Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and our planet's 9th largest city with a population over 23 million. Yet, despite Mubai's density, made obvious by a drive through any of its crowded streets, Mumbai is only India's 2nd largest city (behind New Delhi). There's tons to see and do in a city of this size. You're in the right place to find a good curry, and you'll be impressed by the authenticity of Mumbai's Chinese, Thai, and Malay cuisines. However, you'll also be amazed by the "realness" of the city itself, whose inhabitants are vastly divided by their economic realities. Be prepared to witness Mumbai's economic gap. Yet, allow yourself to freely enjoy the culture of India. Live the high-life in one of Asia's finest cities, but remember to live local!
Day 1 — Colaba, Coastline, and the Old Lion of Mumbai
Mumbai teaches you quickly: the past is never dead here. It just puts on new clothes and keeps walking.
Gateway of India & The Taj Mahal Palace - The Gateway of India once served as the physical entrance and exit to Mubai for visitors by boat. Measuring 85 feet high, this monument was built during the 20th century and is located on the waterfront overlooking the Arabian Sea. Visit and take pictures on your way to other popular destinations such as the Colaba Causeway, Colaba Market, and grab a bite at the neighboring Taj Mahal hotel. The Taj Mahal Palace is Mumbai’s beating cultural heart, a hotel that’s seen everything from royalty to reinvention. Sit on the seawall with chai from a street vendor. Watch ferries drift toward Elephanta Island.
Colaba Causeway - Check out Colaba Causeway if you seek a truly local market experience. It's busy, it's, well, cozy, but it's definitely worth a visit. You'll find a variety of local merchandise and textiles in what is considered the Culture Square of Mumbai. It's architecture resembles "old Bombay" and it's streets are filled with many art galleries which are inexpensive to explore.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) - It’s a quiet break from the manic bustle. For a super small price, you can visit the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai. It stands among a number of unique galleries along the southern tip of Mumbai. Exhibits change regularly and you can purchase prints for around 125 rupees.
San Qi (Four Seasons) - It’s high-end pan-Asian done right. It’s Mumbai’s global palate on a plate. Dined here not once, not twice, but three times. Yes, it was by choice. San Qi has impeccable service and an awesome selection of Indian, Chinese, and Thai dishes. So, I had to go three times to try each type of cuisine. Try the dim sum, the Thai curries, or the wasabi prawns. Weekend Pilgrim was honored to be the first (in the world) to try San Qi's vegetarian pre-fix special (pictured) which was released for Navratri in October, 2016!
Day 2 — Bandra: Artists, Rocks, Romance, and Rooftops
Bandra is where Mumbai goes to breathe — and flirt, drink, paint, write, dance, and dream.
Bandra Fort & Bandstand Walk - Bandra Fort, formerly known as Castella de Aguada, offers a bit of Portuguese history in Mumbai. The name indicates its origin as a place where fresh water was available via fountain for Portuguese ships traveling the coasts during the time of Portuguese inhabitance. Travel a few more steps down the road for amazing views of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, the Arabian Sea, and downtown Mumbai in the background.
Ming Yang (Taj Lands End) — Cantonese Sanctuary - Quiet luxury with a view of the sea. Light, beautiful Cantonese cooking. Try the peking duck, steamed dim sum, fresh seafood in garlic sauce. You’ll forget Mumbai’s chaos, just for a moment.
High Street Phoenix (Lower Parel) - Not a tourist mall — this is where the city’s middle and upper classes actually hang out. Big brands, cafés, breweries, movie theatres. Grab coffee at Sucres Des Terre or window-shop. Watch the contrasts of Mumbai in real time — wealth, hustle, fashion, aspiration, all crammed into a refurbished mill complex.
AER Bar (Four Seasons) - Awesome drinks, better view. That's Aer, a rooftop bar on the 34th floor of the Four Seasons hotel. Aer is known as the sexiest bar in Mumbai. It's certainly number one in rooftop ambiance. Visit Aer, rain or shine, for a great evening overlooking Bombay. Arrive just before sunset. Order something gin-based. Watch the Arabian Sea turn molten gold. This rooftop is a rite of passage — chic, breezy, and achingly beautiful.
Day 3 — Nature, Stone, and the City’s Ancient Bones
Even Mumbai needs quiet — it just hides it well.
Kanheri Caves (Sanjay Gandhi National Park) - An ancient Buddhist complex carved directly into rock — meditation halls, monastic cells, relief carvings from the 1st century BCE. You hike a bit. Monkeys follow you. Jungle sounds replace car horns. Mumbai feels far away, almost fictional.
Local Thali Joint (Borivali or Goregaon) - Eat a proper Maharashtrian lunch — thali with rice, dal, vegetables, fish curry, puris, pickle, buttermilk. No frills, just soul. Ask any local for the nearest reliable thali spot. The joy is in its simplicity.
Haji Ali Dargah - A mosque and shrine sitting in the middle of the sea, connected only by a narrow causeway that disappears at high tide. Pilgrims, beggars, families, and city workers all walking the same path. Sufi music drifting through the air. Saltwater splashing at your ankles. A surreal, spiritual pause.
Bar Stock Exchange (Multiple Locations) - A chaotic, cheeky bar concept where drink prices change like a stock market. Come here for a fun crowd, decent snacks, and pure Mumbai energy. Grab a plate of tandoori chicken or cheesy naan and enjoy the noise. We sampled a rare bourbon for next to nothing. Besides, Bar Stock Exchange has both indoor and outdoor rooftop settings for rooftop bar enthusiasts.
Day 4 — South Bombay: Class, Craft, and One Last Feast
The soul of Mumbai lives between art deco facades, old cinemas, breezy promenades, and kitchens that don’t compromise.
Marine Drive — The Queen’s Necklace - Walk the curve of Marine Drive while the city yawns awake. Elderly joggers, college kids, vendors selling roasted chana — the whole city warming up for battle. Sit on the promenade. Listen to the waves crash against the tetrapods.
Kala Ghoda District - Art galleries, indie cafés, bookstores, design shops. Peek into the Jehangir Art Gallery, David Sassoon Library courtyard, and Kala Ghoda Café. This is Mumbai’s cultural brain — creative, gritty, modern.
Britannia & Co. (Ballard Estate) - A legendary Parsi restaurant run by a family that’s been feeding the city for decades. Order berry pulao, mutton dhansak and caramel custard. It’s history, love, and spice in one meal.
The Taj Mahal Palace (Sea Lounge or Wasabi by Morimoto) - End your journey back where it began. Enjoy Wasabi by Morimoto because, well it's Morimoto...and because their ingredients are imported straight from Japan. Or, try Sea Lounge for colonial elegance, live piano, high tea with an ocean view. Walk outside afterward, sit by the waterfront, feel the strange comfort of Mumbai’s unstoppable pulse.
