Bean Me Up, Vagator, North Goa, India

Bean Me Up is an open-air restaurant with rooms in Vagator, North Goa (about an hour and a half’s drive from Goa airport), that is full of wonderment and delicious surprises.  

The vibe 
Situated in a peaceful courtyard far from the shops, bars and beach shacks, is the Bean Me Up restaurant and café. In keeping with the Goan vibe, parachutes are suspended above the outdoor dining area and chill out music plays in the background punctuated only bird song and the sound of the occasional Royal Enfield chugging past on the main road. 

The food 
Every mouthful of each dish is bursting with flavour, which highlights the lacklustre Indian food we often tolerate at home in the UK. The extensive and perfectly presented menu filled me with joy, which is surprising as the menu is vegan and I never thought in a million years that I would love vegan food. Over the past week I've been eating only vegan cuisine and it has been such an eye opener; I'm not missing meat or dairy, and I'm loving my plant-based diet so much that I'm seriously considering venturing into this world full time.  
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I know it’s typical to drink juices in a vegan restaurant, but Bean Me Up’s fruits juices demand attention. Go for the Watermelon Juice, Pomegranate Juice or Red Eye Juice (100 rupees each). You won’t regret it! Food wise, everything is amazing, but I recommend the Cosmic Sampler Platter (380 Rupees or £4.50) if for no other reason than its cool name. It’s listed as a “little piece of everything” and it didn’t disappoint. For dessert, the dairy-free American Sundae (250 Rupees or £3.00) was unbelievable. I'm an ice cream fanatic and I couldn't believe that the ice cream was dairy free. ​

The verdict 
Bean Me Up is the kind of place you can easily spend a day chilling out and experimenting with cold- pressed fruit juices, sensational salads, pastas, pizzas and an assortment of international light bites and signature main dishes. Despite it being a 'restaurant with rooms' the rooms are very basic and shabby, so it’s best to stay elsewhere. This place is one in a million; a vegan taste sensation.  

The details 
Bean Me Up 
House no. 1639 Deul Vaddo 
Goa 
403509 
​India ​

Ben Ricci
*All words and opinions are my own.  Prices accurate at the time of posting.

Our experience overall 
Food and drink ★★★ 
Ambience: ★★★ 
Staff attentiveness/friendliness: ★★★