THE REAL MUMBAI

Night Life In Mumbai

The nightlife in Bombay is concentrated in a few areas - South Bombay - Upmarket (Colaba,Marine Drive) Bandra - Mixed upmarket + pocket friendly (Hip and happening) Juhu Bollywood movie crowd upmarket+ pocket friendly.

Top picks, each different from the other are

Mumbai night tours - You can get escorted tour for Mumbai night life as per your choice that includes visiting night clubs,midnights buffet,horse carriage ride,cinema pubs and bars.

AER - Newest rooftop bar on top of the Four Seasons, Worli 44th floor, great view of Bombay both sides.

Shiro - This is a new entrant to Bombay's bar scene.  It's a grown up place where the music is just the right volume and you can hear yourself speak. Trendy, trendy, trendy. Dress nice, or you'll feel like a misfit. Try the mojitos. Shiro is at the Bombay Dyeing Compound, Worli - next to Hard Rock Cafe. Serves mainly Japanese and Asian food.

Bonobo - Spread over 2800 sq feet, Bonobo comprises of an indoor area which plays host to the bar as well as an outdoor area, which is the alfresco area. It is located in the hip suburb of Bandra.

Woodside Inn - Nestled inside a century old heritage building on the bustling streets of Colaba, Woodside Inn pays tribute to the city's old world charm and architecture. Open from breakfast to way past dinner, this neighbourhood bar is the ideal place to dive right into. The cuisine is European and pub-fare.

Poison - Big enough to park a plane, and not enough room to swing a cat! This is Bandra's hottest happening disco with everything from hip-hop to Himesh Reshamiya. Go if you want to see how Bombay's suburbs party. Weekends are crowded.

Dome  - Chic rooftop bar at the Intercontinental with spectacular views of Marine Drive. Go with your significant other.

More Ideas:

Wink, at The President Hotel - another relatively new bar which gets really crowded at weekends and is one of the more happening places in South Mumbai.

Hard Rock Cafe - adjacent to Shiro, Bombay Dyeing Mills, Worli. For fans of the Cafe, the Mumbai one is large, plays good music and does great food.

Henry Tham - Dhanraj Mahal, near Taj Palace Hotel, Colaba, this boutique Asian spot has excellent house, trance, percussion and live music on some days. Great after dinner hang out spot, try the fresh juice martinis.

Indigo - Colaba. Again, another nice after dinner lounge spot.

Tetsuma & Prive - Near Radio Club. Very happening on weekends. The first is an Asian lounge and sushi bar, the second is a nightclub. Closed shoes required.

Olive - Bandra. Great place on Thursday nights. Mediterranean cuisine and decor. They opened another restaurant at the Mahalaxmi Race course.

China House - A  three-level lounge and restaurant. At the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Kalina.



FOOD


If sea food is on top of your list, there are many contenders for the top slot. Mahesh Lunch Home is an age old name and has grown from a stall into a chain of restaurants. Trishna is a favourite for Butter Garlic Crab or Prawns. Or if it is Goan Sea food you desire, then Highway Gomantak is your dream come true. Gajalee follows close behind in the race as well.

Whichever of these you pick, you are sure not to be disappointed. The crabs and lobsters are fresh, the prawns succulent and the fish just perfectly cooked.



Bandra–Worli Sea Link


If your cab or auto driver asks whether you would like to go via the Sea Link or inland, do not get deterred by the toll and go ahead choose the former. India's answer to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Worli Sea Link not only reduces your driving time but greatly increases your driving pleasure. A sight to behold, the tall imposing ropes holding the bridge high are a thing of wonder.




Mumbai Local

I tried very hard to keep this point off this list. Let's be frank, this is not an enjoyable experience to say the least. Yet, this is Mumbai and it would be wrong if you did not even once get a flavour of the lifeline of this city – the Mumbai Local.

It is rumoured that people often keep an extra shirt in office. Sharing space with millions of bodies grinding against you in the Mumbai humidity may render your clothes unfit for the day. A little tip – do not be intimidated when the train rolls in. Yes, it will be bursting in the seams. Yes, people will be practically falling off. Just position yourself in the middle of the mass of people wanting to get on and you will be swept into the bogey without any of your own doing.

Whatever said and done, trains remain the fastest way to travel in Mumbai. They can cut your journey time into half. So, take a deep breath and climb on!