The Leela Goa

We arrived around 1pm after a long drive from further down the Coast where we had enjoyed a week long yoga retreat so were chilled and happy and the feeling continued when we were invited to bang the giant gong at the entrance to herald our arrival. What a tranquil oasis; within seconds of our arrival ,we were given a fragrant cooling hand towel and seated at a giant sofa in the indoor /outdoor reception area with a welcome drink of coconut water straight from the shell , embossed with the St Regis logo. Alice from front of house ( who rather charmingly saw us sitting waiting for our driver on departure and remembered our name -this is a busy hotel and it was days later, so we were particularly impressed ) outlined the hotel facilities clearly and concisely and we were then ushered to a golf buggy and after a few minutes drive around a lavish estate of lotus ponds alive with bright pink Egyptian water lilies traversed by wooden bridges, we arrived at room 272, a cool and welcoming balcony suite with full lakeside views . We made the mistake of putting our welcome bowl of fruit outside on the balcony to ripen and of course they were eaten within minutes by the vigilant birds who must have seen us coming Within seconds of our arrival a young man arrived to tell us he was our butler for the duration of our stay, Rishin was gentle kind and welcoming and such a thoughtful young man, he ensured that we had masses of drinking water available at all times and our favourite teas, unfortunately he couldn't find chamomile for my night drink however perhaps I should have asked for something similarly soothing ,there would have been a herbal alternative i am sure had I been more specific, as he is totally fluent in English and probably other languages also. He ensured we had his WhatsApp number and we were invited to contact him at all times, even on his day off, he did text us on the morning of his rest day to ask if we needed anything. He organised a super table for us right on the beach at Susegado and after abstinence at the vegetarian yoga centre all I wanted was a gin and tonic, a Goan fish curry and an ice cream and it was delivered with aplomb absolutely delicious . Rishi invited us down to take part in the traditional St Regis ritual on the beach where a bottle of champagne is opened with a sabre, he took some pictures which we were thrilled to see were in the room on our return as a framed souvenir of our first night. I slipped on a piece of cucumberone morning in the breakfast room and took an unfortunate tumble and a short time later he found us around the pool to ask how I was and if I needed anything. They had already sent a nurse to the room to see to my bruises. The pool boys are so helpful, they are constantly bringing cold water and lollipops if you want them. The estate is vast and lavish with great security, there is a good vibe and it is obviously much loved by Indian families as there were colourful celebrations most night and days , wedding anniversaries which seem to go on for three days seem to be the norm here, We spent a lovely evening in the reception bar with the most handsome young bar tenderwho had spent time in the US winning sommelier awards and looked as if he should by in Bollywood or Hollywood , great service and delicious Gin and Tonics , beware the pricing this is not a cheap bar but you do get unlimited nuts and a whole lot of charm from Omar. Breakfast is noteworthy. we went local most mornings, particular favourites of mine were the Goan Ros omelette and curd , a high protein, pro biotic feast. My husband went for Dosas most mornings and was never disappointed. You can visit most countries on this epicurean adventure so do take your time and don't head straight for the familiar station. The chefs will prepare you small bites to try, grab a copy of the Times of India and spend at least an hour, there is no rush, We were sad to leave as we continued our six weeks adventure, this was a deliciously welcoming interlude.

Update - Happy to share that Dibyajoti who heads the housekeeping team personally took note of the issues I flagged and worked on them to improve the remainder stay. Keep up the good work! The St. Regis Goa is, in many ways, exactly what you want from a flagship South Goa resort: expansive grounds, a calm setting by Mobor Beach and the River Sal, and that classic “grand old Goa” scale that very few properties can match. It is spread across a large estate with lagoons and greenery, and it genuinely feels like a self contained retreat rather than just a hotel on a beach. The dining breadth is also a strength: Riverside is positioned as the resort’s Pan Asian venue by the river, while Susegado is the beachfront grill and bar for coastal and seafood focused meals, and the overall restaurant mix gives you options without needing to leave the property.  Where it fell short for me was not the “luxury layer”, but the basics of execution that make luxury feel effortless. The St. Regis Butler Service is meant to be a hallmark, so details matter, and my unpacking experience was oddly handled: shirts went onto soft padded dress hangers, trousers went onto shirt hangers, and the proper trouser hangers were simply not used. It is a small thing, but it signals a lack of training or a lack of care, neither of which should surface at this price point.  In room, there was another friction point that felt unnecessary: the bathtub drainage mechanism is unintuitive, involving repeated pulling of a plunger to get the water to drain properly. It is the kind of minor design irritation that becomes disproportionately annoying when you are staying somewhere that is selling “no effort” comfort. Housekeeping also had a miss that affected the start of my day. On one morning, the Nespresso capsules were not replenished, and what should have been a quick first coffee turned into a drawn out back and forth: first waiting, then someone arriving with coffee sachets instead of capsules, and then another wait for the capsules to finally come. Net result: about 45 minutes to get that first cup of coffee. That is not acceptable in a luxury resort where consistency is part of what you are paying for. Service in the restaurants showed a similar pattern: warm and polite, but not reliably attentive. At Susegado, I asked for ice with sparkling water and it was forgotten, then only arrived after a reminder. At Riverside, ice came initially, but was taken away during service and never replaced, so it was simply missing when I wanted it later in the meal. Again, these are not dramatic failures, but they are exactly the kinds of gaps that stop a resort from feeling truly top tier. Overall, the property has the setting, scale, and polish to be a clear 5 out of 5, but the stay I had did not feel “gapless” in service. If the team tightens training and follows through on simple details, it will match the promise of the brand far more consistently.

Hi all, As always, we had an absolutely wonderful time at the resort. Your hospitality is truly top-notch. The warmth and care extended by the entire team made our stay so special that even four nights felt far too short. We sincerely appreciate everyone’s efforts in ensuring such a memorable experience, and we’re already looking forward to coming back next year — this time for at least six nights! Every staff member was courteous and ever-ready to help. A special mention to Keegan for making our reservation seamless, Willy for arranging the room of our choice, and our butler Yash along with Umanand for anticipating our needs so effortlessly — Yash almost felt like AI with how quickly he understood us! At breakfast at Miri Daiveek, Karan took exceptional care of us, and Chef Jolly ensured everything was perfect. Heartfelt thanks as well to Nabraj and Vashu. Special mention to Shubham(director F&B) for making our anniversary truly special. Lingappa (golf) and Jatin (stargazing) for making the activities so enjoyable. Thank you once again to the entire team — see you all very soon!

We had a truly unforgettable stay at St. Regis, Goa made all the more special by Deependra our butler. His attention to detail and proactive service were world-class. From the perfectly timed sunset drinks to the warm daily greetings, to getting us last-minute spa appointments and dinner reservations, he made us feel like royalty. Thank you, Deependra for making us experience an incredible beach getaway!

Our whole stay at St Regis Goa was 5 star from start to finish. The team in Miri restaurant couldn’t have done more, always attentive and welcoming. Special thanks to Executive Chef Sunil Dutt and Chef Santosh and his team who went over and above to cater our special requests for particular dishes. The bar team were a friendly interactive bunch and a lot of interesting conversations took place over drinks. The hospitality team were also very efficient and top marks go to all there.. Our butler assigned to us, Shavon was always accommodating with any requests to do with our room or making reservations at one of the resort’s restaurants. In the spa, again we had a very pleasant experience with our treatments and felt well looked after. All the staff there provided an excellent service always with a smiling face. If I may put forward one small suggestion, it is that the guests may enjoy live singers every evening or even two- three times a week. Overall we had an amazing time there, would recommend it to friends and family and indeed, would revisit ourselves Manisha and Mukesh Patel January 2026