EST. 1974

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Goa Villa

Tucked away in a rural village in the northern province of Goa, hidden behind a majestic mango tree, is the Graham’s Indian bolthole. A generous old Portuguese villa along the west coast of Goa in Assagao, G&G founder Antonia Graham first spotted it fifteen years ago whilst on a buying trip to India.

We spent months lovingly restoring it in order to bring to life its original features and add our G&G twist. Furnished with the help of our local Indian suppliers, you’ll find the villa filled with old treasures and vintage pieces from Graham & Green collections old and new.

 

This beautiful villa is available to rent as a holiday home all year round.

Rates and availability can be found on Airbnb

“We always go somewhere for a couple of days at the end of a buying trip, to explore,” says Antonia. “Jamie went down to the beach in South Goa and I went to see a friend in the north of Goa. Her village was really lovely. There were no for sale signs ­­– estate agents don’t really exist in India – but I saw this house with the shutters falling off. It just looked like it needed rescuing.”

The house, which still had its mud floors, needed a lot of work to restore it to life. Today it has three airy bedrooms, each with a colonial fourposter, a fabulous shady courtyard for dining, lounging and general hanging out, and is decorated with the Grahams’ signature relaxed eclectic chic (with a touch of Bollywood).

One of the presiding spirits in the house is Shyam, who joined the family at a young age. “Originally from Kanartaka, with previous experience working in a local guesthouse, Shyam has been part of the family for many years and now really runs the place for us. He lives in the cottage in the grounds with his lovely wife and two sweet little boys, and loves to help any guests to the villa. We also work with an old friend Vish Baindur, who is a retired hotelier and knows a thing or two about hosting. So when you are there, you are surrounded by good people.”

These days, the long thin village, its streets lined with more Portuguese villas than any other in Goa, is attracting young entrepreneurs, enjoying the respite from the city – or just Goa’s more frenzied coastline. While Assagao is still undisputedly mellow, now there are local restaurants such as Gunpowder, which serves wonderful southern Indian food (‘people come from miles around’), and The Project Café, a restaurant/ art space which, Antonia says, ‘attracts all sorts of interesting people’. In the monsoon months it is a popular spot for yoga retreats.

When you are there, the house – and Goa – work a peculiar kind of magic. “I always had this idea I might end up in Goa…” says Antonia. “There’s a wonderful soft atmosphere… I can’t quite explain it. It has a very laid-back holiday feel…It’s a place to let your hair down.”