Shop, Eat, Repeat: Here's Everything You Can Do In Dadar, West

While the brand is available to shop online, we love the collection at Cotton Cottage in Dadar, opposite Star Mall. The store has everything from tops and dresses to shirts and even cotton sarees. You can choose from a wide range and try on what you like before you buy it. 

Price: INR 700 onwards

You may have already heard or come across Co-optex showroom and their outlet on N.C.Kelkar Road is worth checking out. Co-optex is a Tamil Nadu government initiative, which brings together weavers of the state in an attempt to boost the handloom sector. At the showroom, you’ll find ample sarees in silk, cotton silk, churidar material and more. For men, there are shirts, dhotis, lungis and more.

Price: INR 1,500 onwards

Located near Shivaji Park Starbucks, Raah Creations is an art and crafts shop in association with Raah Foundation. You can stop by and shop for handicrafts made by artisans from across India, who are associated with the foundation. You’ll find home-decor items, scarves, coasters and much more here. The foundation is aiming to train and help market products made by tribals and other artisan communities of India. 

Price: INR 500 onwards

Located right next to Mahatma Gandhi swimming pool, a small nursery operated without a name or signboard. But as it’s located on Cadell Road, let’s call it that as it’s noticeably visible with its colourful pots hanging on the gate. You can shop for basic gardening supplies, pots of all sizes and an array of plants. It opens at 10am and closes by 8pm. 

You can’t explore Dadar without a trip to Ashok Vada Pav. Serving one of Mumbai’s best vada pavs for over 20 years, Ashok’s stall near Kirti College perpetually has a queue. You can get vada pav, bhaji pav and Ashok’s unique churri pav, which is essentially fried batter crisps in a pav. Ask for extra spicy or sweet chutney as per your preference and they will gladly oblige. 

Price: INR 25 for one

Over 150-years-old, Light of Bharat is an Irani that has been serving the neighbourhood with plates of Keema Pav and Bun Maska Chai. Although now their menu also includes Indian-Chinese items like Hakka Noodles, Chicken Chilly and more, Light Of Bharat remains a favourite spot for Parsi cutlets, Salli Boti and even Kepsa Biryani. 

Price: INR 600 for two

As the hub of Maharashtrian culture, Dadar has several spots to grab Malvani thalis. The best, according to us, is Acharekar’s Malvan Katta which offers one of the best Sol Kadi we’ve sampled in the city. Get yourself Tisrya (clams) Masala, Surmai Thali or the Mutton Thali if you’re not big on fish. It’s best to go here for lunch.  

Price: INR 700 for two

Along Cadell Road in Prabhadevi, Nude Food Cafe opened its door some months ago as the neighbourhood’s first zero-waste cafe. While everything here from the cutlery to your takeaway package is zero-waste, the cafe pushes it further by often hosting several pop-ups that offer eco-friendly items. You must try their pasta plates, and the Dark Hummus is a favourite here. And, their coffees are worth sitting down for too. 

Price: INR 800 for two

If you ask anyone where to go for Maharashtrian grub, they’ll suggest either Aaswad or Prakash. And even though Prakash might be better for many things, the Misal Pav at Aaswad has previously won an international award. So definitely grab it, but also try the Kothimbir Wadi, Sabudana Vada and the Thalipeeth here. 

Price: INR 300 for two

Shivaji Park’s Art Deco buildings often don’t get mentioned when the city discusses art deco structures. But now several of these buildings are going under redevelopment and soon the neighbourhood will look quite different. So soak it all in. The buildings around the park and its many lanes are less elaborate than the ones you see along Marine Drive, but many are well maintained and often receive a fresh coat of paint for maintenance. 

Don’t forget to walk around the iconic Shivaji Park maidan and watch a game of cricket being played by who may be Team India’s future players. After all, this is the cricket club where the likes of Sanjay Manjrekar, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar first learned the game. 

A few weeks ago, a viewing deck was inaugurated at Shivaji Park and it’s worth a visit. Take in the views of the sea and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link that stretches along. It’s the best place to get a full view of the sea link and to relax come evening. The deck can accommodate 300 people at a time and has 26 seats that can seat up to 100 people. 

If you want to know more about Maharashtra’s history and independence, then visit the Sanyukta Maharashtra museum in the same complex as Mahatma Gandhi swimming pool. The museum showcases the Maratha wars and how Maharashtra was carved out and built. It’s the first of its kind dedicated to the Swatantra Maharashtra movement and is all about the Maratha pride. The museum is closed on Mondays and is open from 10am to 7pm from Tuesday to Saturday and till 4pm on Sundays. 

Close to the sea, you can observe the Ashoka Pillar and the memorial, Chaitya Bhoomi built for Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Over the years a replica of the gate of the Sanchi Stupa too has been built here to memorialise Ambedkar’s contribution to the Indian constitution and the Dalit community. Take a walk around the pillar and observe the minute work on the gate, both of which have become popular tourist attractions. 

Also make sure to visit Dadar Market. While Crawford Market may be the mecca of markets in Mumbai where one could find anything, Dadar Market is no different. In fact, you’ll often find items at much lower rates. Head to the lane across Kirtikar Market, you’ll find kitchen appliances of all brands, foldable laptop desks, shoe racks, tables, chairs and more, lights for your home, aachar bottles, tupperware containers, utensils among other things. If you’re moving into a new home, this is an ideal spot to shop for everything you might need.