Amber is more than just a cocktail bar. It’s a space built around community, curiosity, and craftsmanship —

values that became even clearer after sitting down with Sandra, the driving force behind Amber.

1. Origin Story

What inspired the creation of Amber Cocktail Bar, and what’s the story behind the name “Amber”?

Actually, my whole plan in the beginning was to open a focac ceria. I was spending a lot of time hanging out at the beach back then, and one day we saw this free space here. We asked the owner next door if it was for rent, and he said he wanted us to make a cocktail bar. So he told us, “If you want to make a cocktail bar, you can have this space.”

We were like, “Sure, let’s do a cocktail bar,” and that’s how we started building this place. We literally built it with our own hands and as for the name, Amber is actually named after my cat. We love animals — as you can see, we have a lot of strays around here. We feed them when we can, and sometimes we collect donations for them, especially before the monsoon, so they have food. During season a lot of people do this, but off-season is always harder. They’re here, we’re here — people love them. They’re part of us.

2. Cocktail Creativity

How do you approach cocktail creation — classic recipes, local flavours, or innovation?

It really depends. Sometimes I get inspired just by talking to someone. We are very seasonal — a lot of what we do depends on what’s available. It’s a mix of my culture here in India and what I learned abroad. I bring a lot of liquors back when I go to Europe and I like to experiment with them.

All our syrups are homemade, even the bitters, and we also infuse our own alcohols.

3. Local Ingredients

Do you incorporate Goan or Indian ingredients into your cocktails? Any favourite local elements or producers you love working with?

Yes, we do have a lot of ingredients that are very local, but it’s also seasonal. For example, I use coco — it’s a fruit, and it’s dried actually with a lot of salt — so what I do is I make a syrup out of this. The syrup is a bit sweet-salty. We also use local alcohol made from cashew called Feni. I work with a company called Annie that makes both plain and infused Feni.

Besides that, I have local rum, and I really like this brand as well because what they do is they work with saving the turtles in Goa. The turtles come to Morjim Beach and South Goa every season to lay their eggs, around February and March, and I really love supporting that.

4. Signature Recommendation

If a first-time guest visits Amber, what should they not miss?

It really depends on what they like — which alcohol and which flavours. We ask a lot of questions, maybe too many, but that’s because we want to get it right.

And I always say: come here during sunset. Don’t miss it — it’s really beautiful.

5. Food Pairings

Since guests can enjoy both food and cocktails here, which dishes from the neighbouring restaurant do people most love pairing with your drinks? Any standout combinations you’d recommend?

I would have loved to have my own kitchen, but there wasn’t enough space. So we collaborate with the restaurant next door. People really love their seafood — they do it very well. I allow guests to bring their food into the bar since we don’t have our own kitchen.

6. Community & Vibe

What kind of vibe or community are you hoping to cultivate at Amber? Who are your regulars?

That’s a difficult question because we have people from all walks of life. Most guests are over 25, and it goes up to 80 — haha. Very easygoing, chilled, respectful people — I really appreciate that.

It’s like inviting people into my living room. With time it becomes a great friendship with many people, and it’s lovely actually. It’s beautiful. I love meeting people and it is a good job for me.

7. Goa Bar Scene

How would you describe Goa’s evolving cocktail culture, and how do you feel Amber fits into that scene?

Goa is doing really well now. When I started, only a few places were doing cocktails, but today almost everyone is. Yeah, it has evolved a lot. I think Goa is now on an international level — people are doing great work.

You can also see cultural influences: we have a lot of different kinds of restaurants, like Japanese restaurants, for example — they have their own kind of cocktails that they bring out.

We started with about ten classic cocktails, and now we’ve created over a hundred — though I did not put them all on the menu — it’s creations, sometimes I put them in and out.

8. Memorable Moments

Has there been a particularly fun, surprising, or heartwarming moment with guests that stuck with you? 

Yes, I have really nice customers — wonderful people coming here from all over the world. With certain people the vibe is so good, so easy to talk to. Yes, we have made a lot of friends, a lot of regulars who come here. It’s a very intimate thing, I found. It’s not just serving your customers and whatever — you’re trying to find out about them a little bit.

9. Personal Favorites

What is your personal favourite cocktail to make — and to drink? Are they the same or totally different?

Honestly, I love making all of them — easy or complicated. I love tequila, so I drink a lot of tequila cocktails. It’s very difficult for me to say which is my favorite, honestly, but I have a drink called Grapelicious — I love that. It has grapes, tequila, olives, and blue pea flower. When you add any citrus to blue pea, it turns purple.

10. Monsoon Life

Goa’s monsoon season is pretty long — what does life look like for you and the Amber team during the months when tourism slows down?

We close the bar in May because of the rains, obviously. It’s really a sad thing, but we’re a seasonal place. Some staff go to the mountains to work, some stay here and do private events, some travel back to their countries.  So every season I need to find new people, though two have been with me from the beginning. But it’s not really a problem, actually, I do find them. It can be tricky because I need a good team vibe.I always hire people before I open the bar, and if I see it’s not working out, then I’m sorry, but we have a trial period.

During monsoon I travel a little bit with my husband’s family and we are around. And because we have six cats, I cannot be away for too long, so I come back. We always find a friend to stay over at our place.

11. Future Plans

What’s next for Amber—any upcoming concepts, events, or new drinks we should look forward to?

Soon I’ll be bringing a new menu — there will be more drinks and it’s going to be more spirit-forward. People ask if we’ll expand Amber, if we’re going to bring Amber somewhere else. But I don’t think so. Amber is one place — I cannot create this vibe again somewhere else. It’s everything together: the beach, the place, the people. It would not be the same. It would be different. This is going to stay the way it is.

There are events every Saturday. We mostly have downtempo music, we also have a lot of bands, we have funky bands, then again Indian classical, then a lot of Indian electronic lounge music, and at the moment we also have a lot of DJs. It’s a completely different vibe — and we love all of it.

Btw, check out this amazing sunset session from DJ Clouzer. Deep, chilled, sunset driven.

We kicked things off with a shared plate of oysters, freshly shucked and bursting with the briny taste of the Mediterranean. There’s something special about oysters by the sea—they make you feel totally connected to the place.

For my main dish, I went for tuna tataki—perfectly seared and served with a light, tangy sauce that complemented the richness of the tuna. Meanwhile, my family opted for local classics. My sister couldn’t resist the mussels and fries (moules-frites), while my Mam and my partner both ordered sèche à la sétoise—tender octopus cooked in a savory tomato and red wine sauce, served with rice and a side of aioli. And of course, we had to try la tielle, Sète’s signature dish. This savory pie filled with octopus and spicy tomato sauce is a local treasure, and one bite was enough to understand why.

Sète is a vibrant town with its roots deeply tied to the sea. Known as the “Venice of the Languedoc,” it’s crisscrossed by canals and surrounded by the sparkling Mediterranean. The town’s culinary scene reflects its fishing heritage, with seafood at the center of almost every dish.

One of the best places to experience this is Les Halles de Sète, the bustling covered market. It’s a feast for the senses, with stalls brimming with fresh fish, seafood, and local delicacies like la tielle and les sézettes(sweet biscuits flavored with aniseed). Whether you’re grabbing a quick snack or shopping for a home-cooked meal, Les Halles is where you can feel the pulse of Sète’s vibrant food culture.

Must-Try Dishes in Sète

• La Tielle: A savory octopus pie with a golden, flaky crust and a filling of spicy tomato sauce. It’s a unique taste of Sète’s Italian influence and is perfect as a snack or main dish.

• Sèche à la Sétoise: Octopus slow-cooked in a rich tomato and red wine sauce, served with rice and aioli. Hearty, flavorful, and a true taste of Mediterranean comfort food.

• Mussels and Fries (Moules-Frites): Simple yet delicious, fresh mussels steamed with garlic and herbs, served alongside crispy fries.

• Oysters: Fresh from the nearby Thau Lagoon, these oysters are a must for seafood lovers.

Sète is a town where the flavors of the sea shine in every dish. If you’re ever in the south of France, make sure to visit Sète, taste its local delicacies, and experience its magic!

The interior was colorful and traditionally Peruvian, and the service was super friendly. An evening full of flavors and a good atmosphere. Ollita, We'll definitely be back!

Sometimes, the best dining experiences are the ones that unfold spontaneously. That's exactly what happened to us when we stumbled upon Ty Louis, a traditional family-owned restaurant nestled in the heart of a charming little town.

In Paris it’s recommended to look for “le plât du jour” ou “la formule de midi” for lunch. 

Our meal began with the daily special, which offered a choice between one entrée and a main dish or one main dish and a dessert. We opted for the former and were treated to a culinary journey through the flavors of the region.

For our entrée, we indulged in rillettes of mackerel, a dish bursting with the rich, smoky flavors of the sea. The julienne fish with tarragon was a revelation of delicate tastes and textures, perfectly complementing the mackerel. Each bite was a symphony of flavors that left us craving more.

Our main courses continued to impress. The Brittany trout, paired with a roast potato salad and adorned with beet pesto, was a delightful showcase of fresh, local ingredients. The tender trout practically melted in our mouths, and the beet pesto added a surprising and delicious twist to the dish.

The Breton pork tenderloin was equally outstanding, served alongside cider mushrooms and butternut mousseline. The tenderloin was cooked to perfection, and the combination of flavors was a harmonious balance of savory and sweet. It was clear that Ty Louis was dedicated to sourcing the best ingredients to create dishes that celebrated the region's culinary heritage.

The B2H kofé pannacotta and buckwheat choco crumble was truly incredible. The pannacotta was a silky delight, infused with the rich aroma of coffee. The buckwheat choco crumble provided a delightful crunch, adding layers of flavour and texture to the dessert. It was a sweet ending to an exceptional meal.

You can see the whole menu on the pictures attached.

If you find yourself being in the neighbourhood I highly recommend to give Ty Louis a visit. 

Surf coffee St. Petersburg

Those who follow me on Instagram know that I’ve been traveling to Russia recently.

Yes, before the World-cup started. 

It was an amazing experience to see the city of Moscow and visit twice St-Petersburg. 

I discovered this super cute and stylish coffee-shop in the heart of St-Petersburg. 

A place where when entering you feel like you’re grabbing a coffee in a friends cosy flat just before a surf ride on a sunny, wavy shore.

A beautiful decorated interior where I tried for the first time a banana-soy cappuccino which turned out to be super delicious, an amazing new discovery for me.

Beside’s coffee the friendly staff is also offering vegan brownies and cookies.

Most of the Surf coffee locations are situated in Moscow, two of them in St-Petersburg, also all over Russia and one in Australia, Perth. 

The first coffee shop opened on the 18th December 2010 by a group of coffee enthusiasts who wanted to develop the coffee culture in their own city. 

I would definitely recommend this hotspot to anyone visiting Russia and who wants to find high quality coffee in a special place in the city. 

La Tagliatella - Restaurante Pizzeria 

It’s the second day that we are here in beautiful Valencia. After we walked a lot around the city we were getting hungry and a bit cold, because it’s winter even in Spain. 

And we found this nice looking, bright restaurant not far from our Airbnb. 

We felt right away quite comfortable in this place. It was very warm, light and a nice taste of interior design.

 I was very delighted about the oven in the middle of the place. As it’s nice to see how everything is freshly made! 

The menu had a great choice of Pasta, Pizza and different things like Risotto, Salads and Tartar dishes. 

We ordered a Sangria with Prosecco and to eat we ordered a Tuna Pizza with Anchovies and Tortellini with Ricotta and vegetable filling in Pesto Sauce. 

It was very good portions! (not in the Italian restaurant we went last night, we you had 3 Ravioli on the plate and that’s it! :O lol!)

The Pizza was amazing! The dough was baked to perfection and also the Pasta was very fresh. 

Overall we were very satisfied with the service and Food in this restaurant! 

Krazy Roll - Sushi/Sashimi restaurant

During last winter it became my little ritual to order sushi at this new place that opened next street from where I live.

I used to enjoy to eat sushi and have a beer while watching a movie. 

Since that time, it became my favourite sushi place in Toronto. 

This restaurant has a lot to offer, mainly : High Quality Sushi/Sashimi for eyes and tummy!

When I go there with friends I always order Seaweed Salad, Sashimi and some Sushi Rolls.

You can see how much effort and love they put into detailed work.

What you can see on the pictures are my favourite Rolls: Black Dragon Roll & Tuna Love. 

They are both amazing, freshly prepared. An explosion of tastes and textures. 

Krazy Roll’s Sashimi is so soft that it feels like it’s melting on your tongue. 

The Menu is amazing and the service very attentive and friendly.

I would definitely recommend this place also to people who have an interest for Food Styling because beyond the taste there is also the beauty to be discovered in the sushi/sashimi and other dishes they serve.

They also have a big choice on their Lunch menu, with nice combo's. 

Over All Krazy Roll's is a little pricy but I would say it's totally worth it if you are a Japanese Food Enthusiast or just a Sushi Lover as I am!!! 🍣 

良い食欲 

here is a link to their website: http://www.krazyroll.ca

And here you can find them in Toronto: 

Pho Bac - Pho Soup Specialities

Healthy comfort food which feels like a detox cure while you are eating it.

One of my favourite dishes EVER is the Vietnamese “Pho-Soup”. 🍜 

For those who don’t know what a Pho soup is: “Pho” is a popular street food in Vietnam. 

It is made of a chicken or beef broth (originally with real bones for the taste) , meat (originally with chicken or beef) but nowadays as well served everywhere with Shrimps or Tofu and of course last but not least, the typical garnishes: onions, chili peppers, cilantro, lime, bean sprouts, and Thai basil. 

My favourite place to eat a Pho Soup in Montréal is at the Pho Bac restaurant. The first time I ate it there, was around 8 years ago when I used to live in Montréal. I think it’s important to support small local restaurants instead of big chain restaurants.

For me it’s a special dish which always gives me energy after eating it. 

So I brought my friends to my favourite Pho-Soup restaurant in Montréal. 

As a matter of fact, Pho Bac is one of Montreal’s hidden hotspots. Only locals know how good and fresh the food is there.

Located in the heart of China Town, Pho Bac has a delicious Menu of Pho Soups. What I love the most about the Soup in this restaurant is the flavourful bouillon they make. 

Pho bac is the only restaurant I know, who offers Pho Soup with Grilled Chicken (which I ordered that day!) It’s super tasty and gives your soup a different note, a bit more sweetness than usual Pho Soups. I guess because they caramelize the chicken.

The service is very friendly and fast. I would definitely recommend this place to Vietnamese Food enthusiasts and Pho Soup Lovers!

Bonne Soupe! :) 

Pizzeria Defina

Pizzeria Defina, is one of Toronto’s Hotspot restaurants I would say.

Located in the beautiful neighbourhood of Roncesvalles, by entering the pizzeria you can feel right away it’s charming character. 

It has is a modern and elegant interior , with a very cool and urban touch and warm ambience. 

I was delighted about Pizza Pumba which is Hand Crafted in their Wood Oven (for what they are known for!) , with it’s Tasty Ingredients: 

Fresh tomato sauce, fior di latte, wild boar meatballs, mushrooms, grana padano, caramelized shallots, garlic confit and oregano. It was an amazing explosion of different tastes and textures. 

The service was really friendly and attentive! I highly recommend this place to all Italian Food enthusiasts and Oven Pizza-Lovers!

Here is where you can find them:

Buen Appetito! :) 
And their adress on the internet:  www.pizzeriadefina.com