Tucked away in the peaceful village of Socorro in North Goa, a striking red-and-white colonial bungalow rises from its 200-year-old bones with new life and purpose. This is Escape, a lush, layered experience created by the "queen of Indian fashion" Ritu Beri. Not just a boutique or concept store, Escape is a multi-sensory retreat where fashion, art, architecture, and nature are stitched together into a seamless narrative of calm, creativity, and connection.
Spread over 2,465 sq mt, the Indo-Portuguese home has been lovingly restored with tactile textures, vintage tiles, and curated details. A sloping laterite pathway leads to a tree-lined courtyard. The interiors are equally evocative, where Beri's resort wear collections sit in parallel with handmade décor, signature fragrances, quirky buntings, and baroque chandeliers. The experience continues through a garden café that overlooks paddy fields, a cocktail bar infused with Middle Eastern charm, and an open-air amphitheatre designed for intimate performances. "I would love to have a show here. The garden pathway could be the runway. Imagine!" said Beri, pointing at the mystically charming garden while talking to Outlook Traveller. The filtered light from the trees lent it a whimsical fairy-core aesthetic.
"Escape was born from a deeply personal yearning to create a space that celebrates creativity, freedom and human connection," said Beri. "The seed was planted through my travels over the years, but Escape happened quite spontaneously. Goa's energy is so rich, so magical that it just felt right. It called to me."
The name, she added, was instinctive. "Because that's what I wanted it to be: a genuine escape. A place where one can pause, breathe, and rediscover wonder."
What makes Escape stand out is the emotional layering behind each aesthetic choice.
"I approached it the way I approach my designs: emotion first. Each space had to evoke something, whether it's curiosity, nostalgia, or calm. I layered everything like a melody with the architecture, art, music, and craft all in harmony." Beri's fashion background has long embraced emotion over formula, and Escape continues that legacy, with spaces that invite guests not only to look but to feel.
Escape proposes slowness, intention, and presence in a world speeding toward homogeneity.
"We're constantly bombarded with noise—visual, emotional, digital. I wanted to create a space that slows you down, that allows you to connect not just with art or beauty, but with yourself."
And what should guests take away? "I want them to feel transported. Whether it's through a conversation, a quiet moment in the garden, or the peace of watching the melting colours of the sky. I want Escape to nourish the mind, heart and senses."
And then there's the food that makes Escape quite inescapable. While sitting and chatting in the garden, we had the smoked salmon with crème fraîche, dill, and chives on toasted focaccia sprinkled with roe. The masterpiece created by Chef Madhav Dayal from Miguel's was only the beginning of a beautiful lunch. The garden bistro and bar, Escape with Miguel's, is not a replica of the original Miguel's from Fontainhas, but an entirely new food and cocktail experience guided by the same soul that defines the brand.
Their Mutton Shepherd's Pie and Ricotta and Egg Yolk Ravioli are must-tries. And for those with a sweet tooth, the tiramisu and makhana tres leches are out of this world and deserve all your attention. The menu leans into bistro-style comfort, with handmade pastas and fresh flavours, while the cocktails are curated to take you on a cultural journey across India, each one inspired by the ingredients, traditions, and stories of the subcontinent.
"Escape is more than a destination. It's a philosophy," said Beri. Talking about the possibility of similar outlets outside of Goa, the veteran designer said she saw Escape as a global movement. "I absolutely see similar sanctuaries in other parts of India and the world. Each one will be rooted in its own local context, but the soul will be the same."
The idea is to scale such spaces that reflect their locales but whisper the same invitation: slow down, look closer, live fuller.
When asked why she chose Goa, Beri did not hesitate. "Goa is my muse. I adore the old Portuguese homes, secret beaches, soulful cafés, and the wild, untamed beauty of the hinterland. Every corner here has a story." And unlike the trend-driven fashion capitals, Goa offers something deeper, she added.
"It's about truth, not trend. The textures, the contradictions, and the colours, they feed my creativity in the most natural way."
Building Escape was not without its challenges. "Anything unique is bound to face resistance like logistical hurdles, permissions, even scepticism," Beri admitted. "But I've always believed in the power of vision. With persistence, the right people, and a clear belief in what this space could become, we turned every challenge into a stepping stone." What stands today is a sanctuary, grounded in craftsmanship, designed with soul, and open to all.
More than a space, Escape feels like a mood, a memory, a moment you didn't know you needed. It's where barefoot wanderers and design enthusiasts alike can come to feel inspired, rested, and seen.
Whether you're coming from a quiet beach or halfway across the world, Escape welcomes you with intention. And as Ritu Beri proves, the most powerful destinations don't just offer beauty but belonging.
