Eat, Drink, & Shop: Here's Everything You Can Do In Colaba

You name it, and this stretch with 200+ vendors will have it! Decor, vintage pieces, perfumes, apparel, jewellery, shoes, bags...EVERYTHING! While the right side of the footpath stretch has the street vendors, the left one has branded stores [think Nike, Metro Shoes, etc]! But, of course, this stretch is popular for its street shopping! Pricings start at as low as INR 49! Find jackets from Zara, tops from Mango, dresses from Vero Moda at super low rates!

The stretch starts at Cafe Mondegar and ends somewhere around the Colaba Police Station. While most vendors now accept G-pay, make sure you have cash handy! What would be a paisa vasool visit? Shelling out INR 1000 and getting one top, one pair of flats, two pieces of jewellery and a bag!    

Tip: For accessories, alongside the causeway there's a tiny store full of quirky jewellery and knick-knacks called Chains N Charms! Def, check out that store! 

Parked right inside the causeway is this Japanese paradise that needs no introduction! From minimal kitchen essentials and electronics to beauty and makeup - Miniso is our go-to for budget-friendly knick-knacks. Stationery freaks, make your way to their pen and notebook sections, you're sure to love it!     

A contemporary designer brand that specialises in all things leather - Nappa Dori's Mumbai outlet is nestled right behind the Taj Mahal Hotel! Their in-store collection ranges from iconic leather trunk bags to minimal stationery and travel equipment. Their Colaba store even has a corner dedicated to coffee lovers called Cafe Dori. Being pure leather products, the pricing too tends to be on a higher-end, so it might burn a hole in your pockets. 

Right next to Havana Cafe's, Essajees is one of the oldest vintage decor and art stores in Mumbai. From vintage paintings to royal crystal chandeliers - this family-run store is quite a hidden gem. If you're looking to add a royal and vintage touch to your home - you'll find gems here! 

If shopping from high-end and luxury brands has always been on your list - a visit to Le Mill in Colaba is a must. True to their tagline 'Eyes on Paris, heart in Mumbai' - this boutique is a Disneyland for fashion lovers and appreciators of designer couture. It's on the first floor, right opposite The Pizza Express, and can be easily spotted owing to their funky outdoor graffiti!

Set in a heritage building and sprawling over 4000 sq ft, Le Mill is spacious, well lit and every piece of clothing is well arranged to help you scan through all that they're offering! Expect pieces from brands like Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Chloé, Céline, Dries Van Noten, Balmain and Jacquemus, and Indian contemporary brands like Bodice, Eka, Péro, Casegoods, and more.   

Established in 1932, Cafe Mondegar is one of the oldest bars in Mumbai. In the 90s, this cafe was renovated and its walls were graced with murals painted by Mario Miranda, the well-known Indian cartoonist. It's the first cafe in Mumbai to have a vintage jukebox. When planning to head here, plan an early Sunday morning breakfast [try their omelette and kheema pao] or a late-night catch up over chilled beer and Chicken steak post your causeway shopping! 

A popular joint since its launch in 2011, The Table continues to hold the top positions when it comes to fine dines in South Mumbai. Known for bringing in farm-to-fork experience by growing most produce, The Table brings global cuisine drawing inspiration from different countries including Japan, France, Italy, China etc.  

Open till late hours (approximately 3 AM), Bademiya is often surrounded by cars and foodies patiently waiting for their orders. From late-night munching sessions to your street food cravings post-drinking - Bademiya is one of the most loved street food joints amongst meat lovers! From mutton seekh kebabs to chicken tikka and from Biryani to shahi tukda - Bademiya does it all. 

You don't always have to shell out a bomb to dine with a picturesque sea view. Bayview Cafe in Colaba proves it! Serving North Indian and Chinese delicacies, this restaurant is a budget-friendly place that offers a scenic view, good food and affordable drinks. Oh, and they open up by 8 AM, so you can head here for a cutesy breakfast date and watch the pretty Arabian sea and Gateway of India during the early morning hours. 

However, the best time to head here would be evenings or nights! 

A popular fine dine option amongst the residents in this neighbourhood, Jia is a modern Orient kitchen that offers Asian delicacies including Japanese, Chinese, Thai etc. Expect dishes like Pan-fried garlic noodles, Pad Thai noodles, truffle edamame dumpling (highly recommended), lobster with noodles and more. So, if you love and appreciate a good Asian fare, this fine dine is Colaba is a must-visit.    

Home to some of the timeless and oldest art creations by Indian and international artists - the National Gallery Of Modern Art, is one of the most popular attractions parked right opposite the Regal Cinema. With more than 14,000 pieces of paintings, graphics and sculptures - the walls of NGMA envelope the work of popular artists including Thomas Daniell, Raja Ravi Verma, Rabindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil! 

The timings are from 11 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and 11 AM to 8 PM on weekends!.The gallery remains shut on Mondays and on public holidays.

Regal Cinema is claimed to be one of the first air-conditioned in India and also the first luxurious theatre in Mumbai. Opened to the public in 1933, this two-storey art deco building boasts of Gothic and neo-Gothic styles! Today, you can catch up on an array of movies at this cinema that ranges from Bollywood to Hollywood. 

The ticket prices start at INR 400 and upwards. 

Right at the centre of this hood, this heritage outdoor paradise has seen multiple uplifts and makeovers over the years. From being an area being used by the Navy to a hotspot for people to hang out during lunches or enjoy musical events, this garden today is a space to relax, catch up with some loving doggos, exercise in their outdoor workout space or simply sit by the stairs and watch the city move (so fasttt)!  

You don't have to be a tourist to get some cliche snapshots in one of Mumbai's favourite landmarks - Gateway Of India. With your gang, out for a late-night drive or coffee at Taj? There's no harm in locking these memories by taking a fun old-school photograph in this hood. And it's really really cost-effective tbh! It's just INR 30 for a colour photograph. 

An iconic and the largest wholesale fish market (find pomfret, prawns, bombil etc.), you'll find constant hustle, busy fisherfolks, cool graffiti, and gram-worthy sea view! Built in 1875, this dock is also the first wet dock in the Western region. While there are travel groups that arrange for walks here, you're free to go and explore this all by yourself! You're guaranteed to find some breathtaking spots which you'd probably not find anywhere else in the city. 

Many Mumbaikars yet don't know about this botanical hidden gem nestled away in the lanes of Colaba. Called Sagar Upvan (or Bombay Port Trust), this 12-acre park boasts of a breathtaking Arabian sea view, old Banyan trees, a glass-covered cactus garden, and walking paths.    

Read more about this hidden gem here! 

A bright yellow and classy boutique, this hidden gem is nestled in the quaint lanes of the back side of Taj Mahal Palace, Ahilaya homes a fantastic collection of Chikankari collection! The best part? Because the collection is displayed in a colour coordinated manner, the display makes you fall in love with their Chikankari collection. 

Not many know about this boutique and if you're looking for an elegant outfit for any special occasion, a visit to Ahilaya is a must! 

The last one is this tiny store that's again just a 10-minute walk from the Taj Mahal palace and right beside The Pizza Express. They've got four glasses called Nano, Varanasi, Mumbai and Sagar (first being the smallest and the last one being the biggest)! Head here on a weekend and you'll spot people with cars parked, and glasses in their hands enjoying this sweet beverage!