A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Mumbai

  Fresh Market Produce

In terms of eating, drinking and nightlife, Mumbai has long been one of the most open and cosmopolitan cities in India. The restaurant scene ranges from flashy spots for Bollywood stars to street stalls selling distinctive local specialties like 'bhel puri.'

As well as Italian, Chinese and American fast-food joints, Mumbai has another more unusual addition from abroad. Numerous juice and smoothie shacks have sprung up around the city; making for an excellently refreshing snack in the often stifling heat.

To the south of the city, the Colaba district is packed with bars, restaurants, hotels and a number of infamous backpacker haunts. For the most part, however, these don’t offer good value – or good quality.

A bit further north in downtown Mumbai and Fort (the city’s commercial hub), old-fashioned cafés and restaurants abound. Here, the scene is more authentic, with some places still offering traditional Parsi dinners rather than international cuisine.

Alternatively, Chowpatty Beach is teeming with shacks famous for their 'bhel puri' and dozends of cheerfully shabby eateries. This is almost invariably the budget traveler’s area of choice, as it contains some of the best cheap spots in the city.

However, the most affordable way to eat in Mumbai is to head to the bazaars north of the Victoria Terminus. A great source of cheap, fresh ingredients (some, in fact, so fresh that they’re still alive!), it’s also something of an experience in its own right.

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