North Goa’s lush tropical setting is experiencing a quiet gentrification. This is my first thought as I step into Solene, the newly opened private-members’ club. Travelling via the winding village roads of Moira, flanked by greenery on either side, I’ve simply arrived at this magnificent, restored 100-year-old Portuguese villa, which has the signature components of an outdated Goan home — a terracotta roof and huge steps main up to a wraparound veranda replete with a balcao.
Pizzas at Solene
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Once inside, I’m enveloped within the hushed embrace of luxurious.
Timeless allure
The handle that homes Solene, in-built 1910, was as soon as home to the de Souza household. It has been restored by The Isprava Group, helmed by Nibhrant and Dhimaan Shah, which ensured that the villa’s timeless enchantment, spatial planning, emotional arc, gleaming chandeliers, deep-polished wooden, and hovering ceilings have been saved intact.
Berries & Chocolate – Solene Brookie – Tiramisu
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“When we first ideated a members-only club, the vision was simple — to create a brand that is the best in the world and while being exclusive and luxurious, it should still be unpretentious,” identified Nibhrant Shah, managing director and co-CEO, Isprava Group, who’ve been creating luxurious villas in Goa for a few years now.
Amour_en_Mangue_at_Solene__Goa
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Private golf equipment can generally really feel like impenetrable bastions for the well-heeled to mingle. Most supply unique areas the place one can chill out with like-minded folks. But, since this is Goa, that stuffiness has been displaced by an unfussy vibe and exquisite areas. Take for instance, the Members’ Lounge — as soon as the intimate parlour of the de Souza household, with a gorgeous crimson chandelier, or Bar 507, a moody social area for completely blended cocktails. Also, there is Clementina’s Garden, now an outside eating area, and the bike storage, which has been remodeled into a an outhouse for youngsters.
Bar 507, a moody social area for completely blended cocktails
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The grotto in Filomina’s Garden is a beloved household relic that has been preserved. The most stunning of all, is the Orangerie, the club’s all-day restaurant — a sunlit glasshouse, surrounded by botanicals and tastefully completed in white and blue upholstery. It additionally has a gymnasium, sauna, chilly plunge pool and pickle ball courtroom.
Dinner desk
The Isprava workforce is aware of effectively that Goa is the inventive crucible for meals and beverage, and has introduced in Rahul Gomes Pereira of Passcode and Jamun fame to helm meals and beverage. Chef Picu, as he is fondly identified, retains the menu inventive and evolving. He goals to preserve improvising on it so as to herald newness.
Chef Picu
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His expertise is evident, not simply within the menu, however the cautious integration of components in each dish. Take the citrus rocket salad we, open our meal with. The raspberry dressing makes the flavours dance, however little bits of caramelised goat cheese herald a component of restraint.
Citrus Rocket Salad
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The prawns a la plancha with with byadgi and bhavnagri chillies, are stunning, as anticipated. The surprising comes within the kind of the Bang Bang Cauliflower, a actually banging rendition of flavours and textures. The cauliflower florets crunched, are relenting and tender on the within. The soy sauce, sesame and mirin lend an Asian contact, whereas the creamy yogurt mattress suggests a European angle.
Miso chilli grilled brocoli
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The tagliatelle is gently perfumed with truffle and pizza, with a sourdough base, is price saving one’s urge for food for.
Black Truffle Tagliatelle-Velvet Vice
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There are dessert choices, however when you had only one, then it ought to be the Basque cheesecake served with a raspberry-hibiscus sauce, one of the very best I’ve ever had. Not heavy and dense, however with a pleasant creaminess to it.
Tiramisu
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Bar code
The beverage program at Solene has all of the classics, however its cocktails give members the rationale to linger on the bar.
Cocktail Clementine’s Embrace
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Velvet & Vice is a crisp and herbaceous vodka cocktail, whereas Flor de Sol is gin-based, vivid and lightweight; good for these low-alcohol seekers. O Lar Do Chorizo brings smoke, spice and soul into the glass with a sure savouriness from the chorizo, fat-washed into the drink. They have their very own tackle the negroni and there’s one for the picante-loving brigade, as effectively.
The service workforce is heat and hospitable, some of them hail from well-known lodge manufacturers and luxurious golf equipment in Mumbai.
Cocktail Pistachio Pillow
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Since the private club tradition is a very city idea, it is fascinating to see Goa embrace this new kind of connectedness.
Solene is a nod to the rising ‘settler’ inhabitants that has now made Goa their home, and are possibly looking for a heat area to decompress.
A meal for 2 at Solene is priced ₹1,500 (with out alcohol) and ₹2,800 (with alcohol); open from , it is situated at House No. 501, Calizor, Near Babi Chawan, Moira Village, North Goa. The membership charge is ₹1,20,000 plus taxes per yr.
