The Leela Goa - A Luxury Resort in South Goa

The Southern part of Goa provides seemingly endless stretches of perfect paradise beaches and has many excellent options for the luxury traveler. The Leela Goa is one such hotel that exudes charm and elegance with its golf course and beautiful lake facing villas.

Situated on the Mobor beach, the Leela Goa is a world class hotel, also known as the epitome of style. Boasting a beautiful 12 hole executive golf course and coconut trees infringed on the sidewalk, it has everything anyone could wish for.

The Leela Goa ushers flair and personality in the architecture. The resort aims to bring together the essence and vibe of Goa with the soul of the hotel, which has been a labor of love for architects and designers who worked diligently. Everywhere you look you see evidence of thoughtful, creative, and fun design.

Location

The Leela is almost 60 minutes’ drive from the airport. The residents and visitors have access to elite facilities such as the golf course; however only club members are allowed access to The Club, an exclusive beach club.

Check In

The elegant check-in at the Leela sets the scene for a stylish guest experience. As we step outside the car, we are welcome with a red tikka and garland – synonymous with Indian traditions evoke a sense of enlightenment.

We were later invited into the Pavilion, a strikingly modern light-filled open space that blurs the boundaries between exterior and interior.

The verdant landscape is crisscrossed by ancient walls and punctuated with traditional touches. It is a real delight! The walk towards the lounge is a pleasant one as you gaze through the water lilies submerged inside the water; traditional diyas are placed everywhere symbolizing the Indian culture. A statue of Nandi reflects the Hampi style of architecture.

The Resort captures the very essence of the surroundings, offering charming, individually decorated guest rooms and elegant tropical gardens to enjoy all year round. There is always a cart available to take the guests to their desired location – the restaurants, spa, and fitness center of the lobby.

Accomodation

Rooms have a clean, contemporary décor and excellent facilities. The guests can have the best views as well as the services of a dedicated team, all on hand to make the stay extra special. There are lots of thoughtful design touches, from the leather note pad to the bespoke room key card.

We felt relaxed in the homey place with a friendly team and pampered by the little luxuries in the room like fine linens, fluffy pillows, luxury bathrobes and upscale bathroom amenities. Our room was beautiful, with a fruit basket and a bottle of wine. The view was as breathtaking as the interiors. Open sky, water lilies on the still lake add to the charm of the hotel.

A choice of exclusive restaurants serving delicious food will delight, whether you desire fine dining or something a little more relaxed near the beachside.

Golf course and gardens

There are densely planted and meandering gardens that unite the old and new architecture. These bold natural spaces are abundant with sub-tropical, architectural planting – something that comes natural with the Leela brand.

Dining

The Restaurant, with fresco dining offers a spectacular view of the landscaped gardens and the pool. The fresco part plays well with tables set on terrace with pool views. This is the place for enjoying a freshly brewed coffee or a pot of immunity tea – a special tea made with spices to boost immunity.

The Restaurant is the gastronomic soul of the resort, a multi-cuisine restaurant with an elegant, contemporary simplicity. This is where we enjoyed breakfast each morning, with a choice of small plates freshly prepared in the buffet area, complemented by a la carte hot dishes.

The food is prepared using lot of organic ingredients. The buffets are spectacular with their breakfast spreads that include detox shots, infused water, salad with chia, pumpkin and flaxseeds, jams, live stations for eggs and dosas and much more. The varieties of desserts are also humungous; so it gets difficult to choose.

The elegant formal restaurant offer guests with fresh, locally sourced cuisine that serves as the brilliant choice for weight watchers. For more casual or intimate dining, the same high culinary standards can also be experienced at Jamavar, an Indian specialty restaurant where authentic Indian platters are served.

The setting of the restaurant oozes charm and elegance with candles lit on each table. Our dinner was evocative of the traditional Goan dishes, yet the presentation, and service was contemporary and refined. Our server was elegant and knowledgeable and paired our dishes with mocktails.

Private Beach Experience

Another special memory was visiting the Mobor beach near the Hotel. The guests staying at the hotel reach this stunning natural landscape and get access to lounge chairs facing the beach.

The Spa

The hotel Spa and fitness centre is also worth a visit. Located near the poolside, it appears to blend seamlessly with the landscape. The spa is an oasis of zen tranquility, with design motifs, traditional materials, and artistic touches combined creating a calming space. I experienced a facial from Clarence while daughter experienced the traditional Swedish massage.

The hydrating facial comprised of products that were meant to cleanse, moisturize and tone the skin giving it an ultra fresh look. The soft gentle strokes and the fragrance blended well to give a relaxing facial allowing me to doze off.