We all have those days when our bank account looks at us and laughs. And quite honestly, being broke is completely manageable…unless you have a partner and a “date night” is a necessity. Broke dating is both challenging and fun, and there’s a lot that can be done with limited cash. Here, we set a budget of INR 200, racked our brains a bit and came up with these easy and cheap solutions.
Our Guide To Going On A Date In Mumbai For Under INR 350
Wander Around Town On A Cycle
Nestled in 3rd Pasta Lane, Colaba, Happy Cycles is a 120-year-old cycle shop, that houses over 100 different cycles that are given on rent. For INR 100 to INR 150 per hour, you can simply hop on to the cycle and ride around town, exploring little nooks and corners. Carry along some coffee in a thermos, find a spot around Gateway of India, and get your date started.
Click here to read more about Happy Cycles.
Watch A Film For Cheap Or For Free
For a ticket as cheap as INR 140, you could head to Gaiety Galaxy in Bandra or one of the many other single screen theatres in the city. Add in some garam samosas and Coke to make it a complete experience. And you know what? You could even watch a movie for free. Head to Alliance Francaise de Bombay, NCPA, India Culture Lab or Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum and sit with your date for any of their free movie screenings.
Click here to get more details about these screenings.
Go Second-Hand Book Shopping
If you both love books, and if hunting for old classics is your idea of a good date, then it doesn’t get better than the second-hand book shopping trail near Flora Fountain. Pick from classics such as Pride And Prejudice, Little Women, and Franz Kafka or get special edition collections of comics like Calvin & Hobbes and Asterix. There’s no dearth of authors on these streets and the prices are still as good as they were 10 years ago.
Click here for a detailed list of the book stalls and what they can offer.
Grab Lunch At Chaitanya
If you both love food, especially non-vegetarian, and love Malvani food, then you should head to Chaitanya at Dadar West. This tiny eatery cooks up a mean bombil fry, special prawns thali, surmai fry, crab lollipop and more. The fish thali and veg thalis are priced at INR 200 and you can get fish curry rice within a super affordable INR 200.
Stuff Yourself With Pav Bhaji And Pani Puri
If you love street food, go with your date to the pav bhaji or pani puri stalls and chow down the flavours of Chowpatty for as low as INR 25. The varieties of pav bhaji will make choosing very difficult.
Click here to read more details about where to get the best food at Chowpatty.
Art Gallery Hopping In Kala Ghoda
If you and your date both love art, head to the Kala Ghoda Arts District. With its galleries and of course the CSMVS Museum, this makes for a great way to spend an afternoon in town. From artists selling their artwork in the open-air gallery on the sidewalk to curated shows at Jehangir Art Gallery and the NGMA, there's plenty to do for the arty couple.
Entry to Jehangir Art Gallery is free, NGMA entry fee is INR 20, and CSMVS entry fee is INR 75.
Hop Aboard A Ferry To Elephanta Island
If both you and your date love heading out of the city and love the sea, we can't think of a better way to spend the morning than on a ferry ride. You'll get a return fare from Elephanta within INR 200.
Spend An Afternoon Petting Cats At Cat Cafe Studio
If you and your date are both cat lovers, then head to Cat Cafe Studio in Versova. The cafe has a relaxed vibe and a great menu of snacks and coffee. We hear the Maggi is fab, and really can you ever go wrong with a classic? Their classic filter coffee is priced at INR 140 and the Butter Maggi at INR 100.
Kick It Retro Style And Attend A Vinyl Session At Adagio
If you're a music lover, head to Adagio for their Thursday Night Vinyl sessions. Each Thursday, they pick a record and play it from start to finish. Past sessions include Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Dire Straits and Stevie Wonder. It's a relaxed space where you can unwind with fellow music lovers too. Tickets are priced at INR 300.