Take a walk to the streets of Mumbai to truly understand its heritage and to marvel at some of its most iconic Art Deco buildings, sign up for a guided walk with an expert who can regale you with history, architecture as well as a funny secret or two. Bombay Heritage Walks offers tours around the Fort area buildings, in beautiful old churches and synagogues, which let you relive Mumbai’s rich cultural history.
Attend a small concert to witness the city’s burgeoning underground music scene.
Attend a small concert to witness the city’s burgeoning underground music scene.
Blue Frog remains the best live venue in Mumbai with some fantastic indie groups and other popular acts. If you are a music lover, this lovely little set-up in Lower Parel will have something that catches your fancy. Another great place for live gigs is Live from the Console in Mehboob Studio, Bandra, which is a platform for younger and alternative artists to come together and do something special. And if you are looking for a place to stay and shop, here are some of the best places.
WHERE TO SHOP
Bombay Electric. This popular concept store in Colaba is known as the Barneys of Mumbai. You can always find something interesting by top Indian designers such as Rajesh Pratap Singh as well as international fashion and jewelry labels.
Bandra. The small boutiques in the bylanes of Bandra West are best explored when you have plenty of time – each day a new store opens up with its own quirks and you never know what you might find. Matcha scrubs? Avocado soap? Yoga mats? Bollywood posters? Anything is possible.
Le Mill. It has been compared to Colette, with its mix of high fashion and high quirk. Find labels like Isabel Marant and Acne, as well as Kashmiri shawls, designer candles, bags and a host of other shiny, beautiful things. It’s a mixed bag and it’s delightful.
WHERE TO STAY
Taj Mahal. Palace The most iconic hotel in Mumbai, which has played host to royalty, heads of state and celebrities over the years. The property remain a favorite with several great restaurants and a dome towering over Colaba.
JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. The JW Marriott is a great place to stay if you want to be close to the food and shopping hubs of Bandra and Andheri – not to mention Juhu’s own lovely restaurants including local seafood institution Mahesh Lunch Home. The hotel’s large coffee shop is a favorite meeting place for Bollywood A-listers who live nearby.
The Oberoi, Mumbai. Make a date with a long tradition of hospitality as you check in to this contemporary waterfront property in Nariman Point. The in-house spa is considered one of the city’s best.
Matheran. When you’re in the thick of things in Mumbai, escaping to the quiet greenery of Matheran in the Western Ghats is a welcome break. Run away for a night to the lovely Verandah in the Forest, located amid thick woods, where the only sound you’ll hear will be birdsong. Restore your senses with long walks and a lazy breakfast before you return to the daily grind.
Light Solidad is a Software quality assurance analyst who loves to visit remote and exotic places around the world. Have a look at his other journey on Vacation Now’s Blog.
WHERE TO SHOP
Bombay Electric. This popular concept store in Colaba is known as the Barneys of Mumbai. You can always find something interesting by top Indian designers such as Rajesh Pratap Singh as well as international fashion and jewelry labels.
Bandra. The small boutiques in the bylanes of Bandra West are best explored when you have plenty of time – each day a new store opens up with its own quirks and you never know what you might find. Matcha scrubs? Avocado soap? Yoga mats? Bollywood posters? Anything is possible.
Le Mill. It has been compared to Colette, with its mix of high fashion and high quirk. Find labels like Isabel Marant and Acne, as well as Kashmiri shawls, designer candles, bags and a host of other shiny, beautiful things. It’s a mixed bag and it’s delightful.
WHERE TO STAY
Taj Mahal. Palace The most iconic hotel in Mumbai, which has played host to royalty, heads of state and celebrities over the years. The property remain a favorite with several great restaurants and a dome towering over Colaba.
JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. The JW Marriott is a great place to stay if you want to be close to the food and shopping hubs of Bandra and Andheri – not to mention Juhu’s own lovely restaurants including local seafood institution Mahesh Lunch Home. The hotel’s large coffee shop is a favorite meeting place for Bollywood A-listers who live nearby.
The Oberoi, Mumbai. Make a date with a long tradition of hospitality as you check in to this contemporary waterfront property in Nariman Point. The in-house spa is considered one of the city’s best.
Matheran. When you’re in the thick of things in Mumbai, escaping to the quiet greenery of Matheran in the Western Ghats is a welcome break. Run away for a night to the lovely Verandah in the Forest, located amid thick woods, where the only sound you’ll hear will be birdsong. Restore your senses with long walks and a lazy breakfast before you return to the daily grind.
Light Solidad is a Software quality assurance analyst who loves to visit remote and exotic places around the world. Have a look at his other journey on Vacation Now’s Blog.