SHUNASHIR SEN:
1. Best views
Chandi Mehta, a graphic designer, says, “My friends and I often end up going to two rooftop bars that are next to each other — Bayview Café and Café Marina. Both overlook the sea.” Upadhyay, 29, has the same story. “We end up going there a lot as well, because the view is great, though the prices are on the higher side.” However, the fare is not as expensive as it is at Dome, the rooftop restaurant at Hotel Intercontinental in Churchgate, where Mehta, 33, and her friends drop in if they want to throw monetary caution to the wind. Dutta adds Cloud 9 to the list, saying, “It’s an open-air space from where you can enjoy the area’s skyline, which looks quite lovely at night.”
At Bayview Café, Hotel Harbour View, Kerawala Chamber, opposite Radio Club. Time 7 am to 12.30 am Call 61192222
At Café Marina, Sea Palace Hotel, PJ Ramchandani Marg. Time 4 pm to 1 am Call 61128000 at Dome, Hotel InterContinental, 135, Churchgate. Time 5 pm to 1.30 am Call 39879872
At Cloud 9, Hotel Godwin, 42 Garden Road, Colaba. Time 5 pm to 12 am
Call 22872050
2. Best khaana-peena
One name that kept cropping up in this category was Woodside Inn. Shankar Swamy, a 34-year-old lawyer, says, “It’s got good food and it’s not too loud, so we end up going there a lot.” Dutta adds, “It is a chilled out place where they serve locally brewed beers. It’s got a cool vibe, and the food is great.” Mehta, adds, “My friends go to Café at the NCPA, Nariman Point, because of the food, and for the breeze from the Arabian Sea.” Swamy says, “The café is our eatery of choice for dinner, especially on days when we aren’t looking to grab drinks.”
At Woodside Inn, Wodehouse Road, opposite Regal Cinema, Colaba. Time 10 am to 1 am Call 22025525 At Café at the NCPA, NCPA, Nariman Point. Time 12 pm to 10 pm Call 67230110
3. Best old-world feel
The runaway winners in this category — and no surprises here — were Café Mondegar and Leopold Café. Both are iconic Mumbai addresses located a few metres away from each other on
Colaba Causeway. Pankhuri Upadhyay, a lawyer, says, “That’s where the working crowd basically ends up for a drink.” Mehta says, “Mondy’s and Leo’s have that old Bombay charm and are legendary places, as is Café Universal.” Then, there’s Alps. “But it’s not as popular, because few know about it,” says Upadhyay.
At Café Mondegar, 5A, Metro House, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. Time 7.30 am to 11.30 pm Call 22020591 At Café Leopold, SB Singh Road, Colaba Causeway. Time 7.30 am to 12 am Call 22828185 At Alps, Nawroji Furdunji Road, Colaba. Time 11 am to 11 pm Call 22045042
4. Best value for money
Arjun Dutta, a 34-year-old advertising copy-writer, says, “We go to The Bar Stock Exchange if we want to keep it cheap.” Rashna Mistry, a 32-year-old HR professional, concurs, saying, “It’s got a casual vibe. There’s no dress code, the drinks are reasonably priced, and it’s centrally located.” Upadhyay prefers visiting Fort’s favourite Irani café, Café Military, because it’s cheap and convenient. “Their kheema pao is also really good,” she says.
At The Bar Stock Exchange, 22, MB Marg, Apollo Hotel, Colaba. Time 12 pm to 1.30 am Call 33126025 At Military Café, Ali Chamber, N Master Road. time 8.30 am to 9.30 pm Call 22654181
