Feni and Tapas – Food Trail with Tastings & Drinks by Make It Happen

A relaxed walk with feni and tapas trials along the way was just simply amazing. Ended with an authentic Goan lunch.

Our guide, Pawam, was an incredible storyteller who explained how Feni is in a Goan households. We tried three Feni cocktails and plain. My favorite was with mix of Kokum and the plain Feni. It’s a wonderful, social way to experience the modern side of Goa’s beverage culture.

The Feni and Tapas Food Trail was an absolutely wonderful experience, especially for first-time visitors to Goa. My friend and I had an amazing time, even though we visited during the off-season. Every stop on the trail was vibrant, stylish, and full of character. A special mention goes to our guide, Pawan, who was incredibly warm, personable, and knowledgeable. He made the experience both memorable and informative, sharing fascinating stories and local insights that we would never have discovered on our own. We booked the tour in the evening, and it turned out to be the perfect choice—a refreshing way to unwind after a long day. The itinerary was thoughtfully curated, with just the right number of venues. Each location had its own unique charm, and Pawan ensured that the pace was comfortable and never felt rushed. The food offered a fresh perspective on Goan cuisine, and the feni cocktails were the perfect introduction to Goa’s iconic local spirit. Everything was beautifully paired, and by the end of the evening, we had fallen in love with feni, Goan food, and even the monsoon rains! This experience gave us a deeper appreciation of Goa’s culture, flavors, and hidden gems. We would happily do the Feni and Tapas Food Trail again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Goa. A big shout-out to Pawan and the team at Make It Happen for creating such an unforgettable experience! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I joined this Feni and tapas food trail as a solo traveler, and I still had a wonderful time. That said, I can easily imagine this being even more fun with a group of friends. The stops were lively, stylish, and full of character. They're exactly the kinds of places I'd love to come back to and spend an evening at in the future. Pawan was incredibly personable and made the experience enjoyable from start to finish. Even though I was the only guest on the tour, I felt welcome, comfortable, and never awkward. The itinerary was thoughtfully curated. We visited just the right number of venues, each with its own cool vibe, and the pacing never felt rushed. The food was delicious, the feni cocktails were a great introduction to Goa's local spirit, and everything complemented each other perfectly. If you're looking for a fun way to experience Goa's food and cocktail scene while discovering some fantastic local spots, I'd definitely recommend this tour. And if you can bring a few friends along, I think you'll have an absolute blast!

One of the best food trail experiences we've ever had! Vimala D'Souza took us through wonderful hidden eateries, each with its own unique charm, while sharing fascinating stories about the food, culture, and history behind every stop. It was an authentic and memorable experience that went far beyond just tasting great food. Highly recommended!

Great experience with wonderful places and stories you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise, engagingly told by Vimala. And of course, a variety of Feni cocktails paired with typical Goan dishes!

We booked this last minute, as a way to get our bearings round Panjim and learn some of the culture, and it did not disappoint! Petulla was an amazing host, giving clear instructions on WhatsApp prior to meeting. Due to time of year, it was only my partner and I on the tour but this did not matter as Petulla was very chatty and engaging - you could tell how passionate she was about her country. We learnt plenty about the interesting Goan culture and had generous amounts of delicious food and drink. Would definitely recommend!

It was a lovely experience. Petulla was very sweet and warm and had so much to share. Hours passed without a minute of boredom. She’s an amazing host and curator and an even better human being. She had such a vast knowledge of the culture, town, people and so much more. Had a great time and would recommend every solo traveler to try this once.

An Evening with Petula There is a white church in Panjim, and in front of it the old men sit every evening on the wall. What they discuss, nobody knows. Probably nothing. Probably the same thing they discussed yesterday. Petula was waiting near the stairs. She met us with the warmest smile. Fontainhas is a place where the houses are painted yellow and blue and green, and where one feels, walking through it, that one has interrupted a private conversation between the walls. Petula spoke of musicians. She said every Goan family has one, and also one who believes he should have been famous. She did not laugh when she said it. That was the thing about her, she said funny things the way other people report the weather. We sat first at a place called Kokum Curry. Banana chips, still warm. A chicken cutlet. A mackerel cutlet. The mango drink was sharp and made one squint a little, which is what a mango drink ought to do. Then we walked. Then we sat again. Mojitos this time, and small things on toast, gone before one could remember eating them. Then we walked again. Calamari, fried. Corn from a fire, with something rubbed into it. I did not ask. A scooter went past. GnR and Bonjovi were blasting in the background. By the fourth place it was night. The xacuti was very dark. The stew was pale. The bread tore softly. The piña colada came when it came. Petula spoke of her dog, Donald, who loves bones, and also bread, and these, she said, are the two great loves of his life. She spoke of him the way one speaks of a relative one is fond of but cannot entirely defend. A guitar was playing somewhere. Nobody was listening to it particularly, and yet everybody was. It was not a tour. I am not sure what it was. If you find yourself in Goa, ask for Petula. Do not eat beforehand. Do not look at your watch. She will not look at hers.

Did the heritage walk with Calvin and I’m genuinely so glad I decided to do this experience. Calvin was extremely knowledgeable, but what impressed me the most was the way he brought the stories of Fontainhas to life. From the history and architecture to the small cultural details you’d normally miss, every part of the walk felt engaging and meaningful. His storytelling kept the entire experience interesting from start to finish, and you could really feel his passion for the place and its heritage. Even though my roots are from Goa, I was still amazed by how much new information and insight I gained through this walk. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the culture, history, and charm of the place in a way I hadn’t experienced before. I’d highly recommend this to anyone wanting to explore Goa beyond the usual tourist experience. Right after completing the heritage walk, I signed up for the Feni and Tapas experience and I’m so happy I did. I had the pleasure of meeting Vimala, and since it ended up being just me, the entire experience felt very personal and intimate. We had some wonderful conversations, and I got to learn so much not just about Feni, but also about local Goan traditions, food, and everyday life. Vimala was warm, welcoming, and made me feel completely comfortable throughout. It honestly felt less like a formal experience and more like spending time with someone passionate about sharing their culture. This is definitely one of those experiences I’ll remember long after leaving Goa.