The short answer
Antares: what visitors should know first
Go if you want a proper sit-down dinner with a sea view and are happy to pay more than a shack. Book a table for sunset, check the current opening hours and expect a steep approach from the road if you have limited mobility.
History and context
The story behind Antares
Antares opened in November 2015 on the cliff above Ozran Beach, in Small Vagator. Trade press at the time named Australian chef Sarah Todd as the chef and Ashish Kapur of Moods Hospitality as her collaborator, and described a restaurant, a day bar, a beach club and villas on the site.
Useful facts
Antares facts at a glance
- Location
- Ozran (Small Vagator), Vagator
- Dining style
- Sit-down restaurant and beach club
- Price signal
- Upper end for Vagator; check current menu
- Signature order
- Try: seafood or charcoal-grilled fish, as described at launch
- Opened
- November 2015, per trade press
- Good for
- Sunset dinner, special occasions
Why it matters
Why Antares is worth your time
Vagator has plenty of cheap shacks and a few places that treat dinner as an occasion. Antares was launched in November 2015 by Australian chef Sarah Todd, a MasterChef Australia finalist, together with Ashish Kapur of Moods Hospitality, and was designed as a restaurant, day bar and beach club on the cliff above Ozran. It helped put Little Vagator on the map for diners who wanted something other than shack food.
It matters to a visitor because it shows the other side of Vagator. The beach is often described only through its trance-party history, but the headland also supports a quieter sundowner culture, and Antares is one of its better-known examples. Treat it as a single special meal in a trip, not an everyday stop, and compare it with the simpler shacks below for balance.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Sunset table
Book for just before sunset; the light over the water is the reason to come.
- 02
Seafood and grills
The kitchen was launched with a seafood and charcoal-grill focus; ask what is fresh that day.
- 03
Beach-club side
Daybeds and daytime snacks suit a slow afternoon, but check minimum spend first.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Antares is built around the view, so plan the meal around it. Reserve a table a little before sunset, arrive while there is still light to find your way down the terraces, and order slowly. Press coverage at its launch described a seafood-led menu with charcoal-grilled dishes, vegetarian options and meat pizzas, in a modern Australian style with Goan touches. Menus change, so treat that as a guide to the kitchen's approach rather than a fixed list.
The venue has two moods. By day the beach-club side works as a lounge with daybeds and light plates; by evening the restaurant fills and the bar picks up. If you want quiet, go early in the evening, ideally midweek. If you are travelling with parents, ask about the quieter tables away from the music and speakers, and check whether live music is scheduled that night.
The approach is part of the experience, down from the Ozran road, with the cliffs and the water opening up below you. Take a torch or phone light for the walk back and arrange the car in advance, because taxis can be slow to find in the lanes behind the cliff after dinner.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Reserve a table for sunset, especially from December to January
- Ask for a ground-level table if steps are a problem
- Check that it is open this season before you travel
- Arrange a taxi back before dinner ends
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Ozran (Small Vagator), the southern end of Vagator Beach
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours for dinner
- Best time
- Late afternoon into sunset, November to February
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- Seating is mostly on terraces and levels cut into the rocky hillside, so expect steps between the road, bar and tables. Ask for a ground-level table when booking and arrive before dark, since the paths are uneven and dimly lit after sunset.
- Tickets and access
- No entry ticket. Reservations are sensible for sunset and weekends in the December to January peak. Beach-club daybeds may carry a minimum spend; confirm terms with the venue, and check that it is operating this season.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Antares
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Seating is mostly on terraces and levels cut into the rocky hillside, so expect steps between the road, bar and tables. Ask for a ground-level table when booking and arrive before dark, since the paths are uneven and dimly lit after sunset.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Do I need to book Antares?
For sunset or weekend dinner in peak season, yes. Call or message ahead and confirm that they are open that day.
Is Antares suitable for older travellers?
It can be, with planning. The site is terraced into a hillside, so ask for an easy-access table and arrive in daylight.
Is it a beach shack?
No. It is a restaurant and beach club on the cliff, with higher prices and a more formal setting than the shacks.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
