Mumbai might be an all-guns-blazing, million-miles-per-hour kind of place, but making time for food here is a must. And trust us, the food here is really, really worth savouring. From street food and Michelin-starred restaurants to Portuguese-Goan delights and Parsi community cafés, Mumbai’s food scene makes the absolute most the city’s mish-mash of cultures, boundless flavours and countless styles of cooking. Here’s where to start.
Best restaurants in Mumbai
Photograph: Courtesy Tripadvisor
1. The Table
This romantic, bi-level, upscale eatery is a pioneer of Mumbai’s farm-to-table revolution, adopting international culinary trends and applying them to a local context. It serves fresh produce from its own farm in Alibaug. Draped with wispy curtains stretched across the walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and named after the 20-foot long Burma teak community dining table near its bar, The Table is an absolute go-to spot if you’re craving a magnificently special meal.
Price: Pricey
Photograph: Courtesy Tripadvisor
2. Shree Thaker Bhojanalay
One of Mumbai’s best kept secrets, this vegetarian Gujarati eatery offers an “eat until you drop” experience. To sample the very best, opt for the thaali: a round platter that includes six rotis, six curries, two papad variants, buttermilk, curd, three kinds of desserts, chaat, vegetable roll and more.
Price: Bargain
Photograph: Courtesy Tripadvisor
3. Wasabi by Morimoto
In addition to delectable food, this award-winning traditional Japanese restaurant offers the best views in town of the Gateway of India. The fiery red interiors complete with installations depicting cherry blossoms and traditional wooden Japanese joinery walls will transport you to Japan, especially when paired with the ingredients flown in from Tokyo weekly and the multicultural cooking techniques used by the staff. Make sure to try the rare sakes. Bonus points: the restaurant also serves vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan meals.
Price: Pricey
Photograph: Courtesy Tripadvisor
4. The Bombay Canteen
In the historic setting of an old colonial bungalow, the Bombay Canteen boasts its own important history, too. By providing modern twists on Indian regional dishes, TBC changed the way an entire city eats. It’s also simply a lovely place to have a munch – ideally for having a pleasant time with friends or family.
Price: Average
Photograph: Courtesy Tripadvisor
5. Britannia & Co.
Located in the genteel precinct of Mumbai’s Ballard Estate, Britannia & Co. is a vintage, heritage eatery and perhaps one of the oldest symbols of the locally dying Parsi cuisine. Opened in the 19th century by Zoroastrians from Iran, Britannia & Co. is a magnificent time capsule of Mumbai’s past. Try the berry pulao with some dhansak along with the creme caramel, the most famous dish here.
Price: Average
