Surely you've made a trip to Malad to shop at the two big malls there. But have you ever simply explored the suburb? Malad is dotted with beaches, serves as a jetty spot to getaway to Manori Island, and has a Goan neighbourhood Orlem where you'll find authentic Goan food away from Goa. And, let's not forget the endless lounges, bars and eateries that Malad boasts of.
We took a trip to this neighbourhood and hunted for several things to do in Malad. Check them out and get exploring!
Home to an array of stores, Inorbit Mall opened in 2004 and has since been a hot spot for activities, stores and eateries that were earlier rare in Malad. While there's a Timezone where you can while away time and play games; we're focused on the shopping bit for now.
Check out the Lifestyle store, there's also W For Woman, Irasva for accessories, Regal for dress shoes and traditional heels, and even a Chumbak and Bombay Store for home shopping.
You can know more about what the mall offers with LBB's Inorbit Mall Guide.
The expansive mall has several things to do, several stores to shop from and even ample eateries and bars. You could spend the whole day here. While everyone may have several favourite stores here. We recommend checking out Ellementry for home decor, Rare Rabbit for men's wear, Da Milano if you need a bag or two, and Gossip for a pair of trendy heels. And, there's a Sephora for your make-up needs as well.
You can check out LBB's Infiniti Mall Guide to know more about all the activities, stores and restaurants that mall has to offer.
A budget-shopper's haven, Natraj Market has several stores offering sarees, semi-stitched lehengas, salwar-kameez and more. But if you don't like the clothes on offer, we'd recommend a visit for the jewellery. You can get jhumkas, payals, necklaces, and lots of imitation and silver jewellery starting at INR 50 here.
The market also has several fabric stores and tailor shops inside who can stitch up an outfit or saree blouse for you in a few days. After all, Malad's S.V. Road stretch is almost entirely filled with fabric stores, so you're bound to find something you'll like.
One of the best chaat spots in Malad, Jain Sabkuchh Food Plaza could be bit pricey, but the chaat here is worth spending on. The pani puri water is always perfectly cold, made using mineral water, and consistently delicious. Apart from the chaats, don’t miss the pav bhaji and Gujarati farsan like khandvi, dhokla, khaman and more.
Must Try: Pani Puri, Vada Pav, Khandvi, Pav Bhaji
Meal For Two: INR 500
An all-veg restaurant, Flag's is an icon in this part of the ‘burbs. They’re Jain-friendly, and offer a wide range of delicious options that accommodates every type of cuisine. You can dig into the usual North Indian, Mughlai, Italian fare, but also Mexican, Thai, Burmese and there's even a vegetarian Paella.
Must Try: Thai Gilled Mushroom, Flag's Special Nachos, Risotto, Paneer Shashlik Sizzler
Meal For Two: INR 1,200
The ambience here may not be much, but the casual Stacks And Racks has an indoor and outdoor seating. With comfortable chairs and sofas, it's where you can go and be a glutton. We recommend wearing loose pants because you're going to want to order the whole menu. And if you're a meat eater, you're going to enjoy it to the fullest. The restaurant is popular for its ribs steaks and meaty burgers, all of which are worth trying.
Must Try: Mac & Cheese, Tenderloin Steak, Chorizo Skillet, The Smoky Porky Burger, Magic Mushroom Burger, Pork Ribs
Meal For Two: INR 1,000
Tequila and tacos - what's not to love about these delicious imports from Mexico? Grab them at Sammy Sosa, a popular Mexican bar in Malad. While the bar pours a decent tequila selection, they also offer premium whiskey, scotch, rum, gin and liqueurs. There are a few good mocktails if you're not in the mood for booze. The menu primarily offers Mexican food, but you'll also find some global staples. The ambience is simple, inspired by Mexican art and the large mural at the back makes up for the lack of other decor around the space.
Must Try: Whacko Tacos, Mango Tequila Pez (their chef's special fish!), Chimichangas, Mama's Enchilada
Meal For Two: INR 1,600
A meal at the open-air Mangoes restaurant in Orlem is as good as dining at a shack in Goa. The no-frills ambience mostly consists of casual tables and chairs but because you're on a terrace, there's some promise of breeze and a view. The menu is authentically Goan, as it caters to locals in the neighbourhood. But, it has a few Mangalorean specials as well.
Must Try: Chilli Cheese Croquettes, Crab Rechad, Mutton Ghee Roast, Beef Tongue Roast, Xacuti, Vindaloo, Cafreal, Sorpotel, Neer Dosa
Meal For Two: INR 700
A small cart in the Orlem neighbourhood, Goan Cart is where you can get your hands on Goa's street food without trip to the beach state. It's ideal to takeaway the snacks and perhaps go to Marve beach and eat by the sea. You'll also get some gravy dishes and rice meals here. The cart operates 6pm onward, ideal for an evening snack or dinner. And, they also take up party orders by the kilo.
Must Try: Goan Sausage Burger, Ros Omelette, Pork Sorpotel, Goan Sausage Chilly Fry, Chicken Cafreal
Meal For Two: INR 200
You can check out more restaurants in Malad. There are several old ones like Uncle's Chinese and Joey's Pizza offering great food.
If the chaos in the shopping malls have got to you, take yourself for a walk to the BMC Forest Theme Garden or Mindspace Garden, behind Inorbit Mall. You can walk/run along the path here, chill on a bench or hike up a tiny hill-like area for a view of the subset. The park has several gazebos to relax under and the landscaped lawns provide an oasis of green, and much-needed quiet in the hubbub of Mumbai.
Protected by The Indian Navy, Marve Beach is a popular spot for a beach day, especially on Sundays when crowds throng to relax and play. The beach is cleaner compared to others, and there are hawkers selling peanuts, chaat, vada pav and corn on the cob as well.
The beach is a short rickshaw ride away from Malad station. You can also take a 15-minute ferry ride and check out Global Vipassana Pagoda.
Got a whole day to spare? Get in the mood for a one-day picnic and head to the Marve Jetty Point. A 15-minute ferry ride which costs INR 20, will take you to the lazy coastal hamlet called Manori. The largely Goan-Portuguese village where Mumbai's Koli community resides, is beautiful to walk around thanks to its old Portuguese-style homes, churches and chapels, all of which are painted in bright colours.
You can book a room in a resort here by the hour, and head to Manori beach where you can stroll around, play a game of beach volleyball or simply enjoy how clean and quiet it is.
Check out resorts near Manori beach here.