Design Fan
MORNING // Colaba Causeway
Stroll this bustling thoroughfare that’s flanked by street stalls selling everything from silver jewelry to those beloved-the-world-over Kolhapuri-style sandals.
MIDMORNING // Good Earth
From colorful cushion covers to bath soaps to hand-decorated china, this homewares store and design house is impossibly hard to leave, especially the Raghuvanshi Mills’ flagship branch.
AFTERNOON // Ahilaya (pictured)
Browse through the racks of lilac, lemon and sky blue tunics and cover-ups at this tiny boutique in Bandra. The breezy pieces are all adorned with delicate touches of chikankari embroidery.
Photo by Ritam Banerjee.
Design Fan
DINNER // Olive Bar & Kitchen
Snag a seat on the sunlit courtyard of this tucked-away Mediterranean restaurant and nosh on seafood risotto and Moroccan tagine with a pomegranate martini.
Photo by Ritam Banerjee.
History Buff
WHERE TO STAY // The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
Completely restored after the attacks of 2008, this 560-room grand dame faces the city’s harbor and the Gateway of India.
Photo by Fram Petit.
History Buff
MORNING // Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum (pictured)
This city museum’s Renaissance revival-style building is as much a reason to visit as the rare city maps, decorative objects and 19th-century paintings within it.
AFTERNOON // Elephanta Caves
Located on an island seven miles from Mumbai, these seven caves dating back to the 6th or 7th centuries contain magnificent rock carvings.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum.
History Buff
DINNER // Trishna
A favorite for its garlic-butter king crabs and pomfret Hyderabadi, this South Mumbai seafood spot, with its simple interior, is routinely packed.
Photo by Ritam Banerjee.
Night Owl
WHERE TO STAY // InterContinental (pictured)
The rooftop bar, Dome, is reason enough to book here. It overlooks the twinkling lights of Marine Drive, aptly known as the Queen’s Necklace.
AFTERNOON // Leopold Café & Bar
People-watch and nurse Kingfisher beer along Colaba Causeway at this legendary café/watering hole, which has been around since 1871.
Photo courtesy of InterContinental.
Night Owl
DINNER // Shiro
From the colossal stone statues to the menu of dim sum and sushi, this swank spot might feel like the Buddha Bars of the world, but you’ll love the Zen vibe and cocktails.
Photo by Ritam Banerjee.
Night Owl
LATE NIGHT // Blue Frog
Designed by U.K.-based Chris Lee and Kapil Gupta, this restaurant/club oozes cool, with shows that run the gamut from Indian classic to punk rock.
Photo courtesy of Blue Frog.
Foodie
MORNING // Crawford Market
Choose from tropical fruits such as sitaphal (custard apple), persimmons and Alphonso mangoes (a prized Indian variety) at this stately Gothic-style building.
MIDMORNING // Swati Snacks & Kulfi Centre
These are the places to get Mumbai’s famous street food—bhel puri, pani puri—without the curb.
LUNCH // A. Ramanayak Udipi Shri Krishna Boarding (pictured)
Refuel with a delicious South Indian lunch at this cafeteria-style restaurant in the Matunga district.
Photo by Ritam Banerjee.
Foodie
DINNER // Masala Kraft
This classic at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai sets the standard for authentic, refined North Indian food, from tandoori dishes to cottage cheese dumplings.
Masala Scallop photo courtesy of Masala Kraft.
Culture Vulture
WHERE TO STAY // The Oberoi, Mumbai
Overlooking the Arabian Sea, this luxe property is a true oasis. Its restaurant, Ziya, is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia.
Photo courtesy of The Oberoi, Mumbai.
Culture Vulture
AFTERNOON // Art Walk
With galleries sprouting up across South Mumbai, the city is having an art moment. Don't miss Chemould Prescott Road and Jehangir (pictured).
DINNER // Khyber
Drawing inspiration from the dishes of the Mughal era, Khyber serves kebabs, curries and firni, a traditional rice and milk pudding.
EVENING // NCPA
Catch a traditional Bharatanatyam dance performance, a film screening or the Sufi Music Festival at this top-notch performing arts space.
Photo by Ritam Banerjee.