Words by Joanna Lobo
Amaraanth is a luxury boutique resort, situated close to Fatrade beach in South Goa. The 12-room space is picturesque and ideal for those seeking quiet and not ostentatious luxury, while promising the best in food, drinks and spa treatments.
Launched in October, Amaraanth joins a list of boutique spaces in the state offering a touch of luxury, a taste of the Goan life and Instagram-worthy holiday pictures. It is ideal for a short stay, offering an in-house multi cuisine restaurant, a small shopping area for curios and clothes, and its own bar.
Hotel
Amaraanth has 12 spacious rooms, divided into three categories. Built on the remnants of an old Goan house, architect George Seemon used laterite stone and natural materials like bamboo to create a space that’s designed to maximise natural light and look out onto greenery.
Every space here has a purpose, sometimes more than one – for example, the dining area doubles up as a lounge and a boutique space. A spacious front garden/lawn is ideal for long walks post dinner to catch the sunset, while providing the perfect spot in which to sit in the cabanas working or reading a book. At the far end of the lawn are more seats overlooking a lotus-covered manmade lake and offering great sunset views. The garden features many cashew trees and in the backyard is an old well and the bar’s thriving kitchen garden.
Art and design are very much in focus here. Installations by Subodh Kerkar dot the restaurant and hang from cashew trees, while an undulating installation of sea creatures and coral structures by Thomas the Potter lines the walls of the restaurant. A Bhisaji Gadekar installation greets people at the reception – the cast iron works show off a cross and the tulsi plant – a symbol of Goa’s religious duality.
Expectedly, for a resort, Amaraanth has a pool overlooking the garden, a gym, and an open deck for yoga or aerobics. Perhaps the most unique feature is the reflexology pathway. Situated close to the pool, it has shiny, polished pebbles immersed underwater that massage your soles as you walk on them.
The property is sustainable, too – there’s an on-site sewage treatment plant, the pool water is treated and reused and they compost their waste.
Room
The rooms are divided into sub-categories: comfort, luxury and signature. Each is like a fully functional apartment opening out onto balconies or front yards and every door or window looks out onto some greenery.
The beds are comfortable and spacious (queen- or king-sized); the colours are muted and have neutral tones; the linen is Tulio and toiletries by Molten Brown; and turn down service happens every night.
On the tech front, there are Marshall speakers, and a smart TV, and all the room’s electricity can be controlled by a single switch. Each room comes with in-room snacks and coffee, tea, fruit, and local snacks. There’s no plastic used here.
The bathrooms are spacious with a separate glass-shielded toilet and bathing areas, and some rooms have an open-to-sky bathtub.
Food and drink
Amaraanth Kitchen is a 30-seater restaurant, helmed by renowned chef Ritu Dalmia. The food is cuisine agnostic, with something to please everyone. There’s a lot of Indian food too, with dosa and upma for breakfast and an indulgent thali for lunch and dinner. Ritu’s forte is Italian so there’s an abundance of pasta, pizza and risotto (it can be customised according to dietary preference).
The 20-seater bar is called The Lab, and is a collaboration with bar consultancy, Countertop India. The bar doubles up as their research and experimental space, hence the name. The décor allows for intimacy, with dark tones and dim lighting, while the flooring is black and white, the walls are copper toned, and there’s a touch of the sea above the bar in the form of a light installation.
On the menu are signature drinks made using locally sourced ingredients like red amaranth, kokum, tomatoes, and chillies. A standout drink is Grandmom’s Curry, which turns the traditional Goan fish curry into a clarified delicious form. Red Amaraanth uses the leafy vegetable with pickled onion, gin and elderflower, while Miso is a take on the Old Fashioned with chocolate and butter.
There’s a focus on sustainability in both kitchens and they source their bounty from local farms and producers, use local spirits and grow some of their own herbs, fruit and vegetables.
Spa and wellness
The HVN at Amaraanth is easily one of the most interesting spa experiences in Goa. The star of this all-white space is HVN’s Hydro Bed, which is a water bed (or mattress) heated to a comfortable temperature that forms the cradle for all therapies – massages, scrubs, wraps, steam, cleansing and even baths.
The Signature Experience here starts with a small sensory journey, where you get to select from a range of Chinese oils made at London’s HVN. Your choice will actually reveal a bit about your personality and life. Once in the bed, what follows is an exfoliation, followed by a steam, a facial, a body wrap and finally a massage; most experiences are 90 minutes. The tinkling of chimes announces the end of the experience and, rejuvenated and refreshed, you can then sip on some herbal tea and a biscuit.
Other options at the spa include a memory foam bed, and outdoor bathing.
To do
Amaraanth offers feni tasting sessions on its grounds, and below its many cashew trees. An expert will take you through a tasting session of the spirit and its importance to Goan life.
Amaraanth’s biggest USP is the presence of The Lab. Don’t just go here to drink cocktails but request for a personalised mixology session. It gives you the chance to meet the mixologist, taste his many experiments, fusions and infusions, watch how the signature cocktails are made, and even customise your own drink.
The dining area doubles up as a small lobby and a small concept store, Yellow House Parra. Guests can reach out to Yellow House Parra for a personalised styling session.
If stepping out, Fatrade Beach is a ten-minute walk away. As South Goan beaches go, it is relatively clean and quiet, pebbled with shells and friendly dogs.
In a nutshell
Amaraanth offers an upscale hotel experience but in the format of a luxury homestay.
Factbox
Suites start from £300.
Address: Amaraanth, 741/B, 2nd Fatrade, Varca, Goa, 403721
Phone: +91 9225588790
Website: amaraanth.com
