It took us 3 years to find the perfect space and build the coffee shop of our dreams—alag. The story goes back to 2021, when we moved to Goa for the second time, during the pandemic. The first time was in 2020, right after the first lockdown. We were on opposite sides of the country, what kept us motivated was our long phone conversations about visiting Goa the moment we could. Bompi loves coconut trees and the ocean. And I loved her imagination of life in Goa. As lockdown was lifted, we took the opportunity and risk to come to Goa with a 2 months plan, went straight to Siolim, and settled into a cosy BnB.

At first, it was all about the relief and freedom, of being together. Then, something changed. We started seeing Goa in a new light—different, special, magical & calm. Never did we feel the same energy before in Goa when we used to make short trips as tourists. After 60 days or so, we made up our minds: let’s move to Goa. So, we went back home, packed up, and returned in 2021. That was our second time. From then on, Goa became home and will be our home forever.

During our first beautiful monsoon times in Goa, Bompi started baking the fluffy and delicious cheesecake, which we now call as the “Cloud Cheesecake”. It was too much for the two of us to consume all by ourselves, so we launched a home bakery called “Sipu Puyi”. Bompi baked, and I delivered. We loved talking to customers, making friends over cheesecake, and also having a social activity going around the home bakery. It worked perfectly fine until orders flooded in, and we both alone could no longer keep up the demand. That’s when the idea for a coffee shop took root. We paused the home bakery business & started looking for a physical space.

We were specific about where & how we wanted our coffee shop to be, but were unable to find a suitable location after searching for almost 2 years. Then when we’re about to give up, we met our humble landlord. He showed us his backyard, nothing but empty space & a storage room closed for about 30 years. But the energy? It was perfect. And that’s how the idea of alag was born, a DIY project with fantastic people helping us to make it come alive.

Now, here we are at our brick-and-mortar coffee shop in Siolim, sipping coffee from the Seven Sisters of Northeast India. Rooted in the philosophy of slow living, alag is more than just a coffee shop—it’s the fresh baking of shokupan bread and chunky cookies every morning, the charm of postcards & a postbox, a menu with limited yet thoughtful offerings, no laptops but conversations, and the peaceful 50-step walk to the café, listening to birds chirp.

We hope you find a moment to pause, step into our space with an open mind and a heart full of love, and lose yourself in being you. This space called alag, is a celebration of everything that connects us.

We welcome you to be alag & together at our coffee shop in Siolim, Goa.

with love.

Bompi & Uddipan

alag.together

our story so far