Mumbai
Mumbai
Things we love
It’s seriously cheap.
They drive freestyle. Sit back and roll with it – that’s just how it’s done here.
People in Mumbai have “train friends” that last for years. Something to think about the next time that guy with the big mac sits next to you.
You can buy ANYTHING. One guy tried to sell BarChick a birthday balloon the size of a car…obvs we bought it.
Put on your best regal English accent and you can get into pretty much anywhere.
Things we wish we’d known
The Indian head wobble means yes AND no, it works for them, but not always for you
There’s a 25% tax on alcohol, so your bill will always be a lot bigger than you were expecting.
Traffic is terrible, everywhere… get a bike and you’re laughing (if you make it out alive).
Make sure your taxi driver resets the metre when you get in the car or you will be ripped off.
“5 minutes” actually means at least 30.
Busaba
Cerveza
Dome at Intercontinental
Escobar
Gokul
Hakkasan Mumbai
Leopold Café
Pali Village Cafe
The Big Nasty
The Ghetto
Tote on the Turf
 |
BusabaNamed after a Thai flower, this is one of the places in Mumbai we found that made killer cocktails – naturally BarChick loved it! With good drinks this rare it gets pretty busy so book baby, book, especially on weekends. Early Read More |
 |
CervezaStep in to this dimly lit beer bar, and make like you’re Homer Simpson. Like the name suggests, this place has beers from all over the world, so perfect it you’re homesick, or for a little local Guinness fix (an Read More |
 |
Dome at IntercontinentalBe warned, your bag is scanned on entry into the hotel so hide whatever you’re hiding. This beautiful roof top terrace overlooks Marine Drive and the Arabian Sea, so it is pretty much perfect for a cocktail at sunset. Plus if Read More |
 |
EscobarThis boasts the longest bar in India, coming in at 77 feet long, so getting served shouldn’t be a problem (you’d hope anyway). This place stands out from the outset, probably because it’s named after Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar Read More |
 |
GokulBarChick didn’t really know what to think when arriving through the door into a dingy Indian restaurant offering all sorts of undesirable food like fish and chips and Chinese and other “local specialties” but it seems the staff knew exactly Read More |
 |
Hakkasan MumbaiWe heart this place in a big way… it was top of our hit list and it delivered. If you know Hakkasan, then this is just like its brothers and sisters, it’s got the dark wood panelling and sexy blue Read More |
 |
Leopold CaféSteeped in a history of sordid sex, drugs and arms trafficking since 1871, BarChick was disappointed (but not surprised) to find that none of the above still goes on. Gregory David Roberts’ book Shantaram has made this place all too Read More |
 |
Pali Village CafeIt feels like you could be in a colonial train station, or a Parisian pre-war café. This place is charming, and with delicious Western food and sweet French music, it is the perfect place to come and unwind after a Read More |
 |
The Big NastyMake your way along the pretty passage past the cool octopus mural and take the lift up to a bar that feels like it’s tried very hard to be cool. SOMEHOW it kinda works – don’t ask how, it’s all Read More |
 |
The GhettoThis place is a box to tick by all. It’s a badly lit dive bar with luminous walls, UV lights and busy graffiti all over the walls (link somewhere to the facebook photos maybe?). Take ya Sharpie and get involved Read More |
 |
Tote on the TurfCome after sunset to this leafy Ibiza-style chill out garden, not dissimilar to KM5 in Ibiza. This place is pretty spectacular with loads of sofas, cool French music and pretty fairy lights hanging from every tree. It is Read More |