Chembur is home to several East Indian Catholic gaothans, a refugee camp for Sindhis and Punjabis who migrated during the partition and a neighbourhood that saw massive movement once the commercialisation of Trombay began. Chembur, in the central suburbs of Mumbai is often forgotten but is slowly making its mark thanks to improved connectivity and great eateries. We scouted the neighbourhood and found a variety of things you can do here. Here are all the things to do in Chembur.
Shop, Eat Drink: Here’s Everything You Can Do In Chembur
Where To Shop
Otoba Furnishing
Near Ambedkar Garden on 19th road, you’ll find Otoba Furnishing among the several shops here. While it’s an average furnishing shop where you can shop for materials and home linens, we loved it for its Emoji Cushions. All the smileys from your keyboard have a cushion of their own here, and you can also get Minion and other character cushions here.
Price: INR 500 onwards
Mumbai Say
An ethinic wear store, Mumbai Say has materials, suits, casual wear and wedding wear as well. If you need Indian wear for the wedding season, Mumbai Say can sort you out. You’ll find dresses with zari work, embroidery, outfits in raw silk, cotton, outfits with embellishments, sequins and more. Their kurtas start at INR 800 and their wedding wear can go up to INR 20,000.
Price: INR 800 onwards
Mahavir Home Store
Walk down 19th road and you’ll come across Mahavir Home Store which isn’t hard to spot as it it’s a large two-storied building. The store has something for every room, right from furnishing to decor, serveware, tableware, kitchen appliances, bath accessories and more. You’ll get something that fits your budget as their large collections span across a wide price range.
Price: INR 500 onwards
Tata Textiles Natraj
A fabric and clothes store near Laxmi Market, Tata Textiles is a popular spot in Chembur for fabric shopping. Think of any fabric you need - cotton, silk, raw silk, chanderi, linen - and they’ll have it. With quality prints and patterns, textiles from here generally last long and the store holds a mighty reputation in the neighbourhood.
Price: INR 300 onwards
Root Bridges
Chembur loves gardening, at least that’s what you might assume after spotting a nursery on every other street in the neighbourhood. Root Bridges in one spot that you can go to for all your gardening equipment and shop for plants, tools, pots and more. The nursery also has a website you can order online from.
Price: INR 250 onwards
Where To Eat
There are a bunch of places to eat at Chembur, many of which aren't permanent fixtures. Chembur’s most famous Vada Pav seller opposite the Chembur Post Office starts frying hot vadas and dishing them out at sharp 4pm every evening. The cart sits right across from the post office and serves a masaledaar vada inside a pav that’s doused with a spicy green chutney and the dry red garlic chutney.
Price: INR 20 for one
Vig Refreshments
If you want to eat in Chembur, there’s nothing better than Sindhi Camp. We recommend you head to Vig for a typical Sindhi breakfast of Dal Pakwan. Boiled chana dal and fried pakwan are served with chutney and raw onions. The spot is popular all over the city for this dish, but it’s also quite loved for its chole puri and kulche.
Price: INR 300 for two
Udaya Lunch Home
Chembur is also a great neighbourhood to grab Malayali meals. We recommend ditching the famous Hotel Sunny for Udaya Lunch Home near Chembur Station. The old restaurant has one of the best Irachi Ishtu (Mutton Stew) in the city, which you must eat with their pillowy soft Appams. You can also get other staples like Nadan Kozhi Korma, Fish Moilee and more.
Price: INR 500 for two
Le Cafe
With a mighty reputation, Le Cafe near Chembur Station is a great spot to dine at with a European and Asian menu. Grab a classic Cubano here, Cajun Chicken Skewers, Crispy Potato Skin and definitely get the desserts. You can choose to grab a coffee here or get a drink.
Price: INR 1,500 for two
Sai Sagar Falooda Centre
We’re not exaggerating when we say that you could get the most delicious Kulfi Falooda here. You can choose to have the classic milk falooda, or eat it like Sindhis traditionally do with malai kulfi, sevai, rabdi, rose syrup and sanja. It’s a much lighter dessert plate that you’ll definitely keep going back for.
Price: INR 95 onwards
Things To Do
Explore Chembur Gaothans
Home to three East Indian Catholic villages, take yourself on a tour of old houses of Chembur. You’ll find some around Ambedkar Garden and more as you walk along each road from the garden. Take the help of Instagram account @housesofchembur and go on a trail of your own. It’s a great way to explore Mumbai’s many architectural styles.
Catch A Show At Adagio
The Chembur brand of Adagio is hosting shows again. The space has a guitar boutique, a space for guitar classes, which also doubles up as a performance space for comedy shows, plays and music gigs.
Pro-Tip: Adagio is hosting the Chembur Comey Shuffle till May 7th.
