About Us
"Laguna Anjuna is tucked away from the hurly burly in a haven of
tranquility all its own. It is stylish but completely
unpretentious. Service is friendly and efficient and the food
excellent "
There are many good hotels in Goa, many run by Indian and
international chains, and "life style" aspirants. Just a few are
built in Goa's unique Goan Portuguese architecture.
Laguna Anjuna is listed as one of these.
Even fewer today carry the ethos of the best of Goan
qualities-warmth, humour, graciousness, bonhomie, respect for
law and learning and openness to all cultures, while still
maintaining our own traditions. At Laguna Anjuna nothing is more
important for us than getting these old fashioned basics right.
One New Year's eve we heard an old gentleman talking to his
little grandson as they walked hand in hand to the Anjuna chapel
for the midnight mass, while roaring motorcycles and cars
heading for frantic night life celebrations shattered the peace
of the village.
" The foreigners and tourists have their ways and we have our
ways; our ways are our ways, and their ways are their ways. We
must all respect each other and live peacefully together."
That man has said it for us.
Accommodation
Grace and Space
" The greatest luxuries today are time and space"- John Cage,
contemporary music composer.
“The rooms all vary but some really hit the top for boutique
style”- Lonely Planet
“ I nourish but one desire, to suggest that without great cost,
good will, patience and savoir faire, it is possible to
transform a room into a tasteful and elegant nest where the
passions are calmed, where pleasant suggestions enter the mind,
where feelings come to the surface and noble ideals mature,
where one finds in the surrounding gracefulness an efficacious
aid to education.” – Floriano Barreto, Goan poet of the early
20th century.
The Goan-Portuguese house evolved duri
ng
the 500 years of Portuguese rule, and as described in “ Houses
of Goa” (Heta Pandit and Annabel Mascarenhas), they best
exemplify Goa’s expression of its own ethnic identity. Many
influences from Europe, Africa and British India crept into the
building and embellishments; yet amazingly the houses have
retained their Indian roots and community way of living as
expressed in their courtyards, granaries and kitchens.
Laguna Anjuna was built in what was a field with a grove
of many coconut and fruit trees, a farm and a large Portuguese
style family country mansion. The award winning architect Dean
D’ Cruz, inspired by Sri Lankas Geoffrey Bawa, designed Laguna
Anjuna’s rooms around the many large trees, leaving common and
private courtyards in spaces.
Laguna Anjuna has been built in Goan Po
rtuguese
style and with local eco friendly materials. The walls are of
thick laterite stone with carved lintels, and the roof is a
continuous one of terracotta tiles on coconut wood rafters and
battens, which dips, curves and swoops in graceful lines. With
its white lime washed walls, stone and oxide hued floors,
Venetian plastered bathroom walls, paved pathways and
courtyards, stone pillars and arches, and its trademark high
ceiling brick domes, its architectural pedigree is established.
Guests are delighted with its huge and comfortable rooms, all in
different shapes and individual features.
The interiors feature designer wrought iron furniture and lamps
with a bias towards the Bauhaus era. With its graceful Thonnet
dining chairs, comfortable Le Corbusier sofas, beautiful stained
glass pieces, and other tastefully chosen bric a brac, the place
speaks of relaxed style and easily graceful choices.
We would like to emphasize however, that we are built in country
house style and living in the midst of a wild kind of natural
lush tropical setting-insects, small animals and all. We realize
that not everybody may be comfortable with that. Especially so
during the monsoon, when Goa sees something like over 100” of
rain. People who aspire to the modern ceramic kind of five star
or “boutique hotel” may be better off making another choice.
Nature and Garden - The Laguna
Perhaps Laguna Anjunas most easily recognized feature is its
large lush tropical garden as one enters, with its large free
form swimming pool. A wild kind of beauty imbues a natural sense
of peace and homecoming.
The pool floor is in blue and green hues of oxide, and has rocks
and trees on its periphery. The showers are hidden among the
banana trees. The pool and garden are what together make Laguna
Anjuna an appropriate name.
The use of an ozonator and the minimal use of algaecide and
chlorine make for a very pleasant swimming experience
Dining
Restaurant
THE SIMPLE THINGS
In Casino Royale,James Bond's dinner companion asks him,
"Isn't it shameless to be so certain and so expensive?"
This after ordering caviar,rognons de veau, pommes soufflees and
fraises des bois.
"It's a virtue," says the high living spy,
"and anyway, it's good plain wholesome food."
We agree fully with Bond; the best and most luxurious things in
life are the pure and simple things. We endorse good taste
rather than opulence and extravagance. We chose classical
recipes from various cuisines, including of course Goan and
other Indian cuisines. The emphasis is on quality of ingredients
and consistency, and of course we do exploit our natural bounty
of fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits. And evening style with
full table silverware, damask linen, candles etc.
And no, we are not too expensive.
The beautiful old Portuguese house now houses the bar, and
around it is the long verandah, with dining tables looking out
over the soul soothing, romantic garden setting. For that
special occasion, indulge in our full silver service Champagne
Breakfast for Two!
