Explore Colaba

Mumbai's most famous café - open since 1871, Leopold Café is an institution that has survived everything the city has thrown at it, including the 2008 terrorist attacks. Cold beer, decent food and the best people-watching in Mumbai. A Colaba pilgrimage.

Mumbai's most legendary late-night kebab stall - Bademiya has been serving seekh kebabs, tikkas and rotis from its street-side kitchen since 1946. The queue starts at 9pm and doesn't stop till 3am. A Colaba institution that no Mumbaikar can resist.

The Taj's restaurants - Wasabi by Morimoto, Souk, Golden Dragon and the Sea Lounge - are among Mumbai's finest dining experiences. The Sea Lounge's afternoon tea with Gateway of India views is a South Mumbai ritual for special occasions.

Indigo Deli on Mandlik Road is Colaba's premier all-day café - excellent brunch, artisan coffee, imported cheeses and a menu that satisfies both the neighbourhood's expat community and its discerning local residents. The broader Colaba café scene is one of Mumbai's best.

Harbour Bar & Rooftop, Taj Mahal Palace

The Harbour Bar at the Taj - one of India's oldest hotel bars - and the rooftop bar with Gateway of India views are among Mumbai's most prestigious after-dark destinations. Expensive, impeccably served and unforgettable.

Leopold Café & Colaba Causeway Bars

Leopold Café's ground floor bar is Colaba's most democratic drinking spot - backpackers, expats, locals and tourists all sharing the same cold Kingfisher. The surrounding Colaba Causeway has several bars and restaurants that stay lively till midnight.

Live Music & Cultural Venues, Colaba

Colaba has a small but vibrant live music scene - several bars and restaurants host live performances on weekends. The proximity to the NCPA at Nariman Point also gives residents easy access to world-class theatre, music and dance.

Bademiya - Colaba's Late-Night Institution

No night out in Colaba is complete without ending at Bademiya - seekh kebabs, chicken tikka and roomali roti at 1am, standing on the pavement of Tulloch Road. It is one of Mumbai's most beloved late-night rituals.

The real Colaba begins at 4am at Sassoon Dock - fishing boats returning with the night's catch, the fish auction in full cry, the smell of the sea and the sound of Koli women sorting the catch by lamplight. It is one of Mumbai's most visceral and authentic experiences, and it happens every single morning just minutes from the Gateway of India.

Leopold Café at 8am - before the tourists arrive - is a different place entirely. The old waiters, the ceiling fans, the morning papers and a strong filter coffee. It is one of Mumbai's most atmospheric morning rituals, in a café that has been serving the neighbourhood since 1871.

The Colaba Causeway on a weekday afternoon - before the tourist rush - is a pleasure. The vendors know their regulars, the prices are negotiable and the range of goods is extraordinary. Antiques, fashion, handicrafts, street food and the occasional genuine treasure hidden among the tourist tat.

Bademiya at midnight - seekh kebabs sizzling on the grill, the pavement crowded with a cross-section of Mumbai that you won't find anywhere else, the smell of charcoal and spices drifting down Tulloch Road. It is the perfect end to any Colaba evening, and one of the great Mumbai experiences.