Mumbai, India + Add a trip

Intercontinental Hotel, Marine Drive - South Bombay

Swank open-air lounge at the top of the Intercontinental. Hands down best place for watching the sun set over the ocean and gazing at the Queen's Necklace (Marine Drive) while sipping a martini. Ten or so floors up from the traffic and noise, this is about as romantic as Bombay gets.

Brought to you by the same team that has Indigo in Colaba...really worth a visit!

Grandy Hatt Near Airport

Grand Hyatt in Mumbai has an excellent new Chinese restaurant with a fantastic bar downstairs that is quite exclusive. They have flown in several top chefs from Beijing so it is authentic. Recommend booking in advance.

7 Rope Walk Lane, in Fort Area. Not far from Fabindia.

You will never taste seafood equally good, ever, anywhere. Fabulous lobster, incredible crab. Located in an inconspicuous tiny lane in the Fort area, near Taj. Reservation is a must. Tel +912222703213.

These guys are awesome, the drivers I had spoke passable English and drove well, there were seatbelts and clean seats and airconditioning.
I felt much safer for a change (destpite the terrorist attacks).

Fort | Juhu | Thane

If you love fish -- it's one of Mumbai's best restaurants, consistently dishing out pleasing specialties. Everything is incredibly fresh, but favorites include surmai fry, pomfret curry, and tandoori pomfret -- all outstanding. The latter (listed as a starter, but you can order it as a main) is served flawlessly moist; eaten with butter naan, it provides the most heavenly gastronomic experience imaginable. Also try the scrumptious prawns Koliwada, crab tandoori, pomfret in green masala, or any of the fish curries or gassis, all first-rate. (Note that gassi refers to the thick, spicy, coconut-based Manglorean curry, while the "curries" on the menu are a thinner version of the same.) Mahesh also serves meat, chicken, and Chinese dishes.

I love Bombay. I'd have to, I spend months on end here. I've posted some tips and so forth on a blog that I keep from the back of Bombay taxis... Bombay Taxi.

I hope it's useful. Please feel free to add comments, I'll update it.

x

Everywwhere and Anywhere!

I find myself - usually on the return leg of my London-Mumbai-Vadodara jaunt with 5+ hours to kill.

Rather than hopping on the transfer bus from the domestic to the intl terminal look for one of the blue and white cool cabs out front - explain you need to be back at the Intl in time for your flight and ask them to drive you around until then. Go down to the beach, go for coffee or cocktails whatever.... Or if it's cool enough - hop in a tuk-tuk and do the same thing!

Malabar Hill

Sip raw coconuts, chew pan and take in the pujaris at this massive holy water tank surrounded by miniature shrines and looming skyscrapers. Legend has it Rama's brother Laxman shot an arrow into the ground to create the majestic waterhole, which is right in the heart of beautiful Malabar Hill. The Banganga Festival is held here in January.

Try to avoid saying 'Bang Gang Festival'--I know it's alluring.

Worli

If you're living for some time in Mumbai as an expat and long for some good classic rock (although they occasionally play YMCA as well) and a good beef burger with fries... try the Hard Rock Cafe. Interior is a little bit different than the ones I have visited before, a bit more loungy.