Gone are the days when receiving an invitation in Goa meant a trip to Mapusa or Panjim to pick out a gift. Folks would head to a few trusted gift stores in the city. They’d go to the same old places every single time – to pick out a crockery set for those tying the knot, a photo frame for a housewarming party, tiny clothes, or a blanket for a new baby, something religious for kids receiving communion. And they’d scratch their head in bewilderment and wonder what on earth to gift someone who was celebrating a 60th, 75th, or 80th birthday.
WHERE TO BUY GIFTS IN GOA
Until a few years ago, a trip to the gift shop meant you’d definitely bump into someone you knew – so scarce were gift stores in Goa. After the party decorations were taken down, these boring presents would be kept away and “re-gifted” to someone else in shiny new wrapping paper. While the rest of the country moved along with online gift shopping and gift cards, I’m a little glad that Goa still buys them the traditional way – the thought and effort counts, doesn’t it?
While gift shops in Goa are still a rare sight, here are some trendy places to buy gifts in Goa, no matter what the occasion:
Siroi, Parra
Siroi is a lifestyle store located near the Ganesh Temple in the beautiful village of Parra. I first visited it when it launched, just over a year ago and I adore the items I bought here – a bright green and yellow Kaftan overlay and a pair of gold, dancing stick-figure earrings. I still get tons of compliments whenever I wear them.
Siroi offers a diverse range of traditional handmade lifestyle products from across India, including designer clothing, beaded jewelry, curated home decor, and paintings. Here, you can find a combination of traditional and Western clothing, exquisite art pieces, furniture crafted from reclaimed woods, home decor items like cushions, wall hangings, rugs… and a lot more.
Rangeela, Assagao
If you love all things fine and fancy, Rangeela in Assagao is one of the best places to shop. Housed in a large, beautiful Goan villa, this captivating concept store focuses on unique and eclectic offerings ranging from distinctive decor and furniture pieces to clothing and jewelry. Their home decor items stand out for being the perfect blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, which makes it a wonderful place to shop for gifts for weddings, housewarming parties, and birthdays. While this store can be pricey, you will find items like coasters and paintings that come at pocket-friendly prices (for Assagao).
Kramonde, Margao
Kramonde in Margao has quickly become a one-stop destination for gifting in South Goa, where options for such stores are limited. With a lack of dedicated gifting stores in the region, Kramonde has filled a significant gap in the market by catering to both, the luxury and non-luxury segments. Their smaller store on the ground floor of the Costa Towers Building has items ranging from bags to wallets and ties whereas the swanky, spacious store on the 2nd floor is much larger. It features home decor, cutlery and crockery, faux flowers, trays, statues, curios and more.
The items are hand-picked and sourced from around the world, giving locals and settlers a choice of ‘foreign-like’ items for gifting and home decoration. With its exclusive collection and impeccable service, Kramonde has become a much-loved destination for those looking for the perfect gift in South Goa.
Mario Miranda Gallery
One of the most famous sons of the soil, Mario Miranda is a legendary cartoonist whose gallery has TONS of items featuring his signature quirky illustrations that depict life in Goa! From lamps to key chains, fridge magnets to handbags, paintings, apparel, ceramic tiles, butter dishes, thali bowls, books, and salt and pepper shakers… the options are aplenty.
Each item is a beautiful reflection of Goa’s personality and you can bet that no one will want to part with a curio designed by this iconic artist. The images of cats sitting around a fisherwoman, men raising their glasses at the local tavern and voluptuous women fighting for space in public transport – all induce a humorous kind of nostalgia!
Drop in to a store in Porvorim, Panjim, Carmona, Margao or Calangute.
While you can visit the Anjuna Flea Market, Tibetan Market and Saturday Night Market, you may or may not find good quality items that are worth the price, especially if your haggling skills aren’t polished. The above gift stores in Goa are safe options and are much more presentable for a formal occasion.
Let me know where you shop for gifts in Goa in the comments below. You can also drop me your picks on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.