From local old favourites, and artisanal restaurants to colourful street shopping alleys and heritage walks, Colaba, Mumbai’s beloved neighbourhood, is the one place that has it all. Therefore, to help you experience the best while exploring its graffiti-saturated alleys, we bring you a curated list of the best things to do when in Colaba.
Best restaurants in Colaba
1. Cafe Mondegar
One of Mumbai’s iconic Iranian restaurants, it is a hotspot perched right outside the Colaba Causeway. Indulge in king prawns, kheema ghotala, or fluffy omelettes alongside a bottle of chilled beer, and there is your plan for a hot summer afternoon. Establishing a legacy, Cafe Mondegar was one of the first places in Mumbai to have a jukebox, and it still plays old hits to this day.
📍Metro House, Colaba Causeway, near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
2. The Table
Quite recently awarded as India’s best restaurant by Conde Nast Traveller, The Table is somewhat of an institution in Mumbai. From its classic chicken wings to braised lamb hash and French onion burgers, a meal at The Table is nothing short of phenomenal. We recommend making a reservation for a long lunch here or for a romantic dinner to quite grasp the full spectacle of its menu.
📍Ground Floor, Kalapesi Trust Building, opposite Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
3. Social Colaba
Opposite The Taj, Social, Colaba is the spot to visit if you want to experience the depth of Mumbai’s swinging social life. Topped with dark wood interiors, suspended bulbs, and actual swings, the restaurant-cun-bar offers a spectacular menu. Ranging from its over-the-top thalis, breakfast sandwiches, fat burgers, and an array of signature cocktails, a hungry stomach will never be disappointed here. If you are here looking for a night out, try the Patiala pegs to get you right in the mood!
📍Shop 24, Ground Floor, B K Boman Behram Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
4. Effingut Colaba
A loud interior and a continental menu best describe this restaurant in Colaba. Start your meal here with crispy potato wedges as you make your way to its chicken chimichuri sliders, chicken wings, and end with a hearty spoonful of death by chocolate.
📍Dhanraj Mahal, next to The Bentley Showroom, Colaba
5. Delhi Darbar
Coming in hot with delicious North Indian cuisine, this restaurant offers fragrant biryani, creamy butter chicken, flaky naans and a whole lot of reason to keep coming back. With a beautiful ambience that matches the cuisine offered, Delhi Darbar offers a wholesome dining experience with dishes like Chicken Tikka Biryani and Reshmi Makhani Paratha stealing the show.
📍Holland House, Shahid Bhagat Singh Rd, near Regal Cinema, Scindia Society, Police Colony, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
6. Gokul Bar
A true local gem, Gokul Bar in Colaba is famous for one thing and one thing only: alcohol at dirt cheap prices! An unpretentious diner serving beer, spirits and surprisingly good Chinese food. Order a handful of their starters like paneer chilly, chicken lollypop and chicken ginger to go best with bottles of Heineken and Kingfisher.
📍10, Apollo Bander, Tullock Road, Colaba
7. Bagdadi Restaurant
Serving authentic Mughlai food, Bagdadi in Colaba serves delicious curries, chicken fry masala, fried potatoes, caramel custard, and so much more. With reasonable prices highly favourable to college students, the restaurant promises a hearty meal with a side of Pepsi still served in their 90s glass bottles.
Best activities in Colaba
8. Take a heritage walk at the BMC building
For the first time, one of Mumbai’s most iconic monuments, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has opened its gates to the public. Built in the 1800s, the heritage building features a fusion of Indo-Saracenic and Gothic architectural styles. Explore its stately rooms, marvel at the grand architecture, and climb your way to the rooftop to take in the spectacular vistas of Mumbai. The 75-minute tour costs only INR 350, and you can book your tickets here.
📍5, Mahapalika Marg, Dhobi Talao, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort
9. Shop your heart out at Colaba Causeway
From delightful novelties and gorgeous summer dresses, to gold-coloured jhumkas and colourful accessories, shopping at Colaba Causeway is a treasure trove that you can never fully rummage through. The Colaba street market remains standard for all shopping needs, and, now with Diwali right around the corner, we highly recommend a stop here for those gorgeous, heavy jhumkas and embroidered dupattas.
📍Colaba Causeway Market, Colaba
10. Visit the Akara Contemporary
One of the leading art galleries in India, Akara has a dedicated space for both modern and contemporary programs. Inside a century-old mansion, the gallery houses works by leading and emerging artists from across South Asia. Over the years, the gallery has hosted high-profile exhibitions featuring the likes of Prabhakar Barwe, Bhagyashree Suthar, and Lancelot Ribeiro.
📍2nd Floor, Amar Chand Mansion, 3C, 16, Madame Cama Road, Colaba
11. Click pictures at the Gateway of India
The list of the best things to do in Colaba is incomplete without visiting the iconic Gateway of India. One of India’s famous tourist attractions, admire the larger-than-life monument with the glistening waves serving as a gorgeous backdrop.
📍Apollo Bandar, Colaba
12. Sunset sailing in the Arabian Sea
End your day in Colaba by taking a ferry out to enjoy the stunning sunset from the middle of the sea. For this unique experience, book your 120-minute tour online in advance and arrive at the Gateway of India in time to meet your jetty. Once you’ve boarded the sailboat, have fun dipping your legs in the water as you sail past Mumbai’s iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal Hotel, old lighthouses, and more. If you’re lucky, you might even get to spot the dolphins!
📍Leisurekart, Jetty No. 5, PJ Ramchandani Marg, opposite entrance of Taj Hotel, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
13. Catch a movie at Regal cinema
An Art Deco movie theatre in Colaba, Regal Cinema, holds a rich history seeped in Old Bombay. With Filmfare and Academy Awards once hosted at its premises, Laurel and Hardy comedy and The Devil’s Brother inaugurated at its single-screen cinema, the theatre now airs Bollywood and local movies for all to enjoy.
📍Colaba Causeway, opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
14. Take a walk around Cuffe Parade
One of Mumbai’s most beautiful green parks, Cuffe Parade, is by far one of the best places in Mumbai to catch the setting sun. Cobbled walkways, wildflowers blooming, playgrounds for children and seats facing the Arabian Sea are some of its notable features.
📍Maker Towers, Near World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade
Best places to stay in Colaba
15. Fariyas Hotel
A four-star hotel located just off Colaba Causeway, Fariyas Hotel offers gorgeous sea views and minimalist rooms. With added amenities like, gym, swimming pool, fine dining restaurant, cafe, and spa, the hotel further offers a central location for all your travels.
📍Arthur Bunder Rd, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
16. Abode Bombay
A boutique luxurious hotel, Abode in Colaba, brings amenities and rooms inspired by Old Bombay. The room is riddled with vintage artworks and deco furniture with amenities like Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and more included in your stay.
📍First Floor, Lansdowne House, MB Marg, near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bandar, Colaba
17. Gulf Hotel
One on the more affordable side of things, the Gulf Hotel, though not offering a luxurious experience, comes equipped with clean rooms, complimentary morning coffee and free wi-fi. Perched in a central locality, it is best if you want to explore the neighbourhoods of Mumbai with ease of travel.
📍3rd floor, HNA, Kamal Mansion, HNAA Rd, Apollo Bandar, Colaba