Open To Sky: These Rooftop Bars Are Perfect To Watch The NYE Fireworks

Head to the Versova outlet of Jamjar Diner. A popular spot amongst the ‘burbies for its colourful decor and innovative desserts (Mess In A Jar, Flower Pot Surprise), this is a great bar to unwind at. There's a jukebox on the floor below, the topsy-turvy interiors add to the fun and the rooftop has an expansive view of the Versova neighbourhood. You can watch the downpour, and spot vehicles whizz by while enjoying a drink. 

Must Try: Bacon Dirty Fries, Fish Tacos, Stuffed Mushroom Burger, Nutella and Banana Pancakes, Flower Pot Surprise 

Meal For Two: INR 2,000 with alcohol

Powai's all-vegetarian restaurant, Mehman Nawazi is a green rooftop, ideal for those with a green thumb. You'll love the location as it sits on a carved hill and gives you a bird's eye view of Powai Lake and the Hiranandani Gardens. It's like escaping the bustle of Mumbai, without ever leaving it. You can expect a North Indian fare here, and their bar menu is quite extensive ensuring that there's something for everyone. 

Must Try: Achari Paneer Tikka Masala, Makkai Ki Roti, Paneer Angare, Crunchy Spinach Chaat, Veg Kurkuri

Meal For Two: INR 1,800 with alcohol

Sitting in Malad’s Orlem neighbourhood, Mangoes has a rooftop that'll easily transport you (mentally, of course!) to a Goan shack. You can watch the rain, the quaint neighbourhood of Orlem as you dig into authentic plates of Goan food including Xacuti, Rechad, Sorpotel, and more. From the ambience to the food, everything is homely, with no frills and is relaxed enough to put you in a holiday mood. 

Must Try: Chicken Xacuti, Beef Tongue Chilly, Fish Ambotik 

Meal For Two: INR 700

One rooftop you definitely do not want to miss, Bonobo in Bandra West is where you can shake a leg and enjoy LIVE music during a downpour. While all of these things together sound a tad unbelievable, Bonobo in Bandra has a rooftop for exactly this kind of an experience. The bar has been a trendy spot for years, and manages to dish out delicious bites and drinks. While the price here is steep, the experience is definitely worth a visit. 

Must Try: Grilled Chicken Skewers, Sambal Paneer/Tofu Tacos, Spicy Burnt Garlic Pizza, Teriyaki Greens

Meal For Two: INR 2,000 with alcohol

A peaceful and tranquil rooftop restaurant, Chenab in Vashi has a great ambience. It's like a dhaba, but better! With cots to sit on and a village-like setting, enjoying a meal and a drink here during the monsoon is quite a cozy experience. The food is top notch and delicious and the portions are generous, such that three adults can eat easily. They serve lip-smacking vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Their Tawa Chicken is absolutely drool-worthy! And, the friendly and polite staff is fast with their service. You need to book the table prior to your visit as it is very busy on the weekends.

Must Try: Tawa Chicken, Bhindi Churi Muri, Mutton Tawa Te, Dal Bukhara

Meal For Two: INR 1,500 with alcohol

Penthouzz is a lovely rooftop between Borivali and Kandivali that serves great molecular cocktails, and just about everything any good pub can and should offer. We were surprised to find this rooftop pub, Penthouzz, at V Mall, given the fact that there’s a dearth of such fabulous places in the area. Overall, the pub has about 100 tables, and plays a mix of EDM, pop and Bollywood music, and they also have acoustic nights. They also serve sheesha at this joint. For people living around Borivali and Kandivali, Penthouzz is a great choice for a night of drinks and sheesha. Penhouzz also has very long happy hours, which begin at 5 pm and go on till closing from Monday to Thursday.

Must Try: Wood-fired Pizzas, Paneer Akuri, Mezze Platter

Meal For Two: INR 1,500 with alcohol

Bombay Adda is spread across two floors over the Blackberry showroom on Linking Road, and is a great rooftop sheesha lounge in the city to spend a rainy evening at. The decor is grungy but is balanced with pops of art and colour on the walls. There are different sections like a boxing ring (not an actual one), a French concept called ‘Love Lock’, and a time travel DJ console. Serving North Indian, Chinese, and other cuisines, you can gorge on great dishes here. The menu has been kept limited to starters and bowls. If you’re looking to eat main course, it's best to head elsewhere.

Must Try: Sriracha Paneer Chili, Hummusa (shot glass filled with hummus, topped with a samosa), Sri Lankan Curry & Rice, Butter Chicken, Masala Fish Fingers. 

Meal For Two: INR 2,500 with alcohol

This rooftop bar at Powai’s Supreme Business Park is the watering hole to hang out at with your buddies if you’re looking to drink with a view. Quite popular in Hiranandani Gardens, Rude Lounge is an ideal joint to let your hair down after a hard day’s work. The menu looks like it could belong to any other drinking joint – a long list of vegetarian and non-vegetarian starters, some pizzas and pastas, another extensive list of Chinese dishes, and a small list of ‘mini meals’. Their appetisers are what you should mostly stick to, but just to keep your drinks company – this is a place you go to drink. The alcohol menu offers all your typical whiskey, beer, rum, vodka and other options, and also has some good pitcher options. This lounge has good deals on alcohol, so if you’re planning a boozy evening and don’t want to go overboard with the moolah, maybe you can consider this as an option. Bollywood lovers can rejoice as the lounge does play hit movie mixes and even has a wall full of celebrity posters.

This huge property gets massive brownie points from us for its ambience – clean, nicely done up with good seating, neon lighting and walls full of frames and posters. This is the perfect weather to be at a rooftop bar enjoying a tasty drink. So we’d suggest that the next time you find yourself in Powai, and want to grab a quick drink, give Rude Lounge a shot.

Must Try: Loaded Nachos, Tandoori Chicken, Chicken Tikka Pizza, Classic Margarita

Meal For Two: INR 1500 with alcohol

The Marina Upper Deck remains one of our favourite rooftop cafes with a wondrous view of the sea, especially when the rain comes pouring down. In the street of art deco buildings that line up Colaba after Gateway of India, is one of our all-time favourite buildings, the white-and-pink Sea Palace Hotel. This old building houses The Marina Upper Deck which gives a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and offers good food too. With a striped umbrella crowning over each table, fairy lights in glass bottles and a view of boats dotting the sea, we think you should go back to Marina before the rains end.

Must Try: Paneer Tikka, Galouti Kebabs, Tandoori Chicken, Calamari Fish, Garlic Bread, Bombay Masala French Fries

Meal For Two: INR 2,000 with alcohol

Picture this: a glass of whiskey, cool breeze and a breathtaking view of the sea. Sounds too good to be true? At Dome at InterContinental, Marine Drive, this is reality. Go to this gorgeous lounge for some amazing food and fantastic drinks. The view of the city is breathtaking and if you’re lucky and happen to be here during sunset, you will be awestruck. Whether you’re a tourist or a city dweller, you must visit the Dome. An open-air restaurant, you should book the table with the view of Marine Drive much in advance.  A good glass of wine and the perfect view with some rain will just add to the experience.

Must Try: Fish Platter, Spicy Grilled Cheese Minis, Turkish Lamb Kebobs, Hoisin Mushroom Bao

Meal For Two: INR 6,000 with alcohol

Located in Juhu, The Terrace has a very home-terrace-like ambience that's relaxed, and is also great for big groups. This rooftop bar is an ideal spot to watch the rain, sip on a drink and groove despite the downpour as they play music that's lough enough to dance to, but it won't tune out conversations. Their food menu has an extensive appetizer list, with a few mains, pizzas, pastas as well. And, the bar menu offers mid-range and premium whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, beer, and more. 

Must Try: Khakhra Nachos, Pav Bhaji Tostadas, Chef Talwar's Favourite Crispy Chicken, The God Father Pizza

Meal For Two: INR 1,600 with alcohol

Big trees and potted plants dominate Rike's rooftop in Andheri West. Located near Yash Raj Studio and Fun Republic, you'll spot several actors from web series hanging around the neighbourhood. But because it's monsoon, the rains are the reason to go to this leafy rooftop, which offers music that'll make anyone in the mood to party, quite happy. The food menu could easily be of any bar's, but Rike does offer delicious appetizers, perfect to bite into with your drinks. They also have board games, live match screenings and nooks for a date. 

Must Try: Onion Rings, Popcorn Chicken, Paneer Chilly, Spicy Chicken Tacos

Meal For Two: INR 2,500 with alcohol

If you find yourself in Andheri East, head to Goldfinch Hotel and check out 1522. It's a HUGE bar! With an expansive rooftop that's covered in all the right places and feels like it's designed to watch Mumbai's rains. The ambience is a mix of florals, dark-coloured walls (think: deep blues and emerald greens), Victorian lamps feature around the space, as do old-school chairs with baroque-like upholstery. The menu is a hotchpotch of cuisines, dominated by appetizers, pizzas and a few bowls. The bar at 1522 has good offers on weekdays, making it a perfect after-work hang. 

Must Try: Cheese Chili Kulcha, Fish Fingers, Shetty's Ghee Roast, Kashmiri Kebab

Meal For Two: INR 2,200 with alcohol

Sitting across the posh Radio Club in Colaba, atop Hotel Harbour View is Bayview Cafe. Plonk yourself here for a gorgeous view of the Arabian Sea, the sea breeze, complimentary sea salt and affordable bites and drinks. Earlier, Bayview Cafe was a casual spot with plastic chairs and tables, perfect for the common man looking for cheap beer and a great view. In recent years, the cafe has spruced itself and offers a menu that serves classic that have been popular here for years, and Indian-Chinese dishes, along with mezze and whatnot. The interiors have also changed, but that view of the Gateway of India, Radio Club and the horizon, remain. Enjoy a few drinks, bites and the monsoon here, it's a Bombay experience you mustn't miss. 

Must Try: Classic Chicken Club Sandwich, Veg/Chicken Croquettes, Tibetan Dim Sum, Multigrain Fish & Chips

Meal For Two: INR 1,500 with alcohol

Popular for great cocktails and bites, Social's many bars that dote the city are always a good place to hang at. The added advantage of Versova Social is also its location. Sitting at the corner of a street, it offers great views and the rooftop is extremely pretty, more so because Versova social has been done up like an old, almost-Victorian bungalow. It's a great spot to while away time at with heady drinks and bar bites. 

Must Try: The L.L.I.I.T, Asia Sour, Naga Chilli Cheese Toast, Chooza 69, Baida Roti

 Meal For Two: INR 1,400 with alcohol