpora), Mapusa Friday Market, Natural Health Food Store (Anjuna). Regular supermarkets: Newton's (Anjuna, Arpora), Oxford Stores (Mapusa), Local shops in each village.
Varies wildly. Some cafes grow their own or source from certified farms (Bean Me Up, La Plage). Others use "organic" loosely as marketing. If it matters to you, ask about sourcing. Good places will explain their supply chain.
Yes, with modifications. Goan vegetarian curries can be excellent. Request less oil and spice. Fish curry rice works post-practice if not too spicy. Avoid heavily fried items and very spicy preparations before practice.
After years here, this is what we do:
For Month-Long Stays: Get a place with a small kitchen. Make simple breakfast (fruit, oats, toast). Eat lunch at cafes (rotate between Artjuna, Bean Me Up, Sublime). Light self-made dinner or early cafe meal. Weekly splurge at La Plage or Thalassa. Cost: ₹600-800 daily. Sustainable. Good nutrition.
For Week-Long Visits: Stay in Anjuna or Arambol for maximum options. Budget ₹800-1000 daily for eating out. Try 2-3 new places, find your favorites. One nice dinner at Thalassa or Antares. Rest of the time at reliable spots.
For First-Timers: Start with the top 5 on our list: Artjuna, Purple Martini, La Plage, Bean Me Up, Thalassa. These give you a baseline for quality, represent different price points, and are most reliable.
You can eat really well in Goa while supporting your practice. But it requires intention. If you just wing it, you'll end up eating fried fish and chips every night because that's what's most visible. Do your research before arriving. Map cafes near where you're staying. Budget appropriately. Bring digestive supplements as backup (most students need them regardless). Your practice deserves good fuel. Goa can provide it. You just need to know where to look.
Eating well is part of practice. And practice deepens everything else. Ready to experience Goa's yoga scene properly?
📅 See Our Goa Yoga Teacher Training Dates
🗺️ Complete Goa Yoga Guide (Location, Timing, What to Expect)
💬 Questions About Eating Well During Training? - Email us. We'll send our detailed neighborhood map with addresses, phone numbers, and current prices.
